Prince Harry, Duke of SussexCritiques

This book made me sad for lots of different reasons: the way that William is portrayed; how lost Harry seems; the feeling that he is selling out his family; the lack of warmth; how Harry is showing himself as a victim and the rest of the family as bullies. I'm not sure why I read it even, maybe to see how the other half lives? I almost wish I hadn't now.

Harry and his ghostwriter have done good work in Spare. It feels like Harry’s voice isn’t too lost amid the writing of a professional hired to make it sound better. I just don’t love the practice of ghostwriting and find it to be a bit dodgy.

I enjoyed reading Harry’s perspective on his very public life and analyzing how events affected him. I also see Harry taking responsibility and acknowledging areas in which he has found a need to learn and grow. He acknowledges his privilege, and it seems he has sought through philanthropic work to give back in meaningful ways.

This man’s life story is a sound reminder that even the most privileged life holds heartbreak and problems. If your approach to this book is that it’s the collected whinings of a spoiled brat about the minor inconveniences of being a Royal, I encourage you to flex your empathy muscles. Happiness and fulfillment don’t just come along with wealth and status. Everyone has struggles. Even a prince.

This memoir of the first thirty-something years of Prince Harry's life has been widely discussed in the media and there is probably not too much left unsaid about it. In the book, Harry relates memories of his childhood, writes about dealing with the tragic death of his mother, royal life, his time in the military, getting to know Meghan and leaving Britain. First and foremost he writes about his relation with the press and how paparazzi make his life a living hell. While all of this is interesting to read, I found the whole book not as sensational. I knew that as a royal you were constantly subjected to being in the news, but the extent of being photographed every instant of your life and being harassed by paparazzi every step of your way was surprising to me. I would have thought that the palace had more clout in getting some privacy, making stories go away or would at least sue media outlets for libel more often. The one thing that bugged me about the book - but this was to be expected, it being a memoir - is the degree of subjectivity that shines through in various places. Of course, this is a portrayal of Harry's view, but somehow the descriptions feel exceptionally one-sided sometimes. Then again, this puts more urgency behind his call for more privacy. In that sense, I think it is completely fair and everyone knows that this is Harry's opinion. I would not dare to judge what this man has to go through and I found myself really rooting for him. Overall, I did enjoy reading the book. 3.5 stars.½

Really never been a big fan of „the royals“ but all the hoopla over Meghan piqued my curiosity. Well written book, gives a lot of insight into the behind the scenes machinations of “The Firm” and their hangers on.

I read this book because it is a best selling controversial telling of memories. I took it as one person reflecting on his thoughts of his life at a specific time. Just as his early days of roaming Balmoral Castle (which I tremendously enjoyed learned about,) his interations with his father, mother and bother, and his difficult time of acceptiong the death of his mother is a telling of that time, why can't the rest of his memories be just that -- his memories -- his throughts!!

I know this is a book laden with opinions. I simply enjoyed the descripton of the castles, the strick hierachtical british system, and his love of his granny and mother. In the beginning of the book his father is portrayed as a cold man, but someone who really tries to break down barriers. Give the father a break for trying, which is what I think Harry is trying to do.

I love that his father calls him "Darling Boy!." Harry's recollections of treatment after his mother died and Camilla came into the picture is of course, his view. It should remain just that ... his view.

Frankly, I didn't understand why this singular book caused such a racus. Harry explained how he felt, and backed it up with examples. I'm not sure he did this to harm which is what he is accused of.

San, British aristocracy, I am sure that if I wrote a book about each of my sisters, my father, my mother and granny, they would not accept my feelings and thoughts. But that is exactly what they would be, ie my remembrances.

I am saying that I don't understand what all the hupla is about. Let the Darling Boy have his memories. Let him tell the reader what he thought. Why add all the drama to his opinions. IF he is hurt then let him express this opinion. I just don't understand this ostrazation and drama.

An interesting look behind the scenes at not only Royal life but warfare as well. As a fan of Diana and her sons, it was great to hear Harry’s point of view from youth through marriage. It also was a strong reminder of how awful the British press/tabloids is/are.

Talk about the ultimate dysfunctional family - that would be the royal family of today. We've heard so much about Harry and Meghan's problems and how they were treated, so it's interesting to read Harry's take on what happened. It's hard to believe that Harry and William's relationship is as fractured and ugly as Harry states it is, but, if so, it is really sad. The section about Harry's involvement in the war in Afghanistan is interesting, although somewhat lengthy. Still not sure if I can believe everything he wrote, but I came away from this having a more positive view of Harry than I had previously, given that the death of his mother caused him great unresolved trauma for a very long time.

