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A review by marieshan4321
Spare by Prince Harry
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
While this didn't completely warm me to Harry himself, you can't but have sympathy for him and Meghan by the end of it. His difficulty to come to terms with his mother's death and the racism Meghan experienced from the British tabloids was horrible.
The memoir itself was fairly well written. Although, it did get a little wishy-washy for my taste at times. Personally, I didn't find the military escapades or drug induced self-destruction very interesting. I'm not pro-war or pro-military and I'm not interested in Harry's recreational drug use. This was something that made up a good chunk of the centre of the book and kind of slowed everything down for me.
His descriptions of Africa as some sort of mystical exotic getaway were a bit strange, especially coming from someone whose direct ancestors colonialised Africa as well as half of the planet.
I thought the whole situation with Harry, William and Charles seemed a bit petty and ridiculou on all sides. It just kind of made me wonder if these three grown-ass men have anything better to be doing than dragging each other in the media.
Maybe some fodder for the British republican perhaps next time they decide to call into question the role of the monarchy.
On the whole, this was a quick enough read if you listen to it as an audiobook and it gives an insight into Harry, his experiences and the lives of the modern royal family.
Admittedly, there was a few stories (something about Elizabeth Arden handcream and a certain frost-bitten appendage) that I'd rather wipe from my mind forever, but otherwise 'Spare' does, more or less, exactly what it says on the tin.
The memoir itself was fairly well written. Although, it did get a little wishy-washy for my taste at times. Personally, I didn't find the military escapades or drug induced self-destruction very interesting. I'm not pro-war or pro-military and I'm not interested in Harry's recreational drug use. This was something that made up a good chunk of the centre of the book and kind of slowed everything down for me.
His descriptions of Africa as some sort of mystical exotic getaway were a bit strange, especially coming from someone whose direct ancestors colonialised Africa as well as half of the planet.
I thought the whole situation with Harry, William and Charles seemed a bit petty and ridiculou on all sides. It just kind of made me wonder if these three grown-ass men have anything better to be doing than dragging each other in the media.
Maybe some fodder for the British republican perhaps next time they decide to call into question the role of the monarchy.
On the whole, this was a quick enough read if you listen to it as an audiobook and it gives an insight into Harry, his experiences and the lives of the modern royal family.
Admittedly, there was a few stories (something about Elizabeth Arden handcream and a certain frost-bitten appendage) that I'd rather wipe from my mind forever, but otherwise 'Spare' does, more or less, exactly what it says on the tin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship