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kelly_e's review against another edition
4.0
Author: Prince Harry
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: January 10, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Revelatory • Intimate • Tragic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow—and horror. As Princess Diana was laid to rest, billions wondered what Prince William and Prince Harry must be thinking and feeling—and how their lives would play out from that point on.
For Harry, Spare is that story at last. From his battles with loneliness and anger; to his struggles at school; to his time in the army; to meeting Meghan, their fairy-tale wedding, and being hounded by the press; to finally choosing to step away from the spotlight lest history repeat itself, Harry bares everything in his memoir.
💭 T H O U G H T S
When I first heard that Harry was going to be sharing his story, I wasn't sure if I would read it. I cannot call myself a royal follower, but of all the members of the Royal Family, I have always had a soft spot for Harry. I can relate to being the second-born and his struggles to find himself or his place in the world. Nonetheless, I placed a hold at the library for the audio knowing the wait would be lengthy and when it finally came through I decided I needed to see what everything was about for myself.
Presented in a chronological manner that works best, Spare offers an unprecedented inside look into royal life. With unflinching honesty, Harry holds nothing back detailing his intense loneliness and struggles in the wake of his mother's death. My heart went out to his younger self as he describes how everything was handled and how he chose to believe his mother was simply off on vacation somewhere for many years.
I never realized the extent of the role the media plays and how it sensationalizes a lot. I don't know how anyone can handle having every single thing you do, scrutinized by millions of people. It will come as no surprise that Harry speaks openly about his mental health struggles, which I highly commend him for. The rigorous standards of the monarchy at times even made him feel like a failure, which is just heartbreaking.
The memoir is quite long and there were definitely parts where it lulls throughout the middle. As with everyone's story there are always parts that are more and less interesting. For me, my interest was mostly in his life in the wake of his mother's death, his time in the army, and his and Meghan's life. I'll admit I was a tad disappointed that his life with Meghan comprises only a small part at the end, but I completely understand his reasoning in doing so - privacy has become an very important aspect of their lives and I respect that. At the end of the day, I am glad that they found each other and have created a beautiful life together.
If you're on the fence about Spare, I'd make the suggestion of reading it for yourself so you can form your own opinions. There is no denying he was born into a life of privilege, yet that doesn't mean he isn't entitled to his own feelings, thoughts and desires. The way he and his family have been treated in the wake of stepping down speaks volumes to the outdated conditions of the monarchy. I'd also highly recommend the audio as there's certainly power in the fact he narrates it himself.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• royal family devotees
• celebrity memoir lovers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"No one had an answer for a boy actually seeking external pain to match his internal."
"Grief is a thing best shared."
"I'd traveled the world from top to bottom, literally. I'd hopscotched the continents. I'd met hundreds of thousands of people, I'd crossed paths with a ludicrously large cross-section of the planet's seven billion residents. For thirty-two years I'd watched a conveyor-belt of faces pass by and only a handful ever made me look twice. This woman stopped the conveyer belt."
"In this mixed-up world, this pain-filled life, we’d done it. we’d managed to find each other."
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
⚠️ CW: PTSDkaceymarie13's review against another edition
3.5
Some reviews of this book say that Harry is twisting things for his own gain, but I don't know if that is true. Of course the book is going to be one-sided, that's how we as humans perceive the world. We see it from our point of view only. By no means am I saying to take this book as gospel, but I did feel, at least in Harry's mind, that it was honest.
Even if you only believe half of what is said in this memoir, it's still heartbreaking. I'm glad I read it.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, and Classism
lexa's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Vomit, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
redheadorganist's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage
natbooks_'s review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
rmpearcy's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Grief, War, and Classism
This does cover some of the details of Princess Diana's death and Prince Harry's feelings on it.amcghig's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Pregnancy
kylasmv15's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Bullying and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
2.5
And not too much about the monarchy or whatever. But perhaps too much about the war. And his frostbitten penis.
I suppose I can sympathize with having a hard time editing out bits of your life when composing a memoir, especially when that life has been lived so publicly and with such scrutiny over events that were inaccurately reported. And when you've endured so much trauma. But this book was entirely too long and often felt disjointed. I often tuned out during the middle section of the book where he goes on for eons about how much he loved the war.
Which is a shame because he has some very poignant and important things to say about how we treat those in the public eye. You just have to endure many stories about flying helicopters and camping in Botswana that you might not be interested in and paragraphs of the former Prince of Wales reminding you of all the "great work" he's done.
At the end of the day, if you're at all intrigued by the inner workings of the British monarchy and Harry specifically, Spare is probably worth a read. Just be aware that it definitely needed a more discerning editor.
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, War, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Racism, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
sistaharlem's review against another edition
2.5
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, and Alcohol