Väga meeldiv üllatus, kuna lugema asudes ma ei arvanud, et raamat võiks mulle meeldida. Ma ei ole Briti kuningakoja vastu kunagi mingit erilist huvi tundnud, aga sellest raamatust on juba ette nii palju räägitud, et uudishimu sai võitu. Ja mul on väga hea meel.
Kuulasin seda audios, mida autor ise (suurepäraselt) sisse luges ja pean tunnistama, et kaks päaeva praktiliselt jutti, mida lähemale tänapäevale lugu jõudis, seda huvitavamaks läks.

Audiobook

Harry is a good narrator and I enjoyed listening to this but I knocked off a star since a lot of it was familiar already.

I don’t suppose that any of us will ever know the full truth but I’m inclined to believe most of what he says. It’s not hard to believe he was traumatized by Diana’s death and that the weird, formal, fishbowl of royal life wasn’t great for his mental health. He didn’t ask for any of that and can’t be blamed for how that great loss made him feel. I don’t know how anybody can listen to the first half of this book and not feel bad about how lonely he seemed to be.

The rest of the drama between Harry, Charles, and William is sad. I think they are all right from their own POV. Hopefully someday they can all move past it but probably not. If I were a Harry, I’d have done whatever I could to get away from that life.

I listened to this intentionally and I am so happy that I did! I could listen to Prince Harry endlessly. A soft spoken, even speech pattern and so sincere that I truly want to be his friend. I won't lie, the audio was 19 hours and thus took more time than usual. He is forthright, he keeps things positive and you can see the growth that has put him where he is today. Everything he is doing to be a steady good person is awe-inspiring. Like his mom, he takes the beating but holds his head up to continue life as she would have, enjoying everything it gives him.

PALACE SEPARATION FROM PRINCE HARRY VIEWPOINT. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH BROTHER AND PA, OR THE AMOUNT OF PUNISHMENT FROM PRESS CONCERNING MEG. IN FINAL ANALYSIS HE IS NOW IN HIS GOOD PLACE AND HARRY IS JEALOUS.

I had high hopes for this book, genuinely I did. Being an avid reader this year, I wanted to join the chorus of praise surrounding it, but unfortunately, I can't. I approached the book with an open mind, without any strong preconceptions about Harry and his family drama. My intention was to delve into the real story behind the numerous magazine covers and headlines that I had ignored. It was like embarking on a journey, anticipating a delightful sip of "English Tea."

However, right from the first chapter, the writing put me off. The author painted a picture of a season caught between winter and spring, where bare trees, soft air, gray skies, and blooming tulips created a beautiful yet melancholic atmosphere. It was an intriguing mix of positives and negatives.

In his own words, Harry portrayed himself as remarkably brave, a quality that typically merits acknowledgment from others. He emphasized his readiness to take action while others hesitated, claiming that he never required a second request to complete a task. It was a bold self-assessment. He even hinted at the possibility of donating organs to his brother if the need arose, a suggestion that might concern his mother. He complained about his brother having a larger room in the castle, better furniture, and how Meghan had to purchase a couch on her credit card from IKEA. These instances raised doubts about his claims of financial disadvantage. The extensive and repetitive pages dedicated to his bravery and exceptional helicopter flying skills felt self-indulgent, as if he had a separate book in mind solely for that topic. Undeniably, this section of the book became tiresome. Consequently, my opinion of Harry as a person did not become favorable after reading this book. Meghan, on the other hand, came across as lovely, but unfortunately, the book did not provide much insight into her character. Ultimately, Harry appeared to be a troubled individual, and I genuinely hope he finds peace in California.

(2) I enjoyed this memoir by Prince Harry having just finished watching 'The Crown.' Not surprising already over 1000 readers on LT despite being a new hard cover. I thought this was fairly well-written and vulnerable and interesting. It really humanized him and the reader could not help but have empathy for him and his wife. Really - what is wrong with journalists and photographers who do that kind of work? It is gross. I'll admit to having an interest in the English monarchy - more historical than current, but for the love of God, leave these people alone. They are real humans. I hope this couple finds peace and that Harry finds purpose and independence.

I was most interested in his interactions with the Queen and his later adolescence after his mother died. How he was convinced she had gone into hiding and would eventually resurface. Referring to his mother's disappearance rather than her death. That was quite an effective way for underlining his swallowed grief. Also so strange to have to make appointments with family members through their secretaries. And thinking of being a royal as 'a job' with a staff and engagements. Fascinating.

