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Saving Amy
Amy Winehouse shot into the public eye with her crazy big hair, ultra thick black eyeliner, and the soulful voice of yesterday's Motown greats. But her amazing success--including five Grammy wins--has been overshadowed by her turbulent relationship with the media and her very open battles with addiction. Through exclusive interviews, personal recollections, and private diaries, Saving Amy not only looks unflinchingly at the inner demons driving--and perhaps destroying--an extraordinary talent, but at the struggles of the whole Winehouse family to adjust to Amy's tempestuous success.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
199 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 24, 2012
More like should be called "All about Mitch"
April 5, 2015
For my own personal reasons I've always been fascinated and had a soft spot for Amy Winehouse. Having received this as a gift I was intrigued to read it. It wasn't exactly what I thought I was going to be, less about Amy, more about her father and his relationship and involvement in her life. I found it fascinating to learn about that side of things from an outsiders point of view, however, despite how well decorated and described Daphne the author is, her judgemental and somewhat self absorbed view of her own self detracted from the book and became less about Amy. I found myself cringing in places and wondering what relevance certain information she'd shared had to do with 'Saving Amy', but realised that this is a lady who likes very much to 'blow her own trumpet'. Not much of an insight into Amy herself but more of those who tried to exploit her.
February 2, 2011
One of the worst books I've ever read. Exploitative, written horribly, and way too judgemental. I hated reading it.
April 3, 2014
Not just for music fans......
Saving Amy had me interested from the moment I saw the weatherbeaten, vintage look cover. The book looks like it has been poured over many times, dropped, ripped and then stored in a dusty box even though it is brand new. The cleverness of the book cover was not lost on me and I appreciate the design work.
I must admit, as much as Daphne Barak tells us (a few times) that she is very famous for interviewing celebrities it was the first time I had ever heard of her. She is a credible journalist and pays attention to the smallest details.
The book of course is about Amy Winehouse, but Daphne cuts through the singing career, only listing major music awards and moments to give us a timeline of her short, spectacular, scattered and incredibly lonely life. This book is not for music fans. This book is for those who want a window into the life of a family who have a member with addiction. Fatal addicition.
Daphne speaks most freely with Mitch Winehouse, Amy's doting father and you can see that although she was trying to keep distant and factual, she feels for him deeply on occasion. He annoys her, plays to the media, plays his past as well as his current wives off each other but it never seems malicious. Who can judge a guy who was unsuspectingly thrust into the spotlight to tend to his drug adled, alcoholic daughter who seems to crave his attention 24/7 and who just happens to have been one of the most talented voices of our time.
The tiniest of details, the briefest of converstaions are relaid second by second, word by word and it is these tiny moments in Amy's world that give the reader the biggest sense of her as a woman. A young woman who was struggling with demons that were all too powerful for her tiny frame.
An interesting book, one I would recommend to anyone who loved her work and was baffled by her quick demise and untimely death. It is also a book for those of us who think our family is just a little bit left of centre. Daphne shows us that even the most rich and talented cannot choose the family they are dealt and it is these families who sculpt the children they rear.
Saving Amy had me interested from the moment I saw the weatherbeaten, vintage look cover. The book looks like it has been poured over many times, dropped, ripped and then stored in a dusty box even though it is brand new. The cleverness of the book cover was not lost on me and I appreciate the design work.
I must admit, as much as Daphne Barak tells us (a few times) that she is very famous for interviewing celebrities it was the first time I had ever heard of her. She is a credible journalist and pays attention to the smallest details.
The book of course is about Amy Winehouse, but Daphne cuts through the singing career, only listing major music awards and moments to give us a timeline of her short, spectacular, scattered and incredibly lonely life. This book is not for music fans. This book is for those who want a window into the life of a family who have a member with addiction. Fatal addicition.
Daphne speaks most freely with Mitch Winehouse, Amy's doting father and you can see that although she was trying to keep distant and factual, she feels for him deeply on occasion. He annoys her, plays to the media, plays his past as well as his current wives off each other but it never seems malicious. Who can judge a guy who was unsuspectingly thrust into the spotlight to tend to his drug adled, alcoholic daughter who seems to crave his attention 24/7 and who just happens to have been one of the most talented voices of our time.
The tiniest of details, the briefest of converstaions are relaid second by second, word by word and it is these tiny moments in Amy's world that give the reader the biggest sense of her as a woman. A young woman who was struggling with demons that were all too powerful for her tiny frame.
