That Bonesetter Woman
I am a voracious reader, and have been from the day I could, so that’s many years. I used to have more than one book on the go but I have stopped doing that, preferring to immerse myself in one world at a time – because that’s what it is: stepping into another reality, created by another mind. Very occasionally I read non-fiction, usually only for the purposes of my own research. For me the pleasure lies in being told a story, and it’s one that never palls. A secondary pleasure comes from being able to recommend a book that I’ve enjoyed. It’s good to celebrate the work of another author, and if it’s someone I know, so much the better. But of course with the majority of my reading I don’t know the author, and so it is for a book I read and enjoyed recently, ‘That Bonesetter Woman’, by Frances Quinn.
Importantly, it’s well written – bad spelling, grammar and punctuation will always be a major stumbling-block for me, along with trite metaphors, over-blown descriptions, obvious plot-holes and unconvincing characters. This book has no such drawbacks, and it has the added advantage of depicting relationships that aren’t obvious.
The protagonist is an unusual woman – she’s not beautiful or graceful, she has few winning ways and one outstanding talent – but it’s not generally valued and she has to struggle to pursue her calling. She learns the art from her bonesetter father, but it’s not something women are supposed to do. It’s the mid-18th century, and medicine is very firmly the preserve of men. Her name is Endurance, and as the story develops endurance is something she needs, as she faces many setbacks and disappointments and the mockery of the medical hierarchy.
Her life isn’t easy, but she fights back and keeps going, and the reader comes to admire her. Another fascinating thread involves the Tower of London menagerie. So the background is intriguing, the heroine is someone you can root for, the writing is excellent, and the ending is satisfying without being slushy – especially the very end, which I found moving. Endurance’s good qualities, often under-appreciated, find vindication.