Down to Earth Book Club with Vervain Collective-Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Welcome to the Down to Earth Book Club with Vervain Collective - Lady Tan's Circle of Women! This in-person event is a haven for book lovers who enjoy thought-provoking discussions in a cozy setting. Join us as we delve into rich narratives and share our perspectives as well as share the expertise of Vervain's staff in discussing Chinese Herbal medicine. Connect with like-minded individuals who appreciate the magic of storytelling and the Chinese Herbal way. Let's immerse ourselves in books and create lasting memories together.

Ticket includes a copy of Lady Tan's Circle of Women and $5 towards purchase at Vervain Collective.

• Come to meet new people and have a great conversation!
• Discussion led by Rediscovered Books Bookseller, Rebecca G and knowledgeable herbalists from Vervain.
• Seating is limited to 12 participants, registration is required for each person.
• Haven’t finished the book? Come anyway, but we cannot promise no spoilers.

If you have already purchased the book from Rediscovered Books, please email a copy of your receipt to [email protected] and we will issue you a gift card equal to the cost of the book after you have registered.

About the Book:

According to Confucius, "an educated woman is a worthless woman," but Tan Yunxian--born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness--is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations--looking, listening, touching, and asking--something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose--despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it--and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other's joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife--embroider bound-foot slippers, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

About the Vervain Collective:

The Vervain Collective was formed to support the natural health community - the health conscious and the curious, the professionals, the growers, the makers, and the dabblers. We collectively learn about and celebrate relationships with plants, minerals, fungi, microorganisms, and each other. We welcome people at all points in their journeys as they seek opportunities to meaningfully increase wellness and build a healthy, more connected community. Through our work, we support the integrated network of local herb farmers who emphasize sustainable and regenerative farming. We create business opportunities and connections for local medicine makers. We ensure that all community members have access to plant medicine by providing products and services along multiple price points and engaging in trade and donation relationships with service-providing organizations.

Host or Publisher Rediscovered Bookshop