Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Spare by Prince Harry

7 reviews

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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e11en's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25


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theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective slow-paced

5.0

I am the same age as Prince Harry and always felt a affinity for him. Admittedly, I don’t know much about the royal family, but Harry’s memoir discusses the absurdity of everything the press have ever said about the royal family. This book was also Harry’s chance to tell his side of the story about how his family has treated him and Megan. 

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. 

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aloy's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

3.5


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miggyfool's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75


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malloryrae's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.75

Started out slow and I wasn't really feeling the first section and felt like it wasn't in his voice but I’m glad I kept reading and ended up liking it more than I was expecting to. A lot of hard topics and deep reflection by Harry throughout parts 2&3 of the book

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kjgravelle's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

4.0


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