A certain book

I’ll probably read it.
Not yet though. I’m all Harried out.

(Yes, yes. I’m fully aware that I’m still commenting on the umpteen threads on here.
I’m a hypocrite with too much time in my hands )

I’ll get it on kindle

Well, I shall be reading it, but not yet as I am 15th in my library queue for it.

Despite GN members protests at the lack of popularity, just about every news source is claiming it'll be the book of the year.

www.cbsnews.com/news/prince-harry-memoir-spare-bestseller/

www.reuters.com/world/uk/prince-harrys-memoir-hits-shelves-after-days-controversy-2023-01-10/#:~:text=LONDON%2C%20Jan%2010%20(Reuters),about%20the%20British%20royal%20family.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/prince-harry-book-spare-bestseller-list-b2259018.html

www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/09/prince-harry-memoir-spare-no-1-predicted-bestseller

OnwardandUpward

On the news they showed empty book shops....

I personally don't know anyone who has read it or is even tempted to read it.

I am not going to buy it or read it.

I can't imagine who will read it? There are so many amazing things in life we could all be doing, so who is going to choose that???

I'm going to read it.

I agree Doodledog but this book appears to have more than a blurring of the lines between fact and fiction when it comes to memories.

How for example can H have a memory of an event, how he heard about the death of his GGM, that not only didn't and couldn't have happened, but is re told in such a fanciful way?

It should be a bestselling book, look at the publicity! I personally would not bother to read it, in fact I wouldn't even buy a 99p Kindle version.

I think that the lines between fiction and non-fiction are always blurred in memoirs and autobiogrpahies - how could it be otherwise? It's just that as this one is criticising the RF, rather than the parents of a footballer or actor (who have even less chance of being able to defend themselves) people are getting upset.

Disclaimer - I would hate it if my children wrote exposes about me (not that they would run to more than a few pages ), as I do see it as a betrayal of trust, and also, ironically, of the need for a safe space to be yourself that a family home should provide - having your most private moments shouted to the world is very bad for the mental health that Harry is so keen to protect. I am not condoning the writing of the book, but pointing out that it is no different really from any other book about someone's childhood or family relationships, and memoirs do sell very well.

Ah, OK about the non-fiction thing. Fair enough.

If one has to preface truth with 'my', then it likely isn't truth but more about interpretations and feelings. Which, from what's been said in news stories, is spot on.

I'm laughing because there appears to be so much that isn't fact. I find it amusing that it's regarded as NF. Factional would be a better description; a combination of fact and fiction.

volver

Oh, and why are you laughing at non-fiction?

Because some people regard it as fiction.

Being very old school, I just feel that it is a very sad and tragic event making money out of what was your family and life and the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. The British Monarchy has been there for a thousand years. Harry would be wiser to ride off into the Hollywood sunset and take his problems with him. We all have enough of our own in the world - war, famine, corruption, ecocide etc. How many trees had to be cut down to provide paper for his drivel?

Oh, and why are you laughing at non-fiction?

Yeah, maybe.

They're still buying it though. Contrary to so much that has been said on here to try to make out it will be a failure.

Non fiction. I don't care how popular it is and there's no way of knowing how many buying the book are doing so out of support or because it's so hard to believe, they just want to see it for themselves.

Well the charity shops will be deluged with them soon enough. It was the same with the ‘50 Shades’ books! Pick up a copy from them for 50p. If you want to read it at all.

Its not for me either. Wouldn't read it if someone gave it to me for free.

But I'm not having paroxysms of pique trying to pretend its not popular.

It’s not for me. Not even if it was the last book in the world.

I posted that picture LondonMzFitz but it was just ignored. Doesn't fit the story, you see.

So the conversation has rather gone like this, hasn't it...?

"It'll never sell, it'll be in the remainder bin, 3 for £1, I bet the publisher regrets it."

400,000 sales in the UK on the first day, fastest selling non-fiction book ever. Top of Amazon and Barnes and Noble pre-order lists in the US.

But there were no queues!! (Try Amazon. Try audio books... 🤦🏼)

Audible version for me. Sensationalist headlines give nothing of the despair, resignation in Harry's voice as he reads. I do wish people would ignore the rubbish on the red tops. I found a comment yesterday on Twitter showing 8 red top front pages from 2013 about Harry killing Taliban. This was reported 9 years ago, front pages, and yet because it's in the book it's presented by the Media as New News.

If you just read the headlines you miss the nuances of the book. But it's to each individuals choice to read or not, isn't it?

Well, it is the best-selling NF book of all time (based on pre-release sales), and if you include fiction it has only been beaten by Harry Potter.

I won't be reading it, people on this thread my not be reading it, but there is no denying the interest.

Bert’s bookshop in Swindon

Actually, I do know someone who will probably buy it - an old friend of a dd, who honestly never reads anything but the likes of Hello! magazine, and similar celebrity gossip.

At least some of the profits are reportedly going to charity.