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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
Neither serious advocacy nor trashy fun in the best royal bio sense, but I suspect attempting to be both, this was just silly and stupid. It would have succeeded better in its aim of propping up the Sussexes if it had made even a stab at impartial assessment. That baby shower was just a very bad idea, you might as well come out and say so. But none of the family comes off well and you know the royals are past their sell-by date when they don’t even entertain.
*looks at all the one star reviews* Sheesh...Anyway I wanted to listen to this book because I was curious to learn more about Harry and Meghan's lives together and the media storm surrounding their relationship and careers. I'd say that I did get some of the insight on what I was looking for. However, some of the writing was very saccharine and biased so I have a hard time believing H&M didn't have hand in the production of this book. It took me a while to finish it though because frankly some parts were boring and I found myself zoning out until a more interesting part caught my attention. I find the things the press have been saying about Meghan pretty awful but it's interesting that many of her detractors are quick to believe any negative story about her no matter how petty or strange or cruel but positive stories are dismissed. I think it's important to have a balanced view on a person (if possible) especially when it's someone you don't know personally and you're the kind of person to be easily swayed by tabloids and gossip.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
A wonderfully written and thorough biography about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I really enjoyed reading, just couldn't stop listening. I can confidently say I appreciate and respect them and their trauma a lot more after this, since it included so many personal details I hadn't ever heard before from other pieces of media about them. I hope to read more biographies as meticulous and respectful as this one. Although certain descriptions were quite silly, and were obviously added to make Meghan look good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Racism, Stalking, Pregnancy
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Car accident
This was a a pretty fluffy account of the history of Harry and Meghan's relationship from meeting to "stepping back" from the royal family. It was hard not to feel a little whiplash as a reader oscillating from descriptions of impossibly glamorous events and surreal episodes like choosing the perfect priceless tiara to their personal struggles with hateful tabloid press. I can see why Meghan Markle wanted to do her own interview with Oprah because IRL she does not at all come off as tone deaf as this book would have you believe.
In 1992, when Andrew Morton's book, "Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words" originally came out Princess Di claimed not to have any part of its writing as well. Come years later it was admitted that she very well did contribute to and championed the book to be written. When reading FF and with the insistence from Meghan and Harry that they did not speak to the writers, I wonder how information in situations where the couple were involved was obtained. Such as this excerpt when describing how Meghan met Prince William for the very first time:
Are the authors clairvoyant? Did private Meghan go in to such great detail to her friends about Anmer Hall and about her first meeting with H.'s brother? Or is this largely embellished fiction?
If you like Harry and Meghan, you'll continue to if you read this book. If you don't like Harry and Meghan, you'll continue to dislike them. If you're indifferent, it won't sway your mind one way or another. In fact I think Omid and Carolyn attempt to be objective in some parts, but aren't very convincing or include tidbits of "new" information that are trivial. There's also a slightly irritating amount of information meant to endear Meghan but in my opinion fall short. For instance, claiming she was disliked by her classmates for being "fake" and then going on to say she was voted Homecoming Queen a few sentences later. I suppose being from the UK you might not know that Homecoming Queen is a popularity contest and in my experience you don't vote for someone you don't like.
I guess the main-takeaway is I read it. And I'm not any better for it. It's just meh.
On the console tables in the foyer, Meghan took in the framed photos of the brothers with their late mother, Diana, family moments with the Queen, and cute snaps of George and Charlotte. Although she had never met the people in the photos before, she had heard a lot about them from Harry. The three of them walked straight past the drawing room, with its neutral color palette accented by important antiques and artwork, and straight to the rear of the first floor and the heart of the Cambridge family home: the kitchen. No fuss, no servants, just the three of them and the tea they were about to drink.
Are the authors clairvoyant? Did private Meghan go in to such great detail to her friends about Anmer Hall and about her first meeting with H.'s brother? Or is this largely embellished fiction?
If you like Harry and Meghan, you'll continue to if you read this book. If you don't like Harry and Meghan, you'll continue to dislike them. If you're indifferent, it won't sway your mind one way or another. In fact I think Omid and Carolyn attempt to be objective in some parts, but aren't very convincing or include tidbits of "new" information that are trivial. There's also a slightly irritating amount of information meant to endear Meghan but in my opinion fall short. For instance, claiming she was disliked by her classmates for being "fake" and then going on to say she was voted Homecoming Queen a few sentences later. I suppose being from the UK you might not know that Homecoming Queen is a popularity contest and in my experience you don't vote for someone you don't like.
I guess the main-takeaway is I read it. And I'm not any better for it. It's just meh.
lighthearted
fast-paced
I listened to the audiobook of this even though I own the hard cover too. The book is fantastic. Lots of detail and a great information. The audiobook is read by Omid Scobie, one of the authors and a podcast host himself. His voice is a great addition to the story. The audiobook and paperback copy have an updated epilogue which covers more of what happened after Harry and Meghan "left" the royal family.
If you accept this book for what it is (biased, fluffy re: M & H), it’s a good read.