Review: Spare

Spare by Prince Harry
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars. Very long, very boring. How can a guy who's lived this life be so boring!?

I listened to the author read the nearly 16 hour audiobook, and let's just say he's not a dynamic reader. Nor does he appear to have much sense of humor. Mostly, he just comes across as a really messed up kid. And, yes, there are very concrete reasons why this kid is messed up.

But in the end, it's a little hard to feel sorry for him. There's just too much airing of dirty laundry, too much "woe is me" as he throws every member of his family under the bus. It's undignified. Time after time he exhibits extraordinarily poor judgement. Nazi costumes? Strip pool? Years of substance abuse (about which he's very candid, if that's what you want to read about). And he's so out of touch with reality.

But, mostly, he just seems pretty dull. Highlight: His years of military service, which reflect well on him. Lowlight: Excessive discussion of his frost-bitten penis.