Spare: Part 1: Out of the Night That Covers Me
When I found out that a member of the Royal Family was writing a book, I was so excited! When I found out it was Harry, I was even more excited, because, let’s be honest, what girl didn’t wish to be Harry’s girl at some point in their life?
Looking back, I now realize that I’ve been surrounded by merchandise depicting the Royal Family for my whole life. My aunt’s name is Diana and my uncle would adorn her with all things Princess Diana; dolls, plates, Beanie Babies. I would stare at the beauty depicted in the merchandise for hours.
Fast forward to April of 2011, William and Kate are getting married! My mom wakes up my sister and I and invites the neighbor over and we all watch the Royal Wedding on TV while she makes scrabbled eggs with ham for breakfast; its a very vivid memory that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
For the duration of a Royal’s life they are surrounded by people trying to make decisions for them; how to act, what to say. They spend their lives in the glow of flashbulbs from the paparazzi that follow their every move; the paparazzi that tell their own stories of what happens to the members of the Royal Family. Part 1 of Harry’s book Spare, brings this all to light. The opening line “There were always stories,” really helps to get this point across to the reader. Harry begins his story recalling growing up being referred to as the “Spare to the Heir;” what a way to boost a kid’s confidence.
He goes on to explain his personal difficulties after his parents got divorced and you come to find the internal struggles that Harry has suffered since his mother’s passing, which he believes to be just a disappearance. His mother has entered hiding to avoid the paparazzi and the attention caused by her ties to the Royal Family. You’ll read stories of Harry’s school days and hear of surreal trips to Africa and Australia, ending with his bootcamp experiences while training for the British Army.
Part 1 of Spare will leave you heart broken, make you laugh, leave you wanting more and feeling a sense of pride in Harry for being able to tell his own story, his own way. Stay tuned for Part 2 and pick up Spare, anywhere books are sold.