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369 reviews for:
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
Omid Scobie, Carolyn Durand
3.25 AVERAGE
369 reviews for:
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
Omid Scobie, Carolyn Durand
3.25 AVERAGE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although it was non-fiction, it was truly a page turner. I felt as though we really got to see into Prince Harry & Meghan’s life. Things that I had already thought were confirmed. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about the royal family or about a sweet marriage that has stood strong, despite intense familial hardship. Oftentimes, we paint being royal or famous as a luxury, but there are a lot of hard parts about it and we get to see that here. I love it!
Before starting on the book, I saw a lot of people giving the book 1 STAR and describing it as a work of fiction. Whilst I cannot confirm if everything in the book is 100% true, it doesnt read like fiction either.
As is common with a lot of these types of books, if you read newspapers regularly, a majority of what is written will be deja vu for you. this is an expanded compilation of reports on Harry and Meghan.
Also i agree with one comment made in all review - this book is for Meghan, of Meghan etc. Harry and Meghan are shown as being 100% right and sometimes demi-gods. I doubt this is true.
As is common with a lot of these types of books, if you read newspapers regularly, a majority of what is written will be deja vu for you. this is an expanded compilation of reports on Harry and Meghan.
Also i agree with one comment made in all review - this book is for Meghan, of Meghan etc. Harry and Meghan are shown as being 100% right and sometimes demi-gods. I doubt this is true.
You can measure any biography based on the source, and intention. Looking back now at the past year, some of the “cringe worthy” commentating may not as unfounded as people originally speculated. Ultimately there wasn’t a ton of shocking information, but a good collection of the events to paint a picture that most missed between the minor media coverage moments.
If you’re curious...it’s worth the read. Interpret as you want.
If you’re curious...it’s worth the read. Interpret as you want.
I thought this book set the record straight on a lot of the controversy surrounding Harry and Meghan. It is really sad the way they were treated by their families and the media. They both seem like lovely people who want to do good things. It seems that anything that Meghan did (even if it was done by other royals in the past) she was villainized and called out. Frankly, I am not surprised that they made the decisions that they felt they had too. I hope they find their place in the world whether it be back in the UK or in the US.
Deze biografie over Meghan & Harry is geschreven door een royaltyverslaggever en een schrijver die - zoals de achterflap vermeldt - een uitstekende journalistieke relatie met het koningshuis heeft opgebouwd. Voor het schrijven van het boek hebben zij medewerking gekregen van veel personen die dicht bij het koppel staan. Volgens de auteurs wilden zij een zo objectief mogelijk boek schrijven en heeft alle informatie minstens twee bronnen.
Het boek leest lekker vlot en er wordt wat verteld over de levensgeschiedenis van Harry en Meghan, over de koppeling, hun eerste ontmoetingen, verloving, huwelijk en de tijd daarna, waarna ze uiteindelijk een stap terug zetten om een leven buiten de schijnwerpers op te bouwen. Om eerlijk te zijn hoopte ik op wat smeuïge onthullingen, passages over hoe zij nou tegen zaken aankijken die veelvuldig in het nieuws zijn geweest, maar de meeste informatie was mij niet geheel onbekend. Wel krijg je bijvoorbeeld nog een kijkje achter de schermen van hun huwelijk (zo weet ik nu bijvoorbeeld dat de beroemde uitvoering van ‘Stand by Me’ door het Kingdom Choir al de twaalfde versie was die is voorgelegd, omdat de 11 versies daarvoor allemaal werden afgekeurd) en iets meer inzicht in hun privéleven en lees je hoeveel last Meghan heeft gehad van alle (racistische) uitspraken die over haar zijn gedaan door de pers.
De schrijfstijl van het boek kon mij echter niet heel erg bekoren. Sommige passages zijn wel erg zoetsappig aangezet en aangedikt en hoewel volgens de auteurs de objectiviteit bewaard is gebleven, leest het hele boek toch vooral als een lofzang op Harry & Meghan, wat gekleurd en eenzijdig. Zelf heb ik niet echt een mening over dit paar en de manier waarop zij sommige dingen afgehandeld hebben (ik vind dan ook dat je niet makkelijk kunt oordelen over dingen die je zelf niet hebt meegemaakt), maar in dit boek lijkt het alsof veel dingen het paar zijn overkomen en zij daar zelf weinig aandeel in hebben gehad. Zo lijkt de verwijdering en de afgekoeld relatie tussen Harry en William vooral de ‘schuld’ van de Cambridges, terwijl in relaties tussen mensen vast van beide kanten dingen gebeuren.
