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dev921's review
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Drug use, Medical trauma, Cursing, Stalking, Blood, Classism, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Self harm, War, Infidelity, and Mental illness
kiwichill's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Stalking, Grief, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Racism
Minor: Gun violence, Bullying, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Deportation, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Hate crime
kassidypf13's review
5.0
Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, War, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
sshabein's review
4.0
Now, obviously, Harry is still going to have his blind spots, and therapy at this stage will have only unraveled so much (since there is SO, SO MUCH to unravel), but he does try to be fair about himself and the circumstances in which he was raised. It really does say a lot that him being sent to an active war zone during his military service felt like a welcome break from his usual life.
Anyway, I'm definitely no royalist, but I've often thought that the life must be strange to experience, no matter how close to wearing the crown you are, and this book confirmed that. It's definitely worth a library read.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent, War, Racism, and Miscarriage
dragongirl271's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Racism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
dmswack3's review
4.5
I highly enjoyed the narration Prince Harry gave, and the story itself was fun to listen to. His ghost writers was phenomenal in my opinion. I'm very glad I listened to it instead of reading it, however, because I think I would have found myself bored by some of the longer chapters had it not been read to me.
Something else for readers to be weary of besides long chapters and perhaps boring text, should you choose to read this rather than listen- this story bares all... Like ALL. You will hear a LOT about the Prince's... Todger, as he calls it. Like a LOT. Where it's been, who's seen it, how it's been injured so uh. Fair warning there.
Beyond the todger, this book really doesn't pull punches. I saw shocked at points, angered at others, cried at some. But I also felt myself thinking: is it all true? God I hope not. It's that bad.
Give it a listen.
Graphic: Grief, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Suicide, Car accident, Infertility, Child death, Islamophobia, Toxic friendship, Violence, War, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Alcohol, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Hate crime, Addiction, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment
ms4321's review against another edition
3.0
The memoir itself was fairly well written. Although, it did get a little wishy-washy for my taste at times. (Yes, Harry very much seems to be his father's son in that respect). The philosophical talking fox, moon and dust bin was a bit much for me.
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 were a bit strange and problematic (very heart of darkness), especially considering they were coming from the perspective of someone whose direct ancestors colonialised half the planet.
I thought the whole situation with Harry, William and Charles seemed a bit petty (but unsurprisingly so) on all sides. It just kind of made me wonder if these three grown men have anything better to be doing than dragging each other in the media.
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 current royal family. Although there was a few off the wall stories I'd rather wipe from my mind forever, 'Spare' does, more or less, exactly what it says on the tin.
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Drug use
Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Racism, War, Colonisation, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
jedore's review
4.0
“When is someone in this family going to break free and live?”
My interest in the royals doesn’t run deep. I read a lot of historical fiction about Britain so I have a decent grasp of royal history, I thought Diana was an amazing human and was horrifically mistreated by the family (and the paparazzi, of course), and I’ve watched every season of The Crown. That’s pretty much it. But, it’s enough for me to know that if I was forced to pick a team, I’d definitely be on Team Harry (which, by the way, would be Team Diana-Harry were she still alive).
Harry took a lot of flack in my online book groups when the book was released…and, now that I’ve finished it, my suspicions are confirmed. Harry isn’t a stellar writer, so he doesn’t always convey his totally justifiable feelings in the most ideal possible way. I believe those who viciously criticized him lack empathy, a basic grasp of psychology, and are very likely the ones who keep the paparazzi in business by reading and believing their trash.
Speaking from firsthand experience, I can confirm 100% that money and privilege do not excuse ANY human being from the emotional repercussions of a lack of love and abuse. Love is in very short supply in the royal family…that’s clear in every single thing I’ve ever read or watched about them, not just from Harry’s story. Appearances, power, pettiness, and manipulation totally trump love and that creates pain for those who value love more. The paparazzi is beyond abusive and unbelievably racist. What they do is not a price anyone should EVER have to pay. I feel deeply for Harry and Meghan and am SO glad that they were brave enough to break free and live.
Despite there being a lot more pages of the book dedicated to Harry’s military experiences than I expected, I totally enjoyed spending the last few days with him. If we’re in a relationship, whether we’re male or female, may we all be so lucky to have a partner that is willing to do whatever it takes to protect us. Harry is a good man. I hope that he is able to build a better and safer life for his family…and I hope karma works it’s magic on a few particular members of his family.
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Racism, War, Alcohol, Grief, Abandonment, Racial slurs, Bullying, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
bessadams's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Death of parent, War, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Grief
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Drug use, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Alcohol
tdhuck's review
4.25
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, War, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Drug use, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent, Death, and Stalking
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Antisemitism, Addiction, and Bullying