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A review by nickartrip102
Duch by J.B. Miller
3.0
Dianarchy!
I requested and received an eARC of Duch by JB Miller via NetGalley. I can't lie, I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover. Although, I prefer my royal reading to be nonfiction, the image of Diana and and the blurb really sold me. In a hospital in Paris, a woman in her 60's leaps into the Seine. Upon being rescued, she only remembers one thing: that she is Diana. Meanwhile, Charles III contemplates his reign and position in the world, as well as his role on EastEnders, threatened by the introduction of a character portrayed by Prince William. Harry and Meghan live doing whatever it is they aspire to do in California, the reveling in the chaos of their own narcissism.
What a wild ride. I wasn’t really sure how Miller would approach this story, so I was excited to dive in, and was instantly charmed by the humor of the story. I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly all that invested in the Diana storyline. It didn’t necessarily hook me in the way I hoped, but I was absolutely sold on the often hilarious character portraits that emerge of the royals in Duch. Miller relies on the normal cultural depictions of figures like Charles III and Meghan and Harry with an added dash of something special that really make them quite interesting to follow in the story.
Not much happens in this story, but then again not much needs to. I was admittedly always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I really enjoyed spending time with the characters along the way. Like true satire, this book was quite funny but would often make me do a double-take and reconsider. Miller excels at exploring the current state of cultural production and consumption in regard to celebrity and royals. I have to admit, wouldn’t it be sort of fun? For Diana to magically reappear? Sure, we’d instantly cast her aside with claims of being some sort of Anne Delvey, but I thought this was a wonderfully whimsical premise that plays to an idea many have, however wrongly, harbored for years! I say wrongly, but who knows. Maybe there is a Diana Inconnue roaming around out there. An interesting reading experience!
I requested and received an eARC of Duch by JB Miller via NetGalley. I can't lie, I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover. Although, I prefer my royal reading to be nonfiction, the image of Diana and and the blurb really sold me. In a hospital in Paris, a woman in her 60's leaps into the Seine. Upon being rescued, she only remembers one thing: that she is Diana. Meanwhile, Charles III contemplates his reign and position in the world, as well as his role on EastEnders, threatened by the introduction of a character portrayed by Prince William. Harry and Meghan live doing whatever it is they aspire to do in California, the reveling in the chaos of their own narcissism.
What a wild ride. I wasn’t really sure how Miller would approach this story, so I was excited to dive in, and was instantly charmed by the humor of the story. I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly all that invested in the Diana storyline. It didn’t necessarily hook me in the way I hoped, but I was absolutely sold on the often hilarious character portraits that emerge of the royals in Duch. Miller relies on the normal cultural depictions of figures like Charles III and Meghan and Harry with an added dash of something special that really make them quite interesting to follow in the story.
Not much happens in this story, but then again not much needs to. I was admittedly always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I really enjoyed spending time with the characters along the way. Like true satire, this book was quite funny but would often make me do a double-take and reconsider. Miller excels at exploring the current state of cultural production and consumption in regard to celebrity and royals. I have to admit, wouldn’t it be sort of fun? For Diana to magically reappear? Sure, we’d instantly cast her aside with claims of being some sort of Anne Delvey, but I thought this was a wonderfully whimsical premise that plays to an idea many have, however wrongly, harbored for years! I say wrongly, but who knows. Maybe there is a Diana Inconnue roaming around out there. An interesting reading experience!