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A review by wordssearched
Spare by Prince Harry
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Given the constant media attention surrounding Prince Harry and the resulting assumptions we have all made about him, I tried to approach Spare with no prejudices or preconceived notions. That’s near impossible, of course, given (1) his family’s place in history, (2) the still ravenous interest in his mother, decades after her death, and (3) what the presence of his biracial wife brought to the surface regarding the racism of the British empire generally and the people who continue to stand as representatives of it specifically. That’s a lot of baggage to bring to the reading of a book, never mind the writing of one. And yet, I enjoyed the hell out Spare and recommend it to just about everyone.
There’s heavy stuff in here about mourning, loss, heartbreak and the deep struggle of finding yourself when your own mental health—and sometimes your family—stands in your way. Relatable. All of it. But there’s lightness too, funny stories about growing up in literal castles, lessons you learn along the way from people who love you and know the load you have been forced to carry, finding your purpose, finding your person and, yes, that story I’m sure everyone already heard about protecting the "family jewels” in freezing temperatures. Like his mother, Harry has a talent for connecting with people—a talent made exponentially greater once he unlocked an understanding of what it is to be in control of your own mental health. A talent on full display in this book.
Harry chose an excellent partner in J. R. Moehringer, whose ghost-writing bona fides are well known. Although Harry’s voice rings true, it’s clear that Moehringer contributed his deft understanding of pacing and a well-crafted narrative. Readers likely also owe him all the text’s references to the original and still best cataloguer of British royal family shenanigans: Shakespeare. However anyone wants to parcel out credit, though, this is an excellent read. I laughed, I cried, I empathized with the notion you can feel as if everything depends on you and simultaneously feel like you don’t matter at all.
The British royal family lives off taxpayer money; the news media that Harry excoriates again and again plays a significant role in the culture and politics of his home country, and the relationship between the two carries influence that plays out across many spheres. To suggest this is all too much information from a disgruntled, spoiled rich kid with no historical value is simply wrong. Whatever your opinion of Harry, his family or the role of royalty in the modern world, he has led a fascinating life and one worth airing out in a memoir. Luckily for readers, it is memoir excellently done.
There’s heavy stuff in here about mourning, loss, heartbreak and the deep struggle of finding yourself when your own mental health—and sometimes your family—stands in your way. Relatable. All of it. But there’s lightness too, funny stories about growing up in literal castles, lessons you learn along the way from people who love you and know the load you have been forced to carry, finding your purpose, finding your person and, yes, that story I’m sure everyone already heard about protecting the "family jewels” in freezing temperatures. Like his mother, Harry has a talent for connecting with people—a talent made exponentially greater once he unlocked an understanding of what it is to be in control of your own mental health. A talent on full display in this book.
Harry chose an excellent partner in J. R. Moehringer, whose ghost-writing bona fides are well known. Although Harry’s voice rings true, it’s clear that Moehringer contributed his deft understanding of pacing and a well-crafted narrative. Readers likely also owe him all the text’s references to the original and still best cataloguer of British royal family shenanigans: Shakespeare. However anyone wants to parcel out credit, though, this is an excellent read. I laughed, I cried, I empathized with the notion you can feel as if everything depends on you and simultaneously feel like you don’t matter at all.
The British royal family lives off taxpayer money; the news media that Harry excoriates again and again plays a significant role in the culture and politics of his home country, and the relationship between the two carries influence that plays out across many spheres. To suggest this is all too much information from a disgruntled, spoiled rich kid with no historical value is simply wrong. Whatever your opinion of Harry, his family or the role of royalty in the modern world, he has led a fascinating life and one worth airing out in a memoir. Luckily for readers, it is memoir excellently done.