Della

the long version

This surprisingly candid, often funny, and moving memoir is Chuck Barris's story about life with his only child. Born in 1962, Della was a lovable, adventurous charmer like her father. She had a carefree suburban childhood, while her father became an entertainment superstar. When Barris and his wife divorced, Della was shuttled between New York and California, then boarding school in Switzerland. Bored, lonely, and often depressed, she discovered drugs and petty crime, and her escapades soon became more dangerous. She was lost, yearning for attention and guidance, but her father felt helpless. When Della decided at age sixteen to move out on her own, Barris gave her a trust fund and let her go--a regret that he shares with readers here as he chronicles Della's descent into addiction and her death from overdose at 36. Filled with loving memories, this is a brave reflection on fatherhood and a tribute to innocence lost.--From publisher description.