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Emma's Reviews > Spare
Spare
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by
Emma's review
bookshelves: 2023, audiobooks, celebrity, england, memoir, non-fiction, royals, 2023-january
Jan 10, 2023
bookshelves: 2023, audiobooks, celebrity, england, memoir, non-fiction, royals, 2023-january
Edited to clarify my thoughts on January 13, 2023
This book was revealing, but also frustrating. Harry spares no punches rightfully pointing out where others have done wrong. However, he fails to consistently apply this same critical eye to his own actions. While he sounds like he feels bad for his missteps, he attributes them entirely to his upbringing with little interrogation. For example:
1. Making a big deal of Will and Kate laughing at the Nazi costume. It was wrong of them to laugh and encourage him; however, it was more wrong of him to choose and wear the costume.
2.He lets himself off the hook for his Pakistani slur because he grew up sheltered and his one Pakistani friend forgave him.
3. He physically attacks his bodyguard while drunk.
4. One passage that really struck me was “Meg said something I took the wrong way. It was partly a cultural difference, partly an language barrier, but I was overly sensitive that night. I thought: why is she having a go at me? I snapped at her-spoke to her harshly-cruelly…� Harry alludes to saying something awful to Megan, but never says what it was. Could it have something to do with his prior comments about her at the beginning of their relationship, which were quite judgmental for somehow who is sick of being judged by others.
Next to Harry, Prince Andrew gets the kindest treatment of the royals, being referred to only as "embarrassing"(he sounds more upset about Kate asking Meg to apologize for the baby brain comment). I didn't expect something earthshattering, particularly given his friendship with Eugenie, but I think Andrew's actions merit a bit of a harsher adjective than "embarrassing"
Some more petty thoughts:
I still don't believe WIlliam and Kate were huge Suits fans. The show is not that good.
2 I still don't believe Meghan never googled the Royals. She is an intelligent woman and that is literally the most basic thing you do for anyone.
3.I never want to hear about a frostbitten "todger" again.
If this book accomplishes is to stop the belief that Meghan is a diabolical, controlling mastermind because no one looks good in this book, so I doubt she had any hand in it (she's far too PR savvy in a good way for that). This is all Harry (and his ghostwriter).
One stylistic gripe: there were far too many chapters. The book was split into 3 parts, each with about 50-90 chapters. In a book under 500 pages. To me, this detracted from Harry and his GW's ability to actually write a compelling, cohesive narrative. Overall, this was fun, but would have been better with more self reflection. 3.5/5
This book was revealing, but also frustrating. Harry spares no punches rightfully pointing out where others have done wrong. However, he fails to consistently apply this same critical eye to his own actions. While he sounds like he feels bad for his missteps, he attributes them entirely to his upbringing with little interrogation. For example:
1. Making a big deal of Will and Kate laughing at the Nazi costume. It was wrong of them to laugh and encourage him; however, it was more wrong of him to choose and wear the costume.
2.He lets himself off the hook for his Pakistani slur because he grew up sheltered and his one Pakistani friend forgave him.
3. He physically attacks his bodyguard while drunk.
4. One passage that really struck me was “Meg said something I took the wrong way. It was partly a cultural difference, partly an language barrier, but I was overly sensitive that night. I thought: why is she having a go at me? I snapped at her-spoke to her harshly-cruelly…� Harry alludes to saying something awful to Megan, but never says what it was. Could it have something to do with his prior comments about her at the beginning of their relationship, which were quite judgmental for somehow who is sick of being judged by others.
Next to Harry, Prince Andrew gets the kindest treatment of the royals, being referred to only as "embarrassing"(he sounds more upset about Kate asking Meg to apologize for the baby brain comment). I didn't expect something earthshattering, particularly given his friendship with Eugenie, but I think Andrew's actions merit a bit of a harsher adjective than "embarrassing"
Some more petty thoughts:
I still don't believe WIlliam and Kate were huge Suits fans. The show is not that good.
2 I still don't believe Meghan never googled the Royals. She is an intelligent woman and that is literally the most basic thing you do for anyone.
3.I never want to hear about a frostbitten "todger" again.
If this book accomplishes is to stop the belief that Meghan is a diabolical, controlling mastermind because no one looks good in this book, so I doubt she had any hand in it (she's far too PR savvy in a good way for that). This is all Harry (and his ghostwriter).
One stylistic gripe: there were far too many chapters. The book was split into 3 parts, each with about 50-90 chapters. In a book under 500 pages. To me, this detracted from Harry and his GW's ability to actually write a compelling, cohesive narrative. Overall, this was fun, but would have been better with more self reflection. 3.5/5
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Reading Progress
October 29, 2022
– Shelved
October 29, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 9, 2023
–
Started Reading
January 9, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
england
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
celebrity
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
audiobooks
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
royals
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
January 10, 2023
– Shelved as:
memoir
January 10, 2023
–
Finished Reading
January 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023-january
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by
Karina
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rated it 3 stars
Jan 12, 2023 05:47AM
Spot on1
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Great review. I’m glad the leaks happened & others are writing about it here. I don’t have any desire to read it—he’s definitely over sharing in a shameless way—there’s an excellent opinion piece article by a research psychologist (Dr. Peggy Drexler) published four days ago on CNN explaining it)
I wouldn't read it if I was paid!! Why would anyone want to wash their dirty laundry in public! Money, that's why, as if he hadn't enough already.
It’s very clear that the proceeds from the book are all going to British charities. Don’t believe everything you read in the British media, honestly trash.
I don't know how you missed the many, many times he was critical of himself, including the time he said awful things to Meghan.
I feel like he was quite critical of his own actions. I am confused as to why that was not evident. We are all human. No one is perfect, and I feel like people are poking very harshly to their situation and what they went through without any empathy/sympathy for how they themselves would feel and do if they were met with a similar situation. It is evident that living in those circumstances that they did was very difficult on their mental health, and I feel any actions made are justifiable when you are forced to tend with what they were dealt with. I feel for both Harry and Meghan and what they went through. I couldn’t possibly criticize the book in any way knowing that at the end of the day these are two humans, who are facing so much heartache and grief in their life.
Natalie wrote: "I feel like he was quite critical of his own actions. I am confused as to why that was not evident. We are all human. No one is perfect, and I feel like people are poking very harshly to their situ..."Well said. I agree completely.
Bethany: That is not true. Most of the profit will go into his own pockets. He'll need it, the way M. is spending.
How do you know her spending habits, especially now that they've left the Queen's employ? Got some inside information?
Alexandra: It literally says in the book the proceeds of the book are being donated to British charities so can you back up your comment with how you know for a fact it's not true?
I’m not sure how this comment section has devolved into an argument over the proceeds of Harry’s book. I did not comment on that nor Meghan’s spending habits. I stand by my criticism of his lack of true accountability despite feeling bad about his action. But this is not a Sussex/ Meghan hate thread.
