The thing is, actual equality in a relationship isn't about who compromises or who gets their way. A lot of readers are going to see that as controlling or inappropriate, somehow. He cannot take that she puts herself into life-threatening danger every day (something Jo wouldn't bother to deny because it is literally true) and that fact was clearly killing him. The fact of the matter is that Keane is right that there is no adequate compromise possible for him. Yeah, it flies in the face of feminist dogma because it is Jo who makes the sacrifice, giving up her life as a lion-trainer in the circus in order to be with Keane (trust me when I say it doesn't feel as cheesy as it sounds when reading the book). She's brave (as opposed to fearless) both physically and emotionally and loyal to a fault.Īnd this is where I'm going to diverge from popular opinion, but it's all about the ending, so, sadly, it's spoiler time.

She's a great blend of fierce, open, and naïve that makes sense to her background. Further, he doesn't even attempt any of the emotional manipulation so common to the era (Hawkeye Pierce playboy stuff, if you know what I mean).Īnd I liked Jo's personality. Jo actually stands up to him when needed and his own sense of honor prevents him from pushing or taking advantage of her when he could very well have done so once she acknowledges her own feelings (to herself). My favorite part of the novel is that although Keane is one of those demanding alpha types, he doesn't get things his way. Before anybody gets too happy about it, though, I have to acknowledge that my enjoyment is probably idiosyncratic and unlikely to match general tastes. Which is a complete shock as it's one of her earliest works (published in 1983-Roberts' first book was published in 81) and I generally find her 80s novels a bit hard to take.

Untamed book