And Hope, Tragedy, Addiction, A True Story of Love

Cannot put down, because I want kept wanting to know what happens next. Chase packed a lot of life into 20 years. His dad was with him all the time and really understood him. Sometimes the best parenting can't save your child / teen / young adult from poor decisions. It is also helpful for anyone going through grief over the loss of a loved one in a tragic event like this, because you can sense the father's anger, his attempt to understand. You can also sense that, as he rights, he is making his peace with the situation. I cannot say that the parents could have done anything better or different. The author is honest and reflects on where he thinks he's made mistakes. But I don't think he did. This is the tough world we're in.

My anger with the father overtook my interest in the book. He pressured the boy to be what he didn't want to be. A super jock. a hunter, an Eagle Scout. That's not what Chase was. He was more artistic. I was disillusioned with the father. Don't understand his actions at all. He gave Chase mixed messages with sporadic tough love. Kicking Chase out the house when he needed a roof over his head to get straight. Playing games with Chase's car. Then he did the same thing to poor Freddy. Forcing himself into Freddy's life then kicking him out his home. He knew what Freddy was. Shouldn't have invited him to stay to begin with. Some people criticize bad reviews of this book saying we shouldn't judge the father or make him feel guilty. It's about the book being good. But hello Captain Obvious! The father's meddling, obtrusive, stalkish behavior is central to the story & can't be ignored. To me, Darryl seemed almost relieved by Chase's death.

The reference Darryl made about Wendy's father shooting zebras from a helicopter tells me a lot about his character. It's a coward's "sport" that didn't help the people of Africa. The big bad "hunter" could have donated the hundreds of thousand of dollars it cost to ambush harmless animals to a poor village in Africa. That would have helped more than "donating" paltry zebra meat. It's an excuse to kill.

This book was written from the heart. It spoke to me because it documents real struggles for the parents, especially the father, and how they cope with their son's own struggles with drug abuse. The "real" part resonates with me. Sure, no one, is or ever will be, a perfect parent or child, but not many will have the "guts" or courage, to display it on a book, for the benefit of others. I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems to me that Chase was finally starting to realize that he needed to get back to life as he knew it, before the drugs. And the tragedy is that he never had a chance to live that change. But you
are, and will continue to make a difference in many lives. May you have peace in that...thanks for writing from the heart.

This is a great book that shows the negative effects of our society on young people today. All kids are at risk of being sucked into a destructive lifestyle. Even young people who are raised in a Christian home with good values are at risk, because sooner or later, they will come in contact with a lot of other young people who have not been taught good values and who have no moral compass. I guess the best parents can do is to teach their children good values while they are young and pray for them when they get older that they will have the strength to resist peer pressure.

Mr. Rodgers does a great job of telling true stories that show the reader just how demented and twisted a drug addict’s lifestyle can be. It should serve as a lesson to young people that this is not a path you want to go down. Very few escape from this lifestyle to live a successful or even normal life.

This is an honest, personal and poignant memoir that shows the corrosive effect of bad choices. As the shy, quiet and kind Chase begins to slide into a party lifestyle, nothing his family does helps. The story chronicles the desperation felt as drug use shatters their home and they fight to rescue a life out of control. This is a heartbreaking story and you'll feel the desperation many families share along with the difficult and frustrating choices they face. The hopeful epilogue highlights that this was a life only half lived.

Fascinating and often scary journey into the details of the lives of members of the Rodgers family as they deal with a frustrating issue involving drugs and the devastation they cause. The author, father of Chase Rodgers, doesn't pull any punches in reporting things as they actually happened, not as we would have liked them to have been. In a perfect world, perfect people can address every issue with clarity and razor sharp focus. Unfortunately this isn't a perfect world and we aren't perfect people. Occasionally we see parents who are increasingly desperate take drastic measures to try and head off certain disaster. Sometimes they work out; other times they don't. It's life and life in one of its most searing experiences. Well worth the time to read, especially if it helps just one youth make better choices or one parent to make better choices in dealing with youth who are not making good choices.

This was a good, easy read...not devoid of emotion. It showed the depth of love a father has for his child. It was fun to get to know Chase in the beginning of the book. Having not known Chase personally, Darryl did a good job of giving us a glimpse of who Chase was. When Chase's personal struggle began, I found myself rooting for him, wanting the best for him, even knowing the outcome before ever picking up the book. The angst and desperation felt by Chase's parents was clear and communicated in painful detail. This was the story of a relationship between a father and a son, told from the father's perspective, with raw honesty. Thank you for sharing your life and Chase's, Darryl. While Chase may have lived only half of his life from our perspective, he lived it fully.

Chase, the subject of the book, was my first cousin once removed. While I had only met Chase a couple of times, he was well-mannered and had a bright future ahead. I never knew the problems he was having, or the turmoil caused by drugs and the bad influence of some of his friends. I hope the book will be inspiration to young people and parents who may need the encouragement to seek early intervention if they are having similar problems.

Firstly I feel for these poor parents....but must say their overbearing, controlling and invasive behavior is beyond comprehension no matter how well intentioned ! Installing key logger on your college aged sons laptop? Complaining to his 17 year old friends about their facebook posts? Going to a girls house he got caught with in his bed and embarrassing her, instead of punishing him! Get a clue..unless you let your children make their own decisions and even fail, they will never develop autonomy and the ability to make their own decisions, take responsibility, or develop as an adult. These parents sapped every ounce out of a decent kid and totally prevented his maturation and ability to function.....Let this serve as a warning to other parents hovering above their kids, planning a path for, and living vicariously through them... STOP IT!

This was a great book that depicted a great friend that was taken too soon! Mr. Rodgers did a great job and strongly encourage everyone that knew chase to read the book! Even if you didn't personally know him it's a great book to teach and inform adolescents about the effects drugs an alcohol can do to you as well as your family!

A Life Half Lived was an interesting, intriguing book. I loved every minute of it. I read it in one sitting in one night. I went through every emotion while reading this and when a book does that I consider it an awesome book. By reading this book I got an insight into what it truly is like being a parent and I have the most respect for this father. I recommend it to anyone going through any sort of issues. This book was inspirational to me.

This book is well written.. it keeps you interested and it teaches you so much.. I love that the father was a stay at home dad and so involved in the every day life of his sons. I felt like I knew chase personally because that is the great detail that is in this book..I cried but I also smiled while reading this. Chase had a amazing support system and so many people that loved him.. my heart broke for his family and for him.. I pray that Freddy has found a better place in life.. I lived in NC for 16 years I worked as a paramedic all over Harnett and Wake county so I could identity with a lot of the places in this book and the exact spot of the accident.. I called my kids after I was only half way through and recommended that they read it.. I will be passing it along to a few more people today that I know can benefit from this story. Thank you for sharing Chase’s story with us...