Rating: 
Summary: RIVETING READING, GAVE ME COLD HANDS AND DRY MOUTH!
Review: Seldom have I read a book about a real person that held me inmy chair for such a long time. I had heard about Terry Mcgovern butnever knew the real story. This first hand account of Terry Mcgovern's life is tough to read. George Mcgovern's account of his daughters life had the right mixture of pathos and humor and made me think about alcoholism in a totally different light. GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: This book is written with a rare mix of objectivity and emotional power, as you can see by reading the previous reviews. Everyone loves it, while coming to different conclusions about what could have been done differently to try to save Terry; McGovern does an excellent job of letting the events speak for themselves. For me, the truth comes out in Terry's own words (from her diary), which McGovern quotes extensively. She initially took refuge in alcohol as an escape from her various demons (an abortion, a difficult relationship with her parents, academic difficulties). Of course there's nothing remarkable about this, but that's the point--this could happen to anyone's child, and does. Finally, at the end of her life, even as she seems to be coming to grips with the issues that drove her to alcohol in the first place, her alcoholism has taken over her life so completely that she is too weak to fight back. She knows full well what is happening but won't or can't stop it. I didn't like this book quite as much as the other reviewers, mostly because of the chapter where the author tells us how to "fix" the problem of alcoholism (no points for guessing how)--this is McGovern the politician talking, in the same simplistic hyperbole as always. But that diminishes the book's power only slightly, because this book is mostly about McGovern the father. I can't imagine anyone with children not being moved by it.
Rating: 
Summary: Heartbreaking and Memorable
Review: This book is written with a rare mix of objectivity and emotional power, as you can see by reading the previous reviews. Everyone loves it, while coming to different conclusions about what could have been done differently to try to save Terry; McGovern does an excellent job of letting the events speak for themselves. For me, the truth comes out in Terry's own words (from her diary), which McGovern quotes extensively. She initially took refuge in alcohol as an escape from her various demons (an abortion, a difficult relationship with her parents, academic difficulties). Of course there's nothing remarkable about this, but that's the point--this could happen to anyone's child, and does. Finally, at the end of her life, even as she seems to be coming to grips with the issues that drove her to alcohol in the first place, her alcoholism has taken over her life so completely that she is too weak to fight back. She knows full well what is happening but won't or can't stop it. I didn't like this book quite as much as the other reviewers, mostly because of the chapter where the author tells us how to "fix" the problem of alcoholism (no points for guessing how)--this is McGovern the politician talking, in the same simplistic hyperbole as always. But that diminishes the book's power only slightly, because this book is mostly about McGovern the father. I can't imagine anyone with children not being moved by it.
Rating:
Summary: A real tear jerker
Review: This book shows the human side of a political figure. Terry's story is the best I have ever read about alcoholism. Better than the secret society of AA.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: This book was riveting, from beginning to the end. If you read it, Terry will be in your heart forever.
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