Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Spare by Prince Harry

128 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

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

kcbatts's review

medium-paced

I cannot speak to the truth of the contents of this book (who can except those involved in the events?), but I did enjoy reading. I found the readability to be easy even when the contents discussed were not. While I can see it was tad bit long in places, if you have interest in Prince Harry and British royals, I think it's worth a read or listen. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Animal cruelty, Racism, War, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, and Pregnancy

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

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

blissofalife's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

It felt simultaneously full of emotion and emotionless, burnout personified. Straightforward, no beating around the bush. It feels wrong to say I enjoyed listening to it, to hearing Prince Harry lay his life out for all to see, but it was well done. I would recommend the audiobook for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Racism, Miscarriage, Bullying, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Car accident, Racial slurs, Stalking, Death, and War

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy

syza17's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Gun violence, Classism, and Racism

danimcthomas's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

Beautifully told and enlightening. I knew nothing about the royal family going in. I found the book very sad overall, but it feels hopeful, too. I’m sure it’s biased in some ways, but Harry seems to be very Frank and honest about his own failings as well as his family’s.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, Drug use, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Racism, Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

alicer718's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I felt I had to read this being a monarchist and having seen most of the Harry and Meghan stuff first hand and being absolutely horrified by it. The book was really interesting and informative it has made me see the entire situation in a different light and has really killed what little trust I had in the press and the ‘truths’ they tell 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Cursing, Grief, Racial slurs, and Drug use

Moderate: Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death, Bullying, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage