GDT Book Club Discussion: Spare (06/12)

[suby]

While we wait for the discussion to begin, something to ponder: Did you have any preconcieved notions before reading Spare? (On the royals, H&M, etc.) Did reading the book change your mind or confirm your thoughts?

[suby]

2 Questions for today:

1. How did you feel about the balance of the book; before and after Meghan?

For me, I was more interested in once he had met Meghan. I'm not much of a royal-watcher and could have done with less early life.

[suby]

What did you find most surprising about the book?

I was surprised he didn't believe his mom was dead for a long time.

I was surprised by his affinity for Botswana.

[bernelli]

I found the before Megan stuff very boring... too much military descriptive stuff for me.
Very random minute details about some things.

The portion of the story when Megan comes in is much more interesting.

I've been a pseudo-royal watcher... and was surprised how little I really knew.

I was also surprised he didn't believe his mother had truly passed away. I'm disgusted with that family for not getting the boys some kind of therapy that they obviously needed (or at least Harry really did). On the other hand, how does the royal family find a therapist who will truly not share their deepest secrets?? But still. I'm disgusted.

I was surprised that they get death threats. I was surprised at the description that Charles really enjoyed Megan.... he seemed to really like her.

OH yes, and it also surprised me that the palace has so many homes with different names... obviously I was learning I'm really not much of a royal watcher at all. LOL

[sal]

The little kid era stuff was fine, but yes to too much military detail. I get that it is a huge part of him and why he is so heavily invested in the Invictus (SP?) Games, but yawn.

The part about him refusing to believe his mom's death was just so depressing to me, but somewhat understandable. I would expect a lot of young kids would try to invent all kinds of stories like that as a coping mechanism, though I would expect it more from say, 8 year olds, not almost teens. He was a weird combination of really sheltered and yet really not during his childhood, though.

It definitely picked up once Megan was in the picture.

[suby]

I'm babysitting tomorrow, so I'm posting a couple of discussion questions for tomorrow.

What do you suppose caused the rift between William & Kate and Harry & Meghan?

Why do you think William's anger was so extreme (if you think it was)?

Where do you think the leak was from? For what reason? Envy? Diversion?

[bernelli]

I am probably way off base here...

I think it's possible William is mad that Harry isn't falling in line and following protocol the way he (William) has to. William has expectations to live up to and a much stricter protocol...but Harry...being just the "spare" and actually 5th or more in line for the crown doesn't see the importance of "falling in line". That seemed to me to play a factor.

I'm not sure if William's anger was so extreme... it does seem as though William & his idiot-father hold a lot in...so when it comes out it comes out in snitfits... at least this is how I view Charles. In this book, I got a bit of the impression that William holds things in as well. It doesn't seem as though that family has the opportunity to vent without repercussion because they're so high profile. It's also possible that Harry is very very sensitive and what William viewed as a minor conflict is much bigger to Harry.

The leaks sound like they were coming from Camilla and also from the Queen's assistant.


I'm so interested to find out what other's think of these questions. Very good questions!

[suby]

This has been a disappointing turnout so far. (quantity only, not quality)

How about F, marry, kill Charles, William Harry?

[suby]

Do you think writing the memoir was a good idea? Do you think it swayed anyone's opinions?

[bernelli]

I've thought so much about "why did he write this". He's so young still. When he gets a bit older (much older) I truly believe he's going to look back on events and have a different take on things.

Maybe it was his way to actually get to have his full say to his family? It doesn't sound like anyone listens in that family...and it also doesn't sound like they speak truly about how they feel. Is this an English thing, or may they have to be that way because they're "royals" and people are dying to sell stories to the papers.

It's a defensive book, IMO. ...it's so rambly too... I just couldn't figure out why he wrote it now.

I had a really polarized take on them prior to reading this. I really did not like them... now at least I have a bit of a more sympathetic view (however, when I read this it was immediately after their claims of being on a high speed chase in the streets of NYC...bullshit...so I still have a pretty negative view about some things), but at the same time, I think he's even more spoiled than I originally thought.

[sal]

Interesting article I just stumbled upon, by a journalist who now regrets how she covered them:

capsulenz.com/think/prince-harry-apology/?utm_campaign=later-linkinbiocapsule_nz&utm_content=later-35794648&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

[bernelli]

Such an interesting article, sal.

".. that he was paraded out like a circus animal to perform, and then scolded for not performing enough tricks is…well, insane? Let alone the fact that the people he was being asked to perform in front of, are people who work for the same companies that contributed to the traumatic death of his mother"

I read something similar to this in the book and realized how much self constraint him and William must have to apply to not react so angrily at the media. ...I should've included this in day 1's "what surprised you"

[sal]

I feel like there couldn't be enough therapy in the world for these people (ALL of them) but yeah, most of them will probably never get any because how on earth could you trust that they wouldn't just sell to the highest bidder?

[suby]

I had an 8:30 meeting, so I prepared questions in advance and I still forgot.

What did you think of how Meghan came across? I thought she seemed really nurturing, but Harry seemed baffled when she did things that are normal to most of us like prepare a meal.

[suby]

Speaking of articles, I wanted to share these from his ghostwriter. There's some overlap, but the original is paywalled.

www.cnbc.com/2023/01/12/prince-harrys-spare-ghostwriter-also-wrote-bestselling-nike-memoir.html
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/09/prince-harrys-ghostwriter-jr-moehringer-says-pair-bonded-over-media-intrusion
www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a43826365/prince-harry-spare-ghostwriter-interview/

[bernelli]

That was weird to me. I believe I had to re-read the page where Megan goes to his kitchen and makes food cuz I didn't follow what was so noteworthy about her making something to eat. That was one of the things that, to me, revealed his spoiled lifestyle....I mean... who doesn't make their own food? Royals, I guess.

...but it didn't come across negative. It was actually sweet and I felt it showed how bowled over by Megan Harry is. In his book, Megan comes across as really caring and loving.

[suby]

Anyone have anything we didn't cover they want to talk about?

[bernelli]

Thanks suby for the book nomination (I would not have read this otherwise) and for the good questions to consider!