Bookclub for Spare

[BornBlonde]

I know there are loads of threads, but thought it may be useful to set up a bookclub thread ahead of the release date fir those interested. I've ordered the audiobook as struggling to find time to read at the moment but love I can listen to an Audiobook while cooking etc

I read the book & Netflix out of pure curiosity but I am glad they have made the amount of money they have and I hope it’s enough to secure their children futures and after the current book deals this doesn’t become their life. I love the scandal but I am actually concerned for them.

If you ever want to figure out how popular they are, a more useful approach might be to look at opinion polls instead of book sales.

For example, Newsweek has Harry going from +38 net approval in early December to -7 now. In the same period Meghan's net approval fell from +23 to -13.

Similarly in the UK, they have been pretty consistently sitting just above Andrew in the royal popularity stakes for quite a while. Latest Ipsos Mori has 23% have a favourable view of Harry, 53% unfavourable. Meghan's numbers are 19% / 55%.

I think book sales mean something to be honest. If you want to talk opinion polls, well.... William's popularity has dropped more than Harry's since the book. And Kate's has dropped.

www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/01/19/prince-william-princess-kate-popularity-plunges-spare-book/

I'm not sure what William has to do with it - you seemed to be citing book sales as evidence of popularity, I was just suggesting there might be better data.

I bought the book because I didn't feel it was fair to comment on it unless I'd read it. Not a fan of Harry and Meghan. I know a few with similar feelings and more who bought it for the goss. I know two who are fans and bought it to support the couple.

(Opens floodgates of comments saying they, their families, their work colleagues, their whole neighbourhood bought 3 copies of the book each because they believe and support H&M and want them to know how loved they are.)

if You read it, William’s popularity has dropped by 8% and Harry’s by 7%. But William is still considerably more popular than Harry according to the report.

I would be inclined to judge the book on its content than its sales numbers. Any justification for the penis episodes and the misogyny and ableism directed at the matron for example?

The book has done the Sussexes some damage in the US too.

www.skynews.com.au/world-news/harry-and-meghans-popularity-plummets-in-the-us-after-spare-release-despite-memoir-smashing-sales-records/news-story/5b7e5ee84d1d49700b7346f5b68c5baf

Ermmm... I did not state book sales were evidence of popularity actually.

I said 'Who knows?'.

I PERSONALLY cannot imagine paying money for a book of memoirs of someone I don't like or despise. I just wouldn't be doing it. But, to repeat again, who knows?

'I PERSONALLY cannot imagine paying money for a book of memoirs of someone I don't like or despise. I just wouldn't be doing it. But, to repeat again, who knows?'

Well, considering the first thing that was said to anyone on here making even the slightest criticism was 'have you actually read the book?' I thought it was a good idea to do so. I wouldn't say it was £8 well spent but at least I feel I have the right to an opinion.

They are not running for office in the US. So why do polls on them? This is a poll of US voters. Why do US voters care?

They are no longer working members of the royal family either. So why do polls on them, comparing them with other royals?

Is it normal for pollsters to do polls on private citizens who are not in office, or running for office or funded by the public?

They are well known private individuals. Celebrities, if you like, The polling is strange. Especially as it always seems to come after they have succeeded in their other ventures.

I should imagine the US polls would have quite an effect on them - they have to earn money, at the moment they're earning by collaborating. No one will want to work with them if they're seen as a poisoned brand. No charity will want to associate with them.

Harry's publisher Penguin has issued a statement on his entry as number 1 in the NYTimes bestseller list. They are proud to have published what they call a landmark book.

The book now has global sales of over 3 million around the world, half of those in America and Canada. Its on its second print in France and the US.
Their Netflix series continues to pull numbers.

I have a strong hunch that Meghan will relaunch The Tig this year, but on a bigger scale.

I think they will be just fine @Coxspurplepippin commercially and considering that their philanthropic initiatives are centered around charity is around Archewell and Invictus, initiatives they founded, I don't see them pulling away from themselves.

As to partnerships, the Dusseldorf Invictus games will answer that question, and I for one am willing to wait until September.

'They are proud to have published what they call a landmark book.'

🤣🤣

He has made an absolute fool of himself. He talks about todgers, 'not hot' women and his brother's penis. He has invaded so many people's privacy it is laughable that folk like you are still desperately applauding it.

