Take a photo of a barcode or cover
aw21594377 's review for:
The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have very mixed opinions on the book. Some parts I liked, some parts were reprehensible, some parts were SO BORING. I’ve read a few different regency romance books at this point and I think it just doesn’t do it for me as much in book form, including classics like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. On screen, that’s a different story— I like Sense and Sensibility and P&P . But the duke and I gave me whiplash. I liked the beginning, but at one point I was going to give it 2 stars, and then i liked it again. So I guess at most 3 stars, but That Scene with Daphne and Simon and how it was…resolved? left a bad taste in my mouth.
I generally liked Daphne and felt like she was reasonably emotionally intelligent. I do feel like Quinn set up Daphne's naiveté around sex well; and I do feel like it explains her confusion around Simon's wording that he couldn't have children. This does not excuse her actions, and I was pretty disappointed with how the matter was handled. Other than Simon saying "I didn't like that", there was no proper resolution where Daphne recognizes what she did was so wrong. She literally describes raping him and feeling confused because all she did was not allow him to pull out. Lack of knowledge surrounding consent actually feels pretty par for the course in a society that's so prudish. Even still, this made me think of the musical Spring Awakening, which is a cautionary tale of what can happen when children aren't educated about sex.
I also generally liked Simon, though his weaponizing his and Daphne's marriage against her and the fact that he owns her was kind of shitty. They both do things so wrong. That said, I do think Simon tried his best to communicate his boundaries with Daphne, and the root of the issue is lack of education, semantics, and generally not knowing how to talk about intimate topics. That is a very dangerous combination.
I tired of all the male's "chivalrous" behavior here. When Violet storms into Simon and Daphne's house to drag her sons out, I was like "yes, you tell them Violet!". Anthony definitely got on my nerves the most. The whole concept of "protect the woman's honor" just doesn't sit well with me in the 21st century. I know this takes place 200+ years ago, and times have changed, but all the antiquated sexist chivalry still drives me nuts.
I also generally liked Simon, though his weaponizing his and Daphne's marriage against her and the fact that he owns her was kind of shitty. They both do things so wrong. That said, I do think Simon tried his best to communicate his boundaries with Daphne, and the root of the issue is lack of education, semantics, and generally not knowing how to talk about intimate topics. That is a very dangerous combination.
I tired of all the male's "chivalrous" behavior here. When Violet storms into Simon and Daphne's house to drag her sons out, I was like "yes, you tell them Violet!". Anthony definitely got on my nerves the most. The whole concept of "protect the woman's honor" just doesn't sit well with me in the 21st century. I know this takes place 200+ years ago, and times have changed, but all the antiquated sexist chivalry still drives me nuts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse