gwendle_vs_literature's review
4.0
I was aware in general how badly the press had treated Megan and Harry (I’d witnessed some of it, and also watched the Netflix documentary) but this book goes back further in time, beginning with Diana’s death and ending (in the epilogue) a few days after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
I struggled through the section on his military service — it was interesting, but I have a hard time viewing the military in any kind of positive light. I also felt that Harry had blinders on when he talked about how the wealth of the monarchy (and other vastly rich families) was acquired “when the system was unjust and wealth was generated by exploiting workers and thuggery, annexation and enslaved people” . . . as though the system is now just and workers are no longer exploited; as though keeping land and wealth and possessions obtained in that way could ever be moral. But I suppose we all (or most of us) make excuses for our families. Maybe his position on that will evolve in time — it seemed to be rooted mainly in loyalty to his Granny.
The revelation that he has no memory of ever hugging or being hugged by his father or grandmother, and that he and William have only ever hugged a few times was so sad — not just for Harry, but for all of them.
The text is mostly well-written and well edited, with only a few examples of Harry using the wrong word — in one case the opposite word (he said “nonplussed” when he meant “un-phased”, which is a common mistake, but which any editor worth their salt should have caught).
I can definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy non-fiction, or are trying to challenge yourself by reading more of it.
Moderate: Miscarriage, Hate crime, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Grief
kbairbooks's review
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, War, Abandonment, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, Racism, Car accident, and Racial slurs
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
sydneynorman's review
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Murder, Self harm, Car accident, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Racism, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gun violence, and Hate crime
tiakoko's review
4.25
Moderate: War, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Stalking, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death
lmy612's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very heavy book and I cried many times listening to his recount of very painful topics: his mother’s death, 9/11, self medicating with drugs and alcohol, going to war, racism against his wife and children, threats against their lives, the loss of an unborn child, the toxicity of his family, the death of the Queen, and the paparazzi who refuse(d) to let them live their lives.
This was a highly enjoyable and deeply moving memoir, even for an anti-monarchist living in the colonized commonwealth.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Alcohol, Classism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Mental illness, War, Death, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Car accident, and Cursing
Moderate: Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Blood, Colonisation, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping
norwegianforestreader's review
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Gore, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Stalking, Alcohol, Classism, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Death of parent, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and War
miggyfool's review
3.75
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, Stalking, Addiction, Animal death, Antisemitism, Bullying, Classism, Car accident, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Pregnancy, Racism, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
randalynhill's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Stalking, Hate crime, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use and Alcohol
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
3.5
Listened via Audible
The Details:
Narrated by Prince Harry
Unabridged
This was surprisingly interesting!
I was initially roped in by the strange snippet about his nether regions but I found quite a lot of interesting stories in here.
One of the bigger controversies I was intrigued to hear about was his thoughts behind dressing up as a Nazi and the other brainless things he did as a youth, to get him dubbed as "Prince Harry, the Thicko", but I was most invested when he was talking about how he met Megan and the relationships and difficulties that grew there.
Hearing about his struggles with how he handled emotion after the death of his mum was quite heartbreaking to hear. Being in a similar situation I couldn't help but empathise.
There were a lot of instances were he sounded so far removed from reality and woe is me, but for the most part this was absorbing.
Overall, a fascinating insight into the Prince's tell-all.
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Hate crime, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Grief, Child death, Death of parent, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, War, Drug use, and Violence
venetiana's review against another edition
3.75
It's in three parts: roughly, those are 1. Harry's childhood, 2. his time in the army, 3. his time with Meghan.
The childhood/yourh part is of course emotional and sad, but also interesting. The army part absolutely made me cringe, the way he talks about war and killing people etc. (also slightly racist, though I guess trying not to be). The third part was shocking in terms of the violent and racist press, the aggressions within the family/firm etc., but of course also romantic and hopeful. Harry reading the book himself certainly adds to that, and makes it much more personal.
Given how the author has spent his whole life "inside", certain views didn't surprise me, though I was kind of disappointed that he hadn't yet found the time to "adjust" them to a world less enabled by privilege. But I definitely respect how he shared all his traumata (and stories), and how he's working on them. I respect that Meghan and him left, it's a big step, and I think it was important to share and explain what led there.
That being said, one small thing, I felt the book ended quite abruptly.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Car accident, Stalking, Racism, and Death of parent
Moderate: Confinement, Ableism, Gun violence, Slavery, Islamophobia, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Body shaming, Addiction, Grief, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Mental illness, War, and Xenophobia
The way Harry writes about travelling to Africa isn't always done well, there are sort of mildly racist bits (also, a bit white saviour-y and tourist-y). There are islamophobic/racist bits in the army part (quite violent at times). It's within the frame of the "duty" of war etc., but still.