Book Review- Prince Harry's Spare

Thank you to Libro FM for providing me with an audio arc of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare.

At the risk of sounding ridiculous, I’ve married a Brit ( who always likes to make it clear that he now has dual-citizenship) and it has made me quite interested in all things English, including the royal family. I’m the one begging to visit all of the castles on our trips to England and I’ve been reading all of the royal bios, so of course, I had to read Spare. To be transparent, I also love a bit of scandal!

After listening to the audio book, narrated by Prince Harry, I was just left feeling sad for his entire situation. I watched the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary and the book didn’t seem to provide new information on the situation, or what was new, was revealed in spoilers pre-publication. So I guess, I didn’t feel that I heard anything so shocking that hadn’t already been shared.

However, as with the Netflix documentary, I felt empathy for Harry and Meghan’s situation. I also felt empathy for the other members of the royal family, who seem caught up in this system that impacts their interpersonal relationships. I kept thinking that this book isn’t going to help the strained family dynamics and it seems that this is true, as the book was published months ago, and it doesn’t seem like things have improved. I don’t think Harry was actually trying to resolve things with his father and brother.

Beyond all of the really sad family problems, Harry does share some interesting aspects of his life, especially his charity work in Africa. I read that this was the first in a four book deal and I really have no idea how he will manage to continue to have content to keep readers engaged, but perhaps he will focus one of the books on his time in Africa.

My delay in writing this review ( I listened to the audio book in the first week it was published) has brought another issue to light. Harry’s reveals of drug usage, particularly on US soil, might impact his ability to remain in the United States. From a writing perspective this is both intriguing and problematic. In memoir, we expect people to be candid, especially in a celebrity tell-all, however, now he may face consequences for sharing these details. As a writer, I’m not sure how I feel about this. I’m interested to see how it will play out.

Overall, I enjoyed Spare and I thought Prince Harry did a solid job with the narration on the audio book. This is a memoir for people who already have an interest in the royal family, specifically in hearing Harry’s side of the story. I found his side to be quite compelling, however, I always bore in mind that there are two sides to every story.

Book Review- Andrew Morton's The Queen: Her Life

Thank you to Libro FM for providing me with an audio version of Andrew Morton’s latest biography, The Queen: Her Life.

Andrew Morton is the preeminent royal biographer and his latest book, The Queen: Her Life, is a deep-dive into Queen Elizabeth II. Originally published in the UK for the queen’s platinum jubilee, Morton’s book was released in the United States just a few months after her death. 2022 was certainly a big year of changes for the royal family and this biography was released at a time when public interest is running high.

Admittedly, as an American, my recent interest in the royal family has a few layers. The biggest having to due with marrying an English husband and having the opportunity to visit the various palaces on our trips to visit family. In fact, we were at Buckingham Palace just a few days before the Queen passed. Another aspect of fascination and likely many people would agree, is Peter Morgan’s The Crown. While the show is historical fiction, emphasis on fiction, it has a way of capturing the imagination and wondering how much is reality. Another layer is simply being American and the allure of a culture so different from our own. We only have Disney castles here! This is all to say that I have been building my collection of Royal biographies and I was eager to read The Queen: Her Life.

This book did not disappoint. Although the timeline of her life’s big events was mostly familiar to me, and I would imagine most readers, I relished the smaller details, especially with regards to her childhood and her relationship with her sister Margaret. I think it is most interesting to see the Queen from the perspective of things that make her relatable and somewhat ordinary, such as childhood friendships and hobbies. It made me think about a statement that a former college professor made, about history being about ordinary people who rise to extraordinary circumstances. Granted, being born into the monarchy is a type of destiny, however, as a child, Elizabeth could have had no idea how her life would play out. Morton’s book balances the private and the public, giving us a rounded look at one of modern histories most famous and influential people.

England 2018: Hilton Double Tree West End and Virginia Woolf

In late spring of 2018, I had the good fortune to accompany my husband on his business trip to England. This included nearly a week in London, where I attempted to see as much as possible before my feet fell off! On one the days, I logged nearly 20,000 steps. Even though my feet were swollen and it felt like I was walking on glass, I was happy. London is one of my favorite cities and it never fails to utterly delight me.

