Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Spare by Prince Harry

146 reviews

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Mental illness, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Pregnancy, War, Suicide, and Miscarriage

rhiannonhoward's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cultural appropriation, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and War

stefpedrozo's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

jewelleryjen's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, War, Racism, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

eliza_beth_23's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Mental illness

Moderate: Racism, Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Bullying, Drug use, and Medical content

cscharfway's review

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I read this after finishing all seasons of The Crown in the past month, so I was craving hearing more about the royal family. I absolutely loved hearing Harry’s POV! The description was strong, the emotions were raw and I felt his pain and anxiety as if it was my own. I usually read non-fiction books quite slowly, only tackling small chunks at a time, but I couldn’t put this book down. I only gave it a 4 because at some points, his storytelling was all over the place. I kind of got used to the style though, and by the end he was more focused.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Mental illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

booklover9820's review

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

Strangely written and slightly immature, but also interesting to see into such a different life

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Content Warnings

Minor: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death of parent, Mental illness, War, and Car accident

jeanettesreadingcorner's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death of parent, Bullying, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Torture, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, War, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Pregnancy

cleotheo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Abandonment, War, Drug use, Torture, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Classism, Death, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Colonisation

Minor: Racism and Pandemic/Epidemic

chronicallyplotting's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Racism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Death, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use