Dus het is zeker ook vermakelijk, maar niet de allerbeste biografie die ik heb gelezen
Het boek leest lekker vlot en er wordt wat verteld over de levensgeschiedenis van Harry en Meghan, over de koppeling, hun eerste ontmoetingen, verloving, huwelijk en de tijd daarna, waarna ze uiteindelijk een stap terug zetten om een leven buiten de schijnwerpers op te bouwen. Om eerlijk te zijn hoopte ik op wat smeuïge onthullingen, passages over hoe zij nou tegen zaken aankijken die veelvuldig in het nieuws zijn geweest, maar de meeste informatie was mij niet geheel onbekend. Wel krijg je bijvoorbeeld nog een kijkje achter de schermen van hun huwelijk (zo weet ik nu bijvoorbeeld dat de beroemde uitvoering van ‘Stand by Me’ door het Kingdom Choir al de twaalfde versie was die is voorgelegd, omdat de 11 versies daarvoor allemaal werden afgekeurd) en iets meer inzicht in hun privéleven en lees je hoeveel last Meghan heeft gehad van alle (racistische) uitspraken die over haar zijn gedaan door de pers.
De schrijfstijl van het boek kon mij echter niet heel erg bekoren. Sommige passages zijn wel erg zoetsappig aangezet en aangedikt en hoewel volgens de auteurs de objectiviteit bewaard is gebleven, leest het hele boek toch vooral als een lofzang op Harry & Meghan, wat gekleurd en eenzijdig. Zelf heb ik niet echt een mening over dit paar en de manier waarop zij sommige dingen afgehandeld hebben (ik vind dan ook dat je niet makkelijk kunt oordelen over dingen die je zelf niet hebt meegemaakt), maar in dit boek lijkt het alsof veel dingen het paar zijn overkomen en zij daar zelf weinig aandeel in hebben gehad. Zo lijkt de verwijdering en de afgekoeld relatie tussen Harry en William vooral de ‘schuld’ van de Cambridges, terwijl in relaties tussen mensen vast van beide kanten dingen gebeuren.
Dus het is zeker ook vermakelijk, maar niet de allerbeste biografie die ik heb gelezen
For the record, I agree with the authors' (any many other journalists') assessments that Meghan was unfairly treated by the British media and was probably not as well-protected by "the Firm" as she could have been. I also don't buy into the characterization of her as "flashy," or a scheming social climber, or a terrible boss, or whatever you want to call her because you don't like the idea of a Black woman with a career joining a stuffy old institution full of inbred white people. But this isn't a well-researched character portrait of two people who are simultaneously apolitical high-ranking government officials and international celebrities, or the story of a relationship forged through adversity and cultural scrutiny. This is just a hagiography. There's little to no consideration to any historical context, the current legal standing and authority of the British monarchy, geopolitical concerns, etc--there's no depth. Certainly it provides a different account of some of the most famous "palace leaks" that appeared across the tabloids, and certainly I am inclined to believe that not all of those "scoops" were anywhere near true, but the authors write about these two people as if they're characters in a Lifetime Christmas movie. I'm sure that they actually are very nice people, but the way they're written about here makes them seem so one-dimensional. This is not written to give Harry and Meghan a place in the historical record, it's written as a response to the tabloids, and in doing so, it becomes tabloid fodder in itself. It's a vicious metafictional cycle.
I think, however, there was fundamentally no way for me to enjoy this narrative. While again, I am sure that everyone in this book is a very nice person, I frankly don't buy in to some of the basic principles presented as driving forces. I don't think that substantial social change can come out of an apolitical charity industry. I don't think that free-market capitalism can somehow be manipulated to suddenly valuing human rights, environmental conservation, etc, over basic profit. I don't think participating in either of these things is particularly radical. The non-profit industrial complex that the authors describe as "inspiring" and giving the subjects a "sense of purpose" is, in reality, hugely frustrating, hugely wasteful, and exists for the most part to make wealthy, privileged people feel better about maintaining their wealth and privilege. There was no incentive for me to "take sides" in the narrative, because I didn't think either "side" (and the authors would certainly like you to believe that there are defined "sides") ultimately benefitted anyone but the people directly involved. Sad way to picture people who are supposed to be the living embodiment of a nation-state, but also, who could've guessed that monarchy actually really sucks???? Surely not almost every country Britain has invaded or colonized?????