Harry is quite open about drug use and partying, etc. Quite open about being a soldier and enjoying blowing things up. He is not at all restrained which is refreshing. I do think he pulled some punches with regards to his father and brother. It was hard to truly figure out why there was a rift there without more contextual detail but I suspect he didn't want to burn bridges. An engaging read from a man on a mission to set the record straight - but ultimately, without much gravitas.½

Moved this to the front of my library queue when someone else in my bump group started reading, though she DNF'd because she found the earlier chapters boring. Overall, I liked this, as a voice from within the fishbowl of royalty that doesn't hold to the Firm's typical silence (while fiction, my main takeaway from The Crown is that there's an awful lot of wrangling just to have the appearance of no opinion/neutrality), and I'm glad that as spare he can wrench himself away into building his own path while condemning the obsessives that killed his mother and nearly killed his wife.

Structurally, I appreciate the sections titled after stanzas of Invictus, though the contiguous chapter segments were a choice. I read a physical copy, but I can imagine how the audiobook would be compelling. His reflections on Afghanistan remind me I haven't read as many retrospectives of that era (and I'm sure perspectives will shift as we get further away from it), but he's straightforward on what it meant to be there, engaging with allies and enemies.

I did not expect to find this as fascinating as I did. Short, sharp writing. Interesting anecdotes - not a ton of drama, but what felt like an authentic look into Harry's self-concept. I've never read a book on the royal family before, and feel like this suffices for me.

I think this is a very interesting book. I hope that Prince Harry does read his reviews. I am not going to give away much in spoiler alerts. I will say that probably nearly every reader has a predetermined attitude toward Prince Harry before reading this book. I did, in a favorable way. This did not change. In fact, it became more favorable. If you believe royals are right at all cost, and family can be sacrificed to run a kingdom, then you are going to call everything he said a pack of lies. If you can see how royal families like regular families play favorites, pit one against another, say one thing and do another, and see beyond the fog to know the crap from the good, then you will love this book. I hope that Harry and Meghan have a splendid life being a totally normal couple, raising healthy children and keeping the spirit of servitude toward the less fortunate as Princess Dianna did. I would love to meet both of them in person one day. I don't think I would feel awkward or put on airs just for them. The only thing I would like to add is regarding the brief encounter mentioned with the fortuneteller. Please, Harry and Meghan, just don't! It is powers of the devil. They are allowed to know limited information about you, to deceive you in the devil's ways. If you want confirmation that your life has meaning, and you will get your reward, seek Christ. If you need beginner tools, there is a phone app called YouVersion, and a TV show called The 700 Club. Those are great starting points, and they would LOVE to have you on that show, I am sure, if you are followers of Christ with your personal story to tell. I already envision great things for Harry and Meghan by breaking protocol and breaking free. Now is your time to fly and be happy! Honestly, there are rumors that England is part of the One World Order to be, and it a nutshell, it is going to be evil. I think Harry got a good taste of the birth pains by living among it. I won't even discuss each of his family members, but will say that honestly, from reading EVERYTHING, that his Granny and his mom were his only true blue supporters!

Since I don't live in Britain, and don't follow their tabloids, I was unaware of the extent to which the Royal Family live in gilded cages. But more, I was unaware of the stories concocted about them.

Clearly, Harry has been hurt by the lies, and the cameras, and the lack of privacy. I can believe the intrigues of the palace staff; it is harder to believe the level of estrangement he and Megan have from the rest of the family. Although, maybe not. Many families, mine included, have experienced estrangement for less cause.

I do think this memoir could have been edited down a bit. It does go into more detail than necessary, and sometimes I think Harry over shares. But it's his story. It's good to have some understanding of what people in the public eye experience. Who would want to trade places with him?

This was great - kept my interest from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

Despite its length (there are 232 mini-chapters, grouped into three parts, plus an introduction and an epilogue) and its progenitors (143 people are named in the acknowledgements), Prince Harry’s autobiography contains two surprising omissions.

But it does also contain a wealth of information about the growing pains of – first – a boy and – second – a young man who is subject to unrelenting scrutiny and photography by press and media outlets. To call this scrutiny ‘hostile’ would be accurate, but anodyne – like putting it in a box that can be labelled and then easily forgotten. That’s not what Harry does, though. He calls it out as “contempt,” “vile disrespect” (pg. 310) and those who perpetrate it as “a dreadful mob of dweebs and crones and cut-rate criminals and clinically diagnosable sadists” (pg. 399).

