Anny P. (wolfnme) reviewed on + 3389 more book reviews
Reviewer: "bookaddictmsia" (Malaysia) -
I was surprised to see the generally very negative reviews. I thought this was a very good read. The doll incident was a laugh-out-loud moment, and the identity of Le Patron wasn't one I expected. Some might dislike the hero, Rolfe, for his Neaderthal views on the place of women in society, but I found him realistically portrayed for precisely that reason. He merely reflected the views of men two hundred years ago (sad to say, some men in the 21st century hold similar views!) He was patronising, high-handed and smug, butwas rather endearing in his way. A sensitive, new-age guy, he wasn't. Zoe was also protrayed realistically. Although I enjoy kick-ass heroines a la Jennifer Garner's character in "Alias", the truth is, most 18th and 19th century women were more like Zoe than our modern misses with their rights and opportunities. Nonetheless, Zoe was very likeable for her quiet strength and honesty, not to mention a hidden temper, that could be nasty. I liked the fact that she was aware of her early hero-worship/infatuation, and that she was strong enough to go beyond it -- to make a break and to divorce Rolfe. She took control of her life to the extent that she was able to under the societal mores of her times, in other words.
This book is worth reading.
I was surprised to see the generally very negative reviews. I thought this was a very good read. The doll incident was a laugh-out-loud moment, and the identity of Le Patron wasn't one I expected. Some might dislike the hero, Rolfe, for his Neaderthal views on the place of women in society, but I found him realistically portrayed for precisely that reason. He merely reflected the views of men two hundred years ago (sad to say, some men in the 21st century hold similar views!) He was patronising, high-handed and smug, butwas rather endearing in his way. A sensitive, new-age guy, he wasn't. Zoe was also protrayed realistically. Although I enjoy kick-ass heroines a la Jennifer Garner's character in "Alias", the truth is, most 18th and 19th century women were more like Zoe than our modern misses with their rights and opportunities. Nonetheless, Zoe was very likeable for her quiet strength and honesty, not to mention a hidden temper, that could be nasty. I liked the fact that she was aware of her early hero-worship/infatuation, and that she was strong enough to go beyond it -- to make a break and to divorce Rolfe. She took control of her life to the extent that she was able to under the societal mores of her times, in other words.
This book is worth reading.
