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A review by savvyrosereads
Spare by Prince Harry
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Rating: 5/5 stars
I’m trying to read more memoirs in 2023, and of course I had to kick things off with this obscure book absolutely no one is talking about!
I truly enjoyed Spare. Typically, I find celebrity memoirs to be pretty dry and, frankly, poorly written, but this one was a genuinely good read from start to finish. I know there was a ghostwriter involved, and first and foremost I just want to say that person deserves SO much kudos for their work here.
As to the substance, I am firmly Team Harry and Meghan and have been since the beginning, so it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that this book changed nothing for me on that front. What it did do was give me context and insight into Harry’s life and mental state that I didn’t previously have, including the depth of his mental illness/struggles, beginning with the trauma of losing his mother at such a young age and continuing through his highly unusual and stressful life, his time in war, and then the all-out press assault that resulted from his relationship with “an American actress.” I found myself crying multiple times, and alternately so angry for the way these people were treated for absolutely no reason. Finally, while I understand that many are upset about any criticisms aimed at the Royal family, I personally felt that Harry maintained a pretty fair and balanced tone when talking about his family—he was hurt by them, and he is expressing that, but he doesn’t resort to unnecessary attacks or vitriol, and remains extremely respectful when discussing his grandmother and the Crown itself.
There were certainly a few parts of the book I thought were entirely unnecessary (IYKYK) but I also understand the need to generate headlines and press to sell copies! Overall, if you have any interest in this ongoing drama at all, I urge you to pick this up and form your own opinions—both about the book and about the people involved.
CW: Death of a parent/grief; suicidal thoughts; mental illness/PTSD; war/violence; animal cruelty/death
I’m trying to read more memoirs in 2023, and of course I had to kick things off with this obscure book absolutely no one is talking about!
I truly enjoyed Spare. Typically, I find celebrity memoirs to be pretty dry and, frankly, poorly written, but this one was a genuinely good read from start to finish. I know there was a ghostwriter involved, and first and foremost I just want to say that person deserves SO much kudos for their work here.
As to the substance, I am firmly Team Harry and Meghan and have been since the beginning, so it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that this book changed nothing for me on that front. What it did do was give me context and insight into Harry’s life and mental state that I didn’t previously have, including the depth of his mental illness/struggles, beginning with the trauma of losing his mother at such a young age and continuing through his highly unusual and stressful life, his time in war, and then the all-out press assault that resulted from his relationship with “an American actress.” I found myself crying multiple times, and alternately so angry for the way these people were treated for absolutely no reason. Finally, while I understand that many are upset about any criticisms aimed at the Royal family, I personally felt that Harry maintained a pretty fair and balanced tone when talking about his family—he was hurt by them, and he is expressing that, but he doesn’t resort to unnecessary attacks or vitriol, and remains extremely respectful when discussing his grandmother and the Crown itself.
There were certainly a few parts of the book I thought were entirely unnecessary (IYKYK) but I also understand the need to generate headlines and press to sell copies! Overall, if you have any interest in this ongoing drama at all, I urge you to pick this up and form your own opinions—both about the book and about the people involved.
CW: Death of a parent/grief; suicidal thoughts; mental illness/PTSD; war/violence; animal cruelty/death
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, War, Animal death, Death, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, and Miscarriage