Driving for the holidays? Here's an audiobook I hated
...Plus one that I enjoyed.
Hi friends!
No craft advice this week— my advice is to lean into the chaos and get through this supercharged, ultraviolet season of holiday light. But I did want to pop in with an audiobook critique for fellow friends who have car time in their future. Spoiler alert: if you are a Prince Harry fan, this video might upset you.
If you’ve read (or listened to) either of the books I’ll be discussing, let me know in the comments what you thought about the narratives? I’d love to duke it out (pun definitely intended ;)
For reference, in this video I am pitting Prince Harry’s SPARE against Anne Garrels’ NAKED IN BAGHDAD.
Happy holidays, happy driving, and happy road rage if you do listen to “Spare” and get to the part about the appalling “fancy dress” costume that a twenty-something ROYAL saw no problem with??!
Yours in befuddlement,
Courtney
Hi Courtney,
Oh, I read SPARE in summer 2023. Overall, I thought it was decently written. I felt empathy for Prince Harry. But YES the Nazi costume?! Absolutely shocked me that he didn't see a problem with it and, in fact, thought it was funny. The only thing I considered was that maybe he really WAS that naive.
The other part that I found drab in SPARE was the middle portion. I felt he droned on about his military service in great detail, and I got lost. In fact, I felt a bit antagonistic (hence, maybe the road rage you're mentioning here).
But if I'm speaking generally, I did appreciate his perspective, particularly on the impact of his mother's death and on his relationship with his father. I grew up in the 80s/90s, and my mom was OBSESSED with Princess Diana. I recall, as a 16-year-old, watching the news of her untimely death at a friend's house. And since that time, I have wondered what it might have been like for her boys.
I guess I will add one final thought about SPARE: I think what Prince Harry did was brave--separating himself from the Royal Family, that is. Before reading the book, I had a sour taste in my mouth for the British monarchy, at least what I knew about how they operated and how they treated their family (e.g., QEII had a cousin with a disability whom she never mentioned, never saw, never claimed as family. The cousin was institutionalized and basically banished from the family, and that absolutely enraged me, because I have a daughter with a disability.)
I have not read the other book you mentioned, but I'll check it out. Hope you enjoy your holiday, despite the chaos!
There was a piece I read - maybe in The New Yorker - a year or so ago by Harry's ghost writer. It was interesting. I remember the ghost writer wanted to cut something and Harry balked because he felt nobody had ever taken his intelligence seriously.