An interesting book, one I would recommend to anyone who loved her work and was baffled by her quick demise and untimely death. It is also a book for those of us who think our family is just a little bit left of centre. Daphne shows us that even the most rich and talented cannot choose the family they are dealt and it is these families who sculpt the children they rear.
February 17, 2012
I remember reading it just after the news of Amy's passing. Very moving and emotive, a very close up account by Daphne Barak (celebrity interviewer) on Amy Winehouse, her life and relationship with her family, a lot of light shed on her father as well... not surprised there. The writer tries to make sense of the relationships within the Winehouse family, analysing their potential impact on Amy, her condition and addictions. An opinionated narrative nevertheless illuminating. The book gives a detailed account on the events in St. Lucia, where Amy is sent to freshen up away from distractions, record music and prepare for a show, her subtlety and fears, sharply laid out in that scene, very memorable and heart wrenching.
September 16, 2012
I Decided to read this book because Amy Winehouse is one of the few female singers i like and i wanted to know more about her. This book fits into 'A book about female main character' box on the bingo board chart.
I Liked this book so i gave it three stars, i would of given it four stars, but the story was mostly about the stuggles her parents have to go through (especially Amys father) and how they try to deal whith their daughters fast rise to fame, alchohol and drug addictions. But i thought this book was very interesting.
I Liked this book so i gave it three stars, i would of given it four stars, but the story was mostly about the stuggles her parents have to go through (especially Amys father) and how they try to deal whith their daughters fast rise to fame, alchohol and drug addictions. But i thought this book was very interesting.
August 1, 2017
Mostly a waste of time. A lot of the same stuff we've heard before with a tidbit or two of stuff I hadn't. I don't know if it was Ebook formatting issues or what, but this woman does not strike me as a very good writer. She also came across as highly judgemental and not particularly thoughtful with regards to other people's feelings and possible motivations.
April 9, 2013
Nogal saai, nietszeggend boek dat meer gaat over de rare band tussen auteur Daphne en Amy's vader Mitch. Ik kon er geen touw aan vastknopen.
May 2, 2019
I really, really, really love Amy.
So, of course, I was very interested in reading this book.
Overall, it was an average book. And a sad one; what made it especially sadder is the fact that it was written before Amy's death, and there is this one particular fragment where Mitch, Amy's father says something along the lines of "Nobody's dead.".
A few tears did come out, especially when you look at how helpless Amy was, when she could have in fact been saved.
The slight psychological analysis Daphne is trying to do is, in my opinion, poorly done. I think she was trying to go into places she didn't really fit into. Also, the ending was all over the place, it wasn't a proper one.
Anyhow, if the documentary is, in fact, out, I'd love to watch it.
So, of course, I was very interested in reading this book.
Overall, it was an average book. And a sad one; what made it especially sadder is the fact that it was written before Amy's death, and there is this one particular fragment where Mitch, Amy's father says something along the lines of "Nobody's dead.".
A few tears did come out, especially when you look at how helpless Amy was, when she could have in fact been saved.
The slight psychological analysis Daphne is trying to do is, in my opinion, poorly done. I think she was trying to go into places she didn't really fit into. Also, the ending was all over the place, it wasn't a proper one.
Anyhow, if the documentary is, in fact, out, I'd love to watch it.
October 21, 2025
Heel dubbel. Ergens ben ik zeer blij dat ik dit boek heb gelezen. Vanuit een psychologisch perspectief vond ik het een reflectie van hoe de entourage van Amy omging met haar psychisch kwetsbare kant, namelijk: uitbuiting.
De schrijfstijl van Daphne vond ik zeer beoordelend. Zowel naar Amy als haar familie toe. Ook de ironie: ‘saving amy’ aka hoe kunnen we zoveel mogelijk geld uit een psychisch kwetsbare vrouw krijgen… Eindstand heeft het project Amy niet gered volgens mij.
De schrijfstijl van Daphne vond ik zeer beoordelend. Zowel naar Amy als haar familie toe. Ook de ironie: ‘saving amy’ aka hoe kunnen we zoveel mogelijk geld uit een psychisch kwetsbare vrouw krijgen… Eindstand heeft het project Amy niet gered volgens mij.
