Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - Spare

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

turtlekat23's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

2.0

My thoughts and feelings on this book are, like the book itself, rather disjointed and, at times, a jumble. The style of many, very short stories, usually in order but sometimes not, felt a little disorganized. I have much more sympathy for Prince Harry and a clearer representation of how awful the British press really are to them. This makes sense also in light of recent news regarding Kate’s health, King Charles’ health, etc. However, there are times, especially toward the end where the book seems very one-sided almost to the point of being defensive or self-centered. I do think perhaps, with the modern times and social media maybe we’ll see a little more transparency in the future? Either way, at times when discussing William, in particular, it was like shots fired at someone you know can’t fire back. My heart breaks for Harry and his hang up on the word Spare. Of that and others’ attitude regarding it, I have no doubt. I pray that regardless of everything else, he no longer accepts that identity and sees that he is a person of immense value, not because of his family, status, or anything else but just for him. Going back to the book, it is very cringy at times—I never wanted to know his circumcision status or about frostbite on his penis, or really anything about his genitalia at all. Why would an editor let that in? My family, who isn’t British, let alone Royal, would be mortified at that. Why would he want that in there? I get the drug use as a means of coping or self medicating. While also maybe something I would have downplayed, it does bolster the emphasis on mental health. I hope someday, especially as the father of littles, he sees how beautiful and amazing life is without such things. While this book is clearly one side of at least 3 sides to the truth, I do wish Harry, Megan, and their beautiful children the best of luck and pray, if only for their mother’s memory that he and William can be reconciled one day.

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jewelleryjen's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

I don't have much of an interest in the Royal family and I would never have picked up this book if it hadn't been for a review on YouTube by Leena Norms. I saw headlines about Megan and Harry leaving the family and was interested in their side of it.
This book was very interesting, it smacks of privilege (having a bad time?!- fly to Botswana and escape) but of course it does, the guy was a Prince and doesn't know anything else. There are parts where I can see he's trying to say he's normal, but it made me cringe as it seemed very inauthentic (I shop in TK maxx and dry my laundry on the radiators round my flat). If you can give him the benefit of the doubt on those things this book is hugely telling. It's mostly about death, the press and his search for belonging. The entire family are utterly dysfunctional and he doesn't shy away from talking about it. They are expected to do what they're told, or what is tradition, and never show emotions, not even to each other.
This is an enjoyable book to read, the chapters are short and easy.
I missed out on some of it as I didn't know who he was talking about when referencing cousins etc and there were stories from papers that I'd never read or heard of, but it didn't stop me enjoying it.

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readbycarina's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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jeanettesreadingcorner's review

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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chronicallyplotting's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

The saying “An heir and a spare” is one that haunts Prince Harry. It is one that his father referred to him when he was born and one that has haunted him his entire life. Feeling as though he his existence is to always be a backup in the eyes of his family, a formality.

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I do not follow the royal family close, I am a person who is very thankful to not live under a monarchy and after reading this I am even more thankful not to live under one.
It is sad how much Harry and William went through growing up with the death of their mother, and the lack of mental health help provided to them was shameful. Prince Harry spent his life tortured and haunted by the media.
The only thing about the book that Prince Harry contradicted himself on was he hated people who wrote “tell alls “exposing things. And this book was a “tell all”.
I hope Harry and Megan find peace away from the monarchy and press like the hope.

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sbauer378's review

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slow-paced

2.0

Oof. This was an overly bloated mess. So many mentions of his frostbit penis that I wish I could erase from my mind. Not to mention the excruxiating details about his military training and the war. So much of this could have been cut out. Plus it comes off as propaganda for the US and UK's many war crimes.

I already did not care for the royal family before reading this but I had some respect for Harry. Not anymore, they all suck. Props to him for breaking away from his crazy family and doing some self analysis. But this book made it clear that Harry only dug the barest bit into unlearning racism and then did not go any further. He is an incredibly privileged person and he refuses to acknowledge that at all. Quick sidebar, are he and Meghan anti-vaxxers? There are so many mentions of only using homeopathic remedies and not taking pills (you know, actual, tested medicine).

There is a lot of rampant islamophobia when he talks about the war in Afghanistan. And the way he talked about the Gurkhas, basically calling them beloved pets of the royal family like they are dogs. It was so disgusting, I had to put this down for a bit. It's so paternalistic, especially when he vehemently defends the idea of the monarchy to the very end. Harry clearly enjoys the privilege that comes from the wealth they stole from people of color and he does not want to give it up. Just casually mentioning going for a ski holiday in Kazakhstan as if that's something normal people do. And also, him and Meghan are just so poor, they might have to use his $10 million inheritance to live. Oh, the horror.

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siankrb's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

An honest, funny and moving account of Prince Harry’s life and the challenges that come with being the spare. I thought the book particularly picked up in the third section, talking about Meghan and recent events. Took me a while to get through but I ended up being very moved. Appreciated having an insight into a life completely different from my own.

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