Amy, My Daughter: A Father's Intimate Portrait of the Grammy-Winning Legend Amy Winehouse

WARNING: SEE THE DOCUMENTARY FIRST. THEN YOU WON'T NEED THIS SPECIFIC BOOK, OR WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON IT.REASON: Amy Winehouse was such a beautiful soul with a magical voice, and a one in a million talent. I thought I knew how heartbreaking her story was, but to see the movie and watch her go from a bubbly teenager to a tortured, lost soul was almost unbearable. I can't complain about the book's grammar or the usual ways a book fails. But it was truly awful to realize that the two most important men in her life, whom she loved desperately but unwisely, were not only repugnantly self serving, but consistently let her down.It was brutally, horrifyingly clear in the film that her father's disappearance in her early years, and his reappearance after his daughter's fame and fortune grew (some coincidence) were harmful to her in each case! Her need for a nurturing, perhaps even a bit more stern guidance from a parent, was unmet. Instead, she wound up with some narcissistic, trash of a husband and another self serving leech: her father. It becomes unavoidably clear that daddy's "love" centered around her career, but not her health and well-being. In fact, Mitch Winehouse probably had as much right to be a parent as a snake does: he was the first one to scorn the idea of early substance abuse programs (you know this from the "Rehab" song). Any other intelligent parent would have dragged her straight to rehab and kicked her boyfriend to the curb.Of course she had a support net of great friends and other family members. But with young, susceptible celebrities like Amy Winehouse, it's invariably the soul stealers who have the more powerful effect on them. As a similarly unfortunate singer (Janis Joplin) voiced it best in one of her songs, very ironically, "...Take another little piece of my heart now...."I can't imagine this lousy excuse of a dad as a legitimate author, so I'm guessing someone "helped" him pen this unfortunate biography anyhow. I'm going to actually return this book, on principle. For anyone who really wants to know about this gifted singer's tragically short life, just watch the movie, because what it reveals is the heart wrenching story of the death of innocence. And you'll never get the truth from her father.I hope her soul is at peace, but I'd hate for the people who brought her down to benefit posthumously in any way! Unfortunately, I bought the book before seeing the film, and now regret that. Even the thought of one cent coming his way via this book is repugnant. But what I really hope for is that Amy Winehouse is at peace, and that the beautiful, engaging young woman who gave so many people joy in her beautiful music, is the one that people continue to remember most of all.

What a powerful read, and at the end, I'm in tears.As a parent, I couldn't imagine having to bury your child. Adult or not. It is something I know I wouldn't ever get over, so my heart cries for her dad.This book is from Mitch's point-of-view, and being her dad and best friend, he knew more than anyone.I remember watching it all unfold in the media, them calling her 'Wino'. Seeing her dad's view really opened my eyes to her situation. She wasn't lost, or even a druggie, though at one point she had to kick drugs. She was a drunk. A fatal drunk. She wanted to be sober, but was caught in a cycle.Such a sad way to go. Yet, if you look at that '27 club', weren't they all drunks and super talented?!If you're a fan, read this. You will gain so much respect for her and her dad. More than you already have. If you're not a fan, read it. You probably have some misconceptions about her like I did. Thank the media for that....

