VICDOC Autumn 2025 - Magazine - Page 6
I N R EV I E W: AU T U M N R EA DS
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LADY TAN'S
CIRCLE OF WOMEN
FAKE
WOMAN'S HOUR
Historical f iction
by Lisa See (2023)
Limited series on
Paramount+ (2023)
Podcast hosted by
BBC Radio 4
In this novel, See offers a
fascinating glimpse into 15thcentury Chinese medicine
through the lens of Tan
Yunxian, one of the few
documented female physicians
of the Ming Dynasty. Based on
historical records, Lady Tan’s
Circle of Women explores
Yunxian’s medical training
under her grandmother, her
collaboration with midwife
Meiling, and her struggles
against rigid gender norms
that restricted women’s
access to medical knowledge.
See’s meticulous research
shines in her depiction of
Traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), including pulse
diagnosis, herbal remedies,
and the treatment of women’s
health issues. The novel
also highlights the contrast
between scholarly medical
texts and the practical
knowledge passed down
through female healers.
An engaging and escapist
read; it pays tribute to the
enduring role of women
in healthcare.
Fake is an Australian drama
series that premiered on
Paramount+ in July 2024.
Inspired by Stephanie Wood's
true-life memoir of the same
name, the series stars Asher
Keddie as Birdie Bell, and
David Wenham as Joe Burt.
Birdie is a journalist and
food writer who becomes
entangled in a relationship
with Joe Burt, a smooth
operator and self-described
divorcee, investor and grazier
who is in fact a sociopathic
liar, serial fabulist and
womaniser. Described as
“an unsettling masterclass
in gaslighting and emotional
abuse”, Fake unpacks
themes of trust, deception,
an underplayed but central
self-doubt inducing motherdaughter dynamic, and the
vulnerabilities inherent in
modern dating. It’s a slowbuilding, nail-biting watch
that leaves the viewer feeling
as unsettled as its female
protagonist – and every bit
as vindicated when the truth
finally prevails.
Woman's Hour is a BBC
Radio 4 podcast that offers
insightful discussions on a
wide range of topics relevant
to women. Blending Eurocentric current affairs, culture,
health, and personal stories,
the show is loved for its
thoughtful interviews and
diverse perspectives and often
features well-known expert
guests. The podcast ably
tackles serious issues such as
gender equality, politics, and
mental health, alongside lighter
topics like fashion, arts, and
lifestyle. It has two new hosts
for 2025, Anita Rani and Nuala
McGovern, and a history dating
back to 1946. Before it was a
podcast, it was a daily radio
show of the same name and
was personally endorsed by
Queen Elizabeth II as a “friend,
guide and advocate to women
everywhere” in 2021. It still
comes out daily. Check out
Woman’s Hour Best of the Best,
where former judges of the
women’s prize for fiction talk
about their winning novel,
for a great starting point.
AMA VI C TO RIA
