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369 reviews for:
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
Omid Scobie, Carolyn Durand
3.24 AVERAGE
369 reviews for:
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
Omid Scobie, Carolyn Durand
3.24 AVERAGE
I read this book as a precursor to the Netflix documentary (which I haven't watched yet). Overall, this book made me sad. It just seems like it didn't have to be this way, although I've read that a departure from royal life was probably going to happen for Harry with or without his marriage to Meghan.
Harry and Meghan have captured the heart of many Americans and Brits alike. I appreciated this well-researched book that captured their highs and lows as a couple and as also as Royals.
Overall, I liked the book but I certainly think it could have been better. The book didn't provide any real substantive information that's not already out there. At times the material seemed very much like tabloid gossip. If you're a fan of the royal family chances are you will already be familiar with the life events and stories in this novel.
Probably could have used another round of editing - the talk of clothes and designers and Michelin star meals can be a bit much - but overall an interesting look at a relationship that has the attention of the world, in ways both good and bad. Harry and Meghan clearly wanted to use their roles to change the world, and it's a damn shame they felt they were unable to do so. No one comes off particularly well or poorly in the book. They all just come across as human, which is a nice change from the narrative build up by tabloids and the British media.
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did, that being said I still read it cover to cover and hung on every detail. Unfortunately, this reads like fan fiction rather than a biography (and like others, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if the Sussex's had more to do with the book than the authors are saying...)
The other sticking point for me was that the timeline was a bit confusing. If I hadn't followed the royals for years I would have gotten lost in some of the back and forth of events and happenings.
Mostly, this book reminded me how sad I am that things transpired in such a way that Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals. There was so much potential for them to do amazing things within the monarchy, but I'll happily follow their journey in the private sector, as much as they're willing to share in any case.
The other sticking point for me was that the timeline was a bit confusing. If I hadn't followed the royals for years I would have gotten lost in some of the back and forth of events and happenings.
Mostly, this book reminded me how sad I am that things transpired in such a way that Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals. There was so much potential for them to do amazing things within the monarchy, but I'll happily follow their journey in the private sector, as much as they're willing to share in any case.
I thought that this was a pretty balanced book. There are a lot of 1 star reviews, which I believe are completely unwarranted. If you go in with a bias, you will come out with a bias. It makes me wonder why they read the book in the first place.
My only problem was sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline. There was a bit of jumping around and coming back to things from a previous time period. Made it difficult for me to figure out the order of things.
My only problem was sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline. There was a bit of jumping around and coming back to things from a previous time period. Made it difficult for me to figure out the order of things.
If you’re a royal watcher, this is well covered ground, albeit all organized in one book. If you don’t follow the royals, here’s a tidy account of recent years.
I'd have had more to say if I'd rated this right after reading, but suffice to say there were sufficient basic factual royal mistakes and copyediting errors added on to the sourcing that feels very much like Andrew Morton's. I love a dishy royal bio and would have appreciated a less dishy, serious one on one or both of this couple, but this is not it.
The royal family has always been something to behold. A secret that was undeniably wonderful, but ultimately frustrating. In this era of information at our fingertips, nothing is secret now.
My curiosity got the better of me when this book scrolled across my screen. I wanted to know the dirty details of Harry and Meghan leaving the royal family and what their life is like now. Their story seemed like a fairy tail, but the more I read, the more I realized, this book is very one sided. The way Harry and Meghan are portrayed between the covers of this book, makes them look perfect and blameless in all things. I know their lives have been extreme and under the scrutiny of the world, but is there nothing that makes them real? A mean thought, a bad word? This was my one complaint. The royals are not real people.
The rest of the story was a quick read. Back story about how they met up to when they left the royal family. If only there was something more relatable.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina
My curiosity got the better of me when this book scrolled across my screen. I wanted to know the dirty details of Harry and Meghan leaving the royal family and what their life is like now. Their story seemed like a fairy tail, but the more I read, the more I realized, this book is very one sided. The way Harry and Meghan are portrayed between the covers of this book, makes them look perfect and blameless in all things. I know their lives have been extreme and under the scrutiny of the world, but is there nothing that makes them real? A mean thought, a bad word? This was my one complaint. The royals are not real people.
The rest of the story was a quick read. Back story about how they met up to when they left the royal family. If only there was something more relatable.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina
I guess you could call me a low-key "fan" of the royals. I'm mostly here for the royal weddings and babies... Beyond that I just wish them all well.
I've got no problems with Harry or Megan. I think it's obvious that royal responsibilities have left Harry feeling stifled for many years. Megan didn't make Harry do anything he didn't want to do- rather she gave him a reason and the inspiration to do what he had always wanted to do- make a new life where he could be autonomous.
And while I have absolutely no issues with the couple at all, I must acknowledge that this book is an absolute "puff piece". It paints Megan in particular as nearly flawless. It's a fun little jaunt through the couple's engagement and early marriage (it ends with the couple leaving "the Firm"), but it is certainly not hard hitting journalism!
I've got no problems with Harry or Megan. I think it's obvious that royal responsibilities have left Harry feeling stifled for many years. Megan didn't make Harry do anything he didn't want to do- rather she gave him a reason and the inspiration to do what he had always wanted to do- make a new life where he could be autonomous.
And while I have absolutely no issues with the couple at all, I must acknowledge that this book is an absolute "puff piece". It paints Megan in particular as nearly flawless. It's a fun little jaunt through the couple's engagement and early marriage (it ends with the couple leaving "the Firm"), but it is certainly not hard hitting journalism!