At the end of the day, everyone in this book began the narrative as a wealthy, privileged person, and ended the narrative as a wealthy, privileged person. Monarchy sucks for everyone involved and should be abolished. I don't understand what the ruckus is about, but it's certainly not anything worth spending 300 pages on--or at least not 300 pages written by these authors.
I think, however, there was fundamentally no way for me to enjoy this narrative. While again, I am sure that everyone in this book is a very nice person, I frankly don't buy in to some of the basic principles presented as driving forces. I don't think that substantial social change can come out of an apolitical charity industry. I don't think that free-market capitalism can somehow be manipulated to suddenly valuing human rights, environmental conservation, etc, over basic profit. I don't think participating in either of these things is particularly radical. The non-profit industrial complex that the authors describe as "inspiring" and giving the subjects a "sense of purpose" is, in reality, hugely frustrating, hugely wasteful, and exists for the most part to make wealthy, privileged people feel better about maintaining their wealth and privilege. There was no incentive for me to "take sides" in the narrative, because I didn't think either "side" (and the authors would certainly like you to believe that there are defined "sides") ultimately benefitted anyone but the people directly involved. Sad way to picture people who are supposed to be the living embodiment of a nation-state, but also, who could've guessed that monarchy actually really sucks???? Surely not almost every country Britain has invaded or colonized?????
At the end of the day, everyone in this book began the narrative as a wealthy, privileged person, and ended the narrative as a wealthy, privileged person. Monarchy sucks for everyone involved and should be abolished. I don't understand what the ruckus is about, but it's certainly not anything worth spending 300 pages on--or at least not 300 pages written by these authors.
All in all, this was a poor account. It tried so hard to promote Harry and Meghan as untouchable, perfect, and the victims of horrible circumstances that it really just came across fake and unrelatable.
www.theliteratureladies.com
www.theliteratureladies.com
What a precious book. A story of courage and heart. A story of great overcoming and hard decisions. I felt honoured to hear this account of events and be able to share in the details of their lives in a wholehearted manner, without politics and the exploration of the evil-hearted ones that unfortunately make so much noise in this world. Thank you for your voices Harry, Megan, Archie and dogs. Thank you to the good friends you have. Thank you to the reporters for this book. Harry & Megan, may you find your joy, your freedom. May you enjoy the love of your family, where possible. May you live long, happy, full lives. May you shine and bring life to those you touch.
Sincerely, a voice of love and kindness.
Sincerely, a voice of love and kindness.
Si bien es cierto que me esperaba mucho más salseo del que ha habido, me gusta la elegancia con la que han tratado los autores toda la historia de Harry y Meghan. Desde que se conocieron (e incluso aportando algunos datos de ellos de antes de conocerse), hasta que se separaron de la Casa Real y todo lo que ello conllevó, y todo lo que les llevó a tomar esa decisión. Y si bien casi todo lo que cuentan eran cosas que se supieron en el momento (o por lo menos todo el mundo daba por hecho), que lo confirmen (por lo menos hasta el punto que cada uno quiera creerse una biografía no oficial) impacta. Y mucho. Sobre todo cuando te das cuenta que los mayores desplantes los hicieron sus familiares.
No obstante, se nota mucho en algunos momentos el blanqueamiento a la familia real, y sobre todo, a la Reina. Pero he disfrutado el libro. Mucho.
No obstante, se nota mucho en algunos momentos el blanqueamiento a la familia real, y sobre todo, a la Reina. Pero he disfrutado el libro. Mucho.
Truly eye opening
This account of the life of Harry & Meghan is eye opening but reaffirms my opinions on the stuffiness and outdated policies and behaviors of the Royal family. I felt sad for Harry & Meghan that they were treated this way by both the family and “The Firm”
This account of the life of Harry & Meghan is eye opening but reaffirms my opinions on the stuffiness and outdated policies and behaviors of the Royal family. I felt sad for Harry & Meghan that they were treated this way by both the family and “The Firm”