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Spare - anyone reading it and want to discuss

82 replies

OneFrenchEgg · 15/01/2023 21:10

Not in an anti M&H/royalty way, or in a. 'Snippets from TikTok' way but I'm reading it and there are bits it would be nice to talk about.

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NCForQuestions · 27/01/2023 18:57

TBH I've only read the first chapter or so because the manner of writing is excruciating. It's so floral and trying too hard IMO. If the ghostwriter is writing in Harry's style then it's not obvious as Harry doesn't speak like that as far as a I've seen?

OneFrenchEgg · 27/01/2023 19:41

It is quite wordy. I was enjoying it and I think I'm a bit tired - there were a lot of words in the army sections. Plus there's a thread of immaturity running through it which is interesting.

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Catsstillrock · 27/01/2023 21:35

Interesting comments on the written style. I listen les to the audiobook and found it easy going.

Harry reads it himself and it felt like being in conversation with him (or being his therapist!)

the odd bit - like the poem reference seemed off. He’s so upfront about finding school boring and not reading much. I agree that was the ghost writer having fun.

but mostly it flowed well. So worth listening if reading is too much like hard work.

now you’re there, there’s more in the Meghan chapters I found surprising than the earlier stuff. Especially, just after the news of their relationship broke, that he tells her she’s fine to try to go food shopping on Ken high st alone. Of course she gets spotted and chased by paps.

given all his experience of that I cannot believe he didn’t know better (I know posters on other threads believe it was deliberate attention seeking by her. Don’t know about that. But it does seem stupid (not naive as he must have known at that point every exit of KP would be staked out hoping to see her / them).

But then, a bit later, someone points out he can hire his own lawyer and it blows his mind. Fascinating on how institutionalised the life is. OF COURSE he could hire his own lawyer (or protection for M once their relationship went public) but I can well believe he was so used to having everything done for him and being told what to do (and that he MUST do as he was told) that he really did not realise.

OneFrenchEgg · 27/01/2023 21:58

Oh that is interesting. I'm not there yet, to the lawyer part. The Meghan shopping bit has happened, he does seem to read malice into things (the shop assistants exchanging a leery grin) that maybe are just things.

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OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 28/01/2023 09:39

My friend lent her copy to me she's finished it - it's utter tosh I've only read a bit of it he's just so entitled and fake

OneFrenchEgg · 30/01/2023 19:25

Well I've just finished it. My thoughts are that he's very damaged still and quite fragile. Lots of animals as signs. Very in love with his wife.

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WilburTheIron · 30/01/2023 19:37

overall it’s so clear Harry just wants the love and approval of his father and brother and they withhold it time and again.

I do have sympathy for him in lots of ways but I don’t know about this bit. I think they did show him love in their own way but he’s in a place where he just sees rejection and fault. They’re speaking different languages. It’s understandable but one sided, as we’d expect with any autobiography I suppose. As I read, I keep feeling sorry for him as a young boy, a teenager, a young man… but he’s not now.

I wonder as a father, once his children are older and you can’t solve all their problems, and despite best efforts they will disagree with you - whether he’ll be able to have compassion in reverse.

And yes, William comes across as cold and flawed too, but I’m sure he has his own considerable demons, now added to by this scenario.

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