Penguin are no doubt proud of the income this has generated. There is nothing 'landmark' about a tacky tell all.

*They are not running for office in the US. So why do polls on them? This is a poll of US voters. Why do US voters care?

They are no longer working members of the royal family either. So why do polls on them, comparing them with other royals?*

You'll have to ask the polling companies but I suspect it might be because it's an interesting news story. But also because one of Harry's points is that his family is mean to them because they're so popular. And because one of their defenders' points is that their UK popularity doesn't matter, they are only interested in the USA.

Ermmm... I did not state book sales were evidence of popularity actually.

I said you seemed to be - what did you mean by:

And in the Guinness Book of World Records as fastest growing nonfiction selling book since records began (Cue posters saying even those who dislike the couple bought the book!)

As if that is somehow ridiculous, high sales = popularity?

And:

I think book sales mean something to be honest.

What do you think it means?

I think it is interesting as those that engage in SM discussion seem to be increasingly polarised so it’s interesting to see what the general public sentiment is and how this is impacted by each activity.

Its certainly something H&M will be doing themselves as a basic quantitative brand management exercise with the end user rather than qualitative review of SM and MSM.

It is also an exercise that charity’s and corporate collaborators will do independently before they tie their fortunes and reputations to any personal brand.

They will be looking for their niche - it will be interesting to see if they have gained popularity in any specific cohort and then the appropriate charities and corporates for that sector will align.

The book is so much more than a tacky tell all. As Andrew Marr, a highly respected journalist says it has blown a lid on the essentially corrupt relationship between the Royals and the tabloid press. I know your views on Harry are fixed, but do please listen to Andrew Marr who gives what I think is the most objective and longterm view on the issues.

I know we will never agree, but please listen to this. He is just as critical of Harry as most here are, but he has his finger on the right issue: the Royals and the press.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/andrew-marr-prince-harry-monologue_uk_63bc6314e4b0b2e15069e899

I think there are probably many like me who feel so frustrated that the important issues re press and RF (which surely all parties outside the press would benefit from addressing) have been lost in the mire of this book.

There are of course many different opinions but accepting that a book is "landmark" because the publishers who are trying to sell it say so is a bit naive imo. They are hardly likely to call it insignificant, boring or shit.

'I have a strong hunch that Meghan will relaunch The Tig this year, but on a bigger scale.'

Yes, I agree with this - think I mentioned it on another thread. We'll have Goop Mark II and fans will buy stuff endorsed by the duchess. I've no doubt she'll make millions.

I think there are probably many like me who feel so frustrated that the important issues re press and RF (which surely all parties outside the press would benefit from addressing) have been lost in the mire of this book.

And that believing his account of the important issues would be foolish given the inaccuracies in the rest of it.

But it is the press who have made sure that any criticism of them had been 'lost' in the manufactured outrage at the book.

He makes valid points about the way newspapers operate. Obviously newspapers will do everything they can to discredit him.

@RegainingTheWill2023

It's such a pity isn't it. If you look past all the "tittle tattle", Harry has exposed a really dysfunctional, even blackmailing, corrupt relationship. The idea of the palaces working against each other is just horrible when you think about them as a family. One reform that I would like to see in the wake of this is just one press office for the whole monarchy.

Harry is right that things went wrong when his father decided that rehabilitating Camilla was important to his popularity. A telling incident which was reported at the time was that her private meeting with William was leaked. I can understand why from a PR point of view: if the boys accepted Camilla then it was a step to the wider public accepting her too. But the leak came within one year of Diana's death. It was far too early. It doesn't help that before that, there was so much briefing about Diana being crazy, paranoid etc.

Even now, Camilla is the least popular senior royal. And W and C are more popular even than Charles. They should just accept that this is a good sign for the long term future of the monarchy, and see it as good for the survival of the institution, not as some sort of competition. It would be horrible if this competitive streak carried on to W and C's kids, when it's so unnecessary.

The issue, though is that Harry seems to have benefited quite a lot from that relationship. There appears to have been quite a lot of Harry's behaviour 'hushed up' over the years.

But it is the press who have made sure that any criticism of them had been 'lost' in the manufactured outrage at the book.

Do you really think nobody would have batted an eyelid at the lies, misogyny, ableism, pettiness and personal attacks if they hadn't been reported in the press?

This is the point - it's such a pity that anything useful is buried by the ridiculousness and unreliability of the rest of it.