This feels like the authentic voice of someone who is being hounded.

It is matched, though, by the voice of someone who is also loving and being loved, whether with mates in the army, surrogate mothers or past lovers. And, of course, the great love of his present life and “her luminous, angelic face.” (pg. 268).

Once again, Harry’s description of his first contact and meeting with Meghan feels like the authentic voice of a young man beginning to discover the true love(s) of his life. It is literally ‘lovely’ to witness.

The omissions which surprised me were, firstly, in Harry’s recollection (on pg. 25) of his uncle Charlie’s eulogy at his mother’s funeral service: he doesn’t mention the wave of applause from outside Westminster Abbey (and clearly audible inside that magnificent building) which greeted Charles Spencer’s coruscating denunciation of Diana’s tormentors – the first time, to my knowledge, that a public eulogy has been applauded.

The second omission is more serious, in my view, since it goes to the heart of Harry’s life and all our lives: he doesn’t mention (on pg. 341) the sermon by archbishop Michael Curry at his wedding. Yet that sermon – on the power of love – was engaging, expertly delivered and highly relevant to the audience for whom it was intended; and - just like uncle Charlie’s address nearly 21 years earlier - it was a masterclass in oratory.

These omissions apart, this is a very well-written book which tells Harry’s story in an authentic voice, even if the language goes full “Boys’ Own” on a few occasions. The small aside in the acknowledgements about the beauty (and sacred obligation) of Memoir is appropriately made, and noted by this reader.

There is one other small aside in the book which risks spoiling what is otherwise a good story, well-told. It’s on pg. 231, where Harry apparently says “if you like reading pure bollocks then royal biographies are just your thing”.

What, Harry, even this one?!

This memoir was a really interesting peek into Prince Harry's life. Beautifully written, with really engaging discussion, and lots of warm details that make his uniquely complicated life worth reading about.

TW/CW: Death of a parent, sexuality, war

RATING: 4/5

REVIEW: I have read history books of English history my whole life (and studied it in school), so I was fascinated to read this book. It was a compelling book that kept the reader engaged, no doubt, but my overall feel of it is that it’s definitely one-sided and it’s impossible to know for sure how true it is.

The good thing is that it doesn’t try to hide that fact – it doesn’t try to deny that it’s biased and possibly not the entire story.

Honestly, that’s what a memoir is, so it fits that quite well.

There was a little more emphasis and detail than I would have liked when it came down to his military service, but that’s mostly just because I don’t find that interesting.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and I think it makes an entertaining polemic.

I've never watched "The Crown". I didn't get up early to watch any royal weddings. I saw clips of the Oprah and Anderson Cooper but I didn't set my clock to watch them in full. I didn't watch the netflix documentary. I avoided reviews of this book. In short I'm not a royal watcher. However, I was intrigued by this book. Never can I remember a member of this family speaking or attempting to speak their truth unfettered without filters or protocol dictating for them what to say like puppets. I somehow remember Diana doing an interview after the divorce but I don't think that lands the same way as this. I became interested because he seemed so invested in sharing his voice on his life. I love that.
He kept my interest. I believe it was well done and thoughtful. I became invested in this man's life and found myself rooting for him and cheering for him to find peace and freedom. I wanted him to find love. I have sympathy for what he seems to have lost for it but applaud his choice to put his life and love ahead of anything else.
I still don't think I am a royal watcher but I have become a fan of Harry and his quest for a life dictated on his and family's own terms.

Spare by Prince Harry — there are a lot of different opinions regarding this book and what he had to say. I remember all the media attention he had gotten for writing his autobiography/memoir (both positive and negative) when the book was first released. But most importantly, he shared his personal experiences, as he experienced them, and for that I commend him.

I found this book interesting in ways that I never expected. I had no idea of the limited control that the monarchy offers the people within the family. To have to schedule times to see people to discuss issues and to have press agents working against each other is so sad. It was also sad to hear about all of the jealous and competition that the royal family holds for each other, but it makes sense when you think about it. I also had no idea that King Charles is the one who decides what events you are to attend and how much you are to be seen in public and controls what charities you are able to be part of. I can't blame Harry for wanting more freedom from a life like that. So often, in America, we are told that being a prince or princess is the ultimate life and something to aspire to. This book was a great eye opener of what a gilded cage it is. Whether you like HRH Harry or Megan Markle, you can get a sense of everything that he had to go through and how he found his passions. Regardless of what I feel about the royal family, I enjoyed this book and ended up with a greater understanding of royal life...and royal sacrifice.