That Bonesetter Woman: the new feelgood novel from the author of The Smallest Man

Reviews

Emma's Biblio Treasures

—it feels so real that I had to keep reminding myself this wasn’t biographical fiction and Durie is a fictional character. 1750s London society felt so real and vivid whilst I was reading it, as did the characters - there are so many back stories I want to know more about! Once again, it’s Endurance who comes through. Endurance (Durie) Proudfoot has never fit in.

samstopit

“Each time seemed like a reminder that she just didn't fit in the world like other people did. George stands out as one I particularly liked, probably because of his kind, thoughtful character and the sweet relationship he shared with Durie. Their scenes together were some of my favourite in the book and I was rooting for them every step of the way.

Mrs S

I adored her first book The Smallest Man and have fallen in love with 'That Bonesetter Woman' in exactly the same way, I haven't stopped talking about it since I read it. Meticulously researched and rich in fascinating historical details that I loved—did you know you used to get free zoo entry to the London Zoo with a dead cat?

The booktrail

Her father can see she is talented but society deems it unladylike for a woman to be a bonesetter and so he cannot see a way forward. I squirm when I see it on 24 Hours in A&E so there were scenes where I did feel a bit faint but it’s so good, the writing and characters kept me going. Durie accidentally starts work as a bonesetter and then establishes herself, taking on society's preconceptions about femininity, beauty, strength and power as she does,Her story is utterly compelling, I read some parts of the story with my heart in my mouth, willing her to make a different choice, but understanding her reasons for doing what she did. Her character has such a strength and resilience to it, in a similar way to Nat Davey in The Smallest Man - not willing to be told where the boundaries are.

KathVBtn

And she surpassed them all. Quinn creates a strong connection between the reader and protagonist, making us feel deeply the pain that inhabits her as she struggles with being different, trying to understand the behaviours of others, and other challenging events in her life. But traditionalists don’t like that a woman is taking up space in a man’s world and set out to put her back in her place.