May 8, 2016
historią Amy zainteresowałam się po obejrzeniu filmu "Amy". książka potwierdza moje wnioski z filmu: Amy była bardzo wrażliwą i delikatną osobą, która nigdy nie dorosła; nikt tego od niej nie oczekiwał; a mężczyźni jej życia, zarówno ojciec, jak i Blake dbali bardziej o własne zyski z jej kariery...
zabrakło rozsądnej osoby, która zdolna byłaby pomóc Amy dojrzeć i stać się dorosłą, odpowiedzialną osobą
zabrakło rozsądnej osoby, która zdolna byłaby pomóc Amy dojrzeć i stać się dorosłą, odpowiedzialną osobą
August 15, 2019
على قدر حبي ﻵمي واينهاوس، شعرت أن الكتاب لم يقدم لي جديدًا عما أعرفه بالفعل، ورغم ذلك لا أراه كتابًا سيئًا على اﻹطلاق، خاصة مع فهمي التام لنوايا الكاتبة أنها تحاول مثلنا أن تفك الغموض حول ما أدى بفنانة متميزة وموهوبة مثل آمي أن تدمر نفسها على هذا النحو وصولًا إلى الوفاة بالتسمم الكحولي إثر جرعة زائدة.
يُفضل مشاهدة الفيلم الوثائقي الذي أخرجه آسيف كاباديا عنها منذ سنوات ونال عنه اﻷوسكار.
يُفضل مشاهدة الفيلم الوثائقي الذي أخرجه آسيف كاباديا عنها منذ سنوات ونال عنه اﻷوسكار.
March 19, 2021
An interesting, absorbing book, the flavour of which is added by the character and achievements of the author herself. Daphne tries to bite the problem of addiction psychologically by asking Amy's parents accurate, sometimes uncomfortable, irritating, crushing questions, but whether they or Blake could prevent Amy's early death, in my opinion, no. Amy was like a self-destructive machine. She struggled with bulimia, started smoking weed before she met Blake, her promiscuous, defiant style of clothing, including hairstyle, makeup, tattoos, etc., was already a signal that something was wrong. Maybe Amy was trying to draw attention to herself that something disturbing was happening, but she took the wrong path, floundering into the swamp deeper and deeper. The relationship with Blake was certainly destructive, but her parents were always there, never turned away from her. They tried to help in their own way, but it was not effective. The internet is full of pictures of Amy with her family, mostly with her father, which proves that they were very close. Probably, after Mitch and Janis divorce, she experienced some pain, but she had to forgive them in her heart, since she did not definitively break the family ties. Mitch is a bit like Blake, they both had their issues, but both influenced Amy and she reckoned with them. Amy's parents were somewhat at a stalemate, if they did nothing to get her out of addiction, they would be accused of passivity and indifference, but if they did everything to help, it would be said that they were entering her life with shoes and controlling her. To say more, an interview with Blake and his parents would be of help, but unfortunately this is not in the book. Inadequate company, easy access to drugs, the belief that I am 18 years old and I can do anything, this is the reality, some people come out stronger, others drown, this is life and along the way we hurt those we love the most and we cannot control it and talk to each other. And when somebody is famous it is even more difficult, everyone adds opinion as if a person no longer belongs to himself, but to everyone, there is also pressure and hate, which in turn contributes to addiction as well as fear, loneliness, depression and distrust of people. Amy lost the fight, but her work will remain timeless and immortal. She was talented and let us remember her like that.
October 29, 2023
After finishing this book, it seems that all people involved see Amy as a cash cow, as long as the cash is flowing, who gives a s##t what Amy does! Amy is a venerable person with a lot of pressure on her shoulders, and I feel she doesn't get the true support her parents and friends could give her. Amy may have been addicted to alcohol and drugs, but Mitch comes across as being addicted to the cash flow and creating external drama when it should have been kept internal. Amy Whitehouse was an amazing person with an amazing voice! Such a loss. She would have gone onto an amazing career if given the right support.
July 30, 2024
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Halfway in I was ready to give up. It was all speculation, no hard facts just Amy's Dad clawing for the limelight. As I read on I realised it was deeper than that, a cry for help maybe, help with his daughter, help with his situation? It's difficult to judge knowing what we know now but I will say this... She was a great talent that was taken advantage of by many and the girl, as strong as she was was fighting demons that had been there long before she picked up a microphone. I fear the biggest demon was the one who was trying to "save her" and what was he trying to save her for?
December 31, 2020
This "book" is basically transcription of interviews with Mitch Winehouse. Amy's sweet, charming personality shines through in a few places, but Daphne Barak hasn't made the attempt to turn her interview notes into an interesting narrative. The incident in which Daphne offered Amy her choice between two expensive Herve Leger dresses and Amy tried to take both was amusing and like something that might happen between two society ladies in a Jane Austen novel.
October 8, 2024
Can't even carry on with this. Poor Amy.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews