Discover 'Spare', Prince Harry's tragically comedic attempt to rewrite royal chronicles. Spoiler alert: it's more comedic than tragic.
Royal Family Cramps
The Saga of Harry, the (Not So) Enchanted Prince
Picture yourself lounging on your throne (or more realistically, your couch) flipping through the pages of "Spare - The Lesser". You're expecting scandals, shocking revelations, maybe a bit of spicy gossip about the Royal Family. Instead, you find yourself reading a prince's diary that feels more like a teenager in an existential crisis than a member of the British royal family.
The plot takes us on a journey that seems ripped right out of a B-list reality show, with Harry painting himself as the 'less favored' younger brother, forever in the shadow of his more glorious elder. Walking through the gilded corridors of Buckingham Palace, our hero moves with the grace of an elephant in a china shop, revealing anecdotes that swing between tragically comic and just plain mundane.
We meet young Harry, sharing details of royal childhood that remind you of a Windsor version of "Malcolm in the Middle". Then there's teenage Harry, grappling with an embarrassingly awkward puberty under the stern gaze of the Queen and royal etiquette. And finally, adult Harry, who decides to 'spare' (save) us the details of his detachment from the family, but never really gets to the heart of the matter.
The climax of the book? A finale that leaves the reader with more questions than answers. It's like waiting for the final episode of a TV series only to find out it's been cancelled. The narrative promises much, but in the end, we're left with a Harry who, despite wanting to appear as a modern rebel, ends up more like a prince in search of a better script.
In essence, 'Spare - The Lesser' is like a champagne glass left open too long: it promises effervescence and sophistication, but ends up flat and a bit stale. A real-life tale that could have been better written by a decent ghostwriter... or by a Christopher Moore in a mood for royal jests.
When the Princely Becomes Plebeian
A Royal Review Without a King
Hold tight because we're diving into the world of 'Spare - The Lesser', where the art of royal narration clashes with the reality of a work that seems to have been written during a sleepless night in a dark, drafty castle. Our Prince Harry, with all due respect to a member of the royal family, seems to have forgotten that a good story needs more than just a noble title and a few spicy revelations.
From the viewpoint of a bibliophile with one eye critical and the other rolling in hilarity, the narrative structure of the book appears to have been conceived during a game of literary 'Twister'. The pages whirl with anecdotes, memories, and confessions, coming and going like guests at a masquerade ball, leaving you wondering, "Who the heck is this now?"
The writing style, alas, swings between an attempt at Shakespearean depth and the lightness of a "Teletubbies" episode. Harry tries to be serious, but sometimes ends up so melodramatic that you expect a Greek chorus to pop out and comment on the scene. And then there are those moments when the tone suddenly becomes light and almost frivolous, as if halfway through the book he decided to drop the drama for a comedy.
On the topic front, well, we're in the territory of royal mundanity, but sometimes it seems that even the juiciest material has been filtered through an old, worn sock. The book promised scandals and revelations, but in the end, it merely skims the surface, leaving a sense of incompleteness, like a puzzle missing its most important pieces.
In conclusion, if I had to rate 'Spare - The Lesser', it would be a generous 2/10, with that extra point solely for the cover, which at least has some visual appeal. It's the kind of book that, if I found it in a bookstore, I'd move to the humor section, because let's face it, sometimes reality surpasses fantasy and this real-life autobiography is a perfect example of how even princes can have a bad day... or in this case, a bad book.
Why I Recommend It
I recommend it because, despite its shortcomings, it offers a comical representation of human flaws, especially self-pity and an oversized ego that sometimes even afflict royals.
Why I Don't
I don't recommend it because it's a book that promises a deep dive into the royal psyche but turns out to be a mere splash in a puddle of superficiality.
I give advice, then it's up to you...
For reviews that don't take anything seriously - not even a prince!