Prior to London, I spent a week staying with my mother-in-law, while my husband traveled throughout Europe, so for the London portion of the trip, I had to take a bus from the town of Newbury to Paddington Station. It only takes about an hour, but it is just far enough that it is not a given that we visit London, every time we travel to England. London is a treat. A big treat!

At Paddington Station, I found a few nods to the famous bear of the same name.

in a kiosk at Paddington Station, I purchased an Oyster Card, which is reloadable and serves as a public transportation pass for London. Since we often visit England, I opted for the Oyster Card, rather than a London City Pass. The city pass is great if you have a limited number of days in London and won’t likely return in the near future. I’ve visited England so many times since I’ve been with my husband, that it is really beginning to feel like a second home.

Another tip for using the tube is to download the London Tube App. My niece Pippa, a local, told me about the app and it was a lifesaver. You just need to type in where you are and where you want to go, and the app will set the route for you. it makes navigating the tube- Easy-peasy!

The only taxi that I took all week was from Paddington Station to our hotel, The Hilton Double Tree West End. I planned to walk and use public transportation while touring, but with all of my suitcases, it would have been a nightmare to get from Paddington to the Double Tree.

We spend a lot of time in Hilton hotels and the Double Tree West End is nearly identical to my experiences of Double Trees stateside. They even served the customary warm walnut chocolate chip cookie. Our room was comfortable and clean with a view of the main road below.

Location is the biggest plus about this property. It’s in a safe neighborhood, with tons of restaurants and shops just feet away. I often returned to the hotel late at night, alone, and never felt in danger. The Holborn Tube Station is just a five minute walk, making it easy to connect to all of the London attractions.

My phone plan didn’t penalize me for using my phone abroad and I essentially had the same access to data as if I had been using my phone in the states. However, this is not the case with everyone and speaking from personal experience from when we had an eight-hundred dollar phone bill (gulp!) from using our phone data in the UK ( previous phone carrier), I’ve often simply not used my phone. The Hilton Double Tree West End solves that issue, by offering a free-to-use phone for tourists. Such a great idea!

My husband was already hard at work and I basically didn’t see him for a majority of our time in London. I dumped off the luggage and headed out to explore.

I discovered an adorable street bizarrely named Lambs Conduit, that was filled with boutiques and cafes. I felt very much in England while admiring a clothing store with an Alice in Wonderland themed window display.

I went to a cafe called Tutti’s for lunch and sat by a large glass window, where I people watched and ate quiche with a Greek salad.

While enjoying my lunch, I researched the area and discovered that I was very close to Tavistock Square and Gordon Square Garden. Which, my bibliophile readers will appreciate is the area where celebrated author Virginia Woolf and The Bloomsbury Group lived. Belly full, I set off on a literary adventure.

Even if this was not an area famous for its literary past, it would still have been a very lovely place to visit. The garden, the size of a city block, is a gorgeous green space in the city and many Londoners were out enjoying a sunny day. As I looked for the Virginia Woolf bust, I admired colorful spring flowers and a serene Buddha statue.

And nearby…

London is full of blue circular markers that identify the homes of historic famous or important people. Sometimes the names are unfamiliar, yet intriguing.

and others are very familiar.

Switching gears, but also nearby, is a showroom for my favorite furniture designer: Timothy Oulton. To say that my husband and I love Timothy Oulton would be an understatement. We have filled our home and wiped out our bank account in the pursuit of collecting his gorgeous pieces. I headed over to Heal’s, a designer home furnishings store, to check-out their Oulton offerings.

I always love Timothy Oulton showrooms, but as an overall impression, Heal’s, which sells many designers, its a fabulous place. I explored it all and ended up parched. It was time for afternoon tea, which having married a Brit, I’ve grown to require.

The Ambrose Cafe, located inside Heal’s was filled with designers sipping tea as they worked on projects or took meetings with clients. The vibe was definitely artsy! I had a pot of Earl Grey and a slice of cake.

The best part of the experience was when a very happy designer popped a few bottles of champagne and insisted that everyone in the room have a glass. I’m not sure what he was celebrating, but we all toasted him and enjoyed a splash of bubbly.

My 2018 London trip was off to a smashing start!