To start I would like to say how much I adore Amy. I do not want any observations I make from reading this book to be taken the wrong way.This book is about Mitch's struggles with Amy's problems - not really a book about Amy. Mitch has come across in the press as somewhat of a gold digger and limelight seeker but I respect him and I know he loved Amy and had her best interest in his heart. How would you react if your daughter in her early 20's became rich and famous? I think Mitch did the best he knew how. He went through hell to try to save her. At times it became obnoxious. Amy got really drunk - went to London Clinic. Amy had a seizure because of drugs - went to London Clinic. Amy got drunk again - went to London Clinic. She spent a lot of time in the London Clinic. She was high maintenance to say the least.When Mitch left Janis to be with Jane when Amy was nine, it might have had more of an impact than Mitch may realize. As a result, Amy may have developed Munchausen Syndrome. There are several instances where Mitch had to go rushing to the hospital to be at his daughter's bedside. One telling moment for me was when Mitch kicked Amy's beloved husband Blake (ugh) hard in the ass (one of my favorite parts in the book!). Amy's surprising reaction was joy, even bragging to a friend about what Mitch did and then having a lovely day out with her dad. It seems like a lot of things she did was to try to get dad's attention, like pretending to choke when she was younger.It is quite clear that Mitch hates Blake and his family. At one point, Blake tries to talk Amy into giving him a large chunk of money. Mitch says he thinks Blake is trying to manipulate her and Amy says she likes when Blake manipulates her. Blake has confessed that he is the one who got her started on hard drugs which is a horrible thing to do to someone with often horrific results, as in this case. Amy was head-over-heels, fatally attracted to this guy but only God knows why. Blake and his family give me the creeps. Blake's mother (Amy's mother-in-law) Georgette is a real peach as well, selling lurid stories about Amy to the press for quick cash. Even Blake's little brother Harry is getting in on the sell-a-story-to-the-press action to cash in on Amy. Google Harry Civil and take a look at the pictures of that slime bag. I'm sure Blake's memoirs will be hitting the book stores in the near future.Another interesting section of the book is when Amy asks her dad while watching a You Tube video of herself just days before her death "Do you think I'm good, Dad? Do you think I'm beautiful?" When Amy started out she was filled with confidence. After being knocked and ridiculed in the press her confidence was shattered, possibly accounting for her lack of stage performances in the last 3 years of her life and her paralyzing stage fright. There are many factors that led to her tragic death. A shattered confidence coupled with extreme responsibilities and pressure to continue in the spotlight could have been the reason for her turning to a bottle to escape.Mitch said on ITV's "This Morning" in early May 2015 about the upcoming "Amy" documentary "We are upset that… the last three years of her life they have portrayed as lonely and unhappy and nothing could have been further from the truth," After reading this book I have to disagree with Mitch and he wrote it!A good book but you never really get to know Amy. What a fascinating person she was. I wish Amy was still here to write her own book. Very sad that she is gone.P.S. For anyone who doubts how great Amy was, check out her performance at the Eurockeennes festival in Belfort France on You Tube. Stunning performance.

Written by her dad thus is a true accounting of her addictions appear to be brought on by fame and attachments to The wrong friends, husband and the failure of authorities to stop first the drug dealer's all around her bringing illegal drugs to her consumed once widely known and society's accepted over use of alcohol use. A sad story that continues to still kill many today who are caught in substance addictions. Further proof is the very TV commercials that insists a good time to be had must include their products that can be poison to too many.

I was shocked, horrified and deeply saddened to hear of Amy’s death. She was the same age as my own beautiful daughter and I remember thinking at the time how devastated her parents must be. No parent expects to outlive their children and to have to live without them must be like having part of your heart ripped out with a blunt knife. Her talent lives on through her music, and her legacy through the Amy Winehouse Foundation. God bless you, Mitch, and thank you for writing this.

I gave this book five stars as it was a very moving and tragic story about women who had great talent but had many demons in her life . As I was reading this book I could really feel the love of father and daughter love for each other especially Amy dad who love the bones of his daughter and who ment the world to him. I recommend you read this book because it make you realise how much your family mean to you and how you can.easily lose them.through tragedy either those you.try to help them. But you can only do so much to help them.I really enjoy reading this book and made me understand Amy more then just been.on drugs and drink .

Great singer and so wanted to dwelve into Amy's life,great read, Mitch told it honestly about himself and took you through the ups and downs of being a dad and how he helped Amy .but it made me more aware of Amy's fits and how sad her life ended ,she had so much more to give,she had a loving dad who was there for Amy, couldn't put kindle down. A must for fans to read

I read this book with an open mind hoping to grasp some kind of insight into how a pearent copes with a daughter with a addiction ,it was from the heart and as a parent of a daughter with a drink problem ,found many simularatys to my own daughter, who so far hasn't died,thank god, but has also taken up with a bully , So I share the pain that Mich feels, well written thank you

Touching story by her dad, i'm like most people read the tabloid treash and had an image of Amy that was bit negative, but her plight affected her family deeply very tragic, but the insight changed my opinion, no matter what her family tried Amy was a lost cause/soul. bless her i have all her cd's she had one hell of an amazing voice.