If it wasn't for the authorities, Dave Pelzer wouldn't be here today, he would have been killed at the hands of his mother.
When Dave was 12 he managed to get out with the help of the police and his teachers, but left behind his four brothers, one of whom suffered his mother's raff. Dave ... Read review
The third tale in David Pelzer's autobiographical trilogy, A Man Named Dave is an ... more
inspiring story of terror, recovery and hope experienced by the author throughout his life. Known for his work as an advocate against child abuse, Pelzer has been commended by several US presidents and international agencies, and his previous memoirs of growing up as an abused child (A Child Called It and The Lost Boy) have touched thousands of lives. He provides living proof that we can "stop the cycle" and lead fulfilling, rewarding lives full of healthy relationships. Ultimately triumphant, this book will have you living through the eyes of a terrified child, a struggling young man, and an adult finally forgiving his dying father--reading with tissues nearby is recommended. Ending with a touching conversation between the author and his own son, you will finish reading this with a warm heart and an enriched understanding of the need for compassion in all parts of life. --Jill Lightner
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The third tale in David Pelzer's autobiographical trilogy, A Man Named Dave is an ... more
inspiring story of terror, recovery and hope experienced by the author throughout his life. Known for his work as an advocate against child abuse, Pelzer has been commended by several US presidents and international agencies, and his previous memoirs of growing up as an abused child (A Child Called It and The Lost Boy) have touched thousands of lives. He provides living proof that we can "stop the cycle" and lead fulfilling, rewarding lives full of healthy relationships. Ultimately triumphant, this book will have you living through the eyes of a terrified child, a struggling young man, and an adult finally forgiving his dying father--reading with tissues nearby is recommended. Ending with a touching conversation between the author and his own son, you will finish reading this with a warm heart and an enriched understanding of the need for compassion in all parts of life. --Jill Lightner
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David J. Pelzer's mother, Catherine Roerva, was, he writes in this ghastly, fascinating ... more
memoir, a devoted den mother to the Cub Scouts in her care but not to David, her son, whom she referred to as "an It". This book is a brief, horrifying account of the bizarre tortures she inflicted on him, told from the point of view of the author as a young boy being starved, stabbed, smashed face-first into mirrors, forced to eat the contents of his sibling's diapers and a spoonful of ammonia, and burned over a gas stove by a maniacal, alcoholic mom. Sometimes she claimed he had violated some rule--no walking on the grass at school--but mostly it was pure sadism. Inexplicably, his father didn't protect him; only an alert schoolteacher saved David. One wants to learn more about his ordeal and its aftermath, and now he's written a sequel,The Lost Boy, detailing his life in the foster-care system.Though it's a grim story, A Child Called "It" is very much in the tradition of Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul and the many books in that upbeat series, whose author Pelzer thanks for helping get his book going. It's all about weathering adversity to find love and Pelzer is an expert witness.--Christine Buttery
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Advantages: What he went through in his life Disadvantages: nout.
...it wasn't for the authorities, Dave Pelzer wouldn't be here today, he would have been killed at the hands of his mother.
When Dave was 12 he managed to get out with the help of the police and his teachers, but left behind his four brothers, one of whom suffered his mother's raff. Dave was placed in foster homes up until he was 18 when he became a US Army officer.
His first book a child called it was on the US best ... ...it was your fault and Dave felt like this. He tried hard to be good, he did exactly what his mother told him to do for fear of being punished. The one thing I remember most about the book is the time where he was made to swallow amonia, he was locked in the bathroom with all the fumes and was made to swallow it. That's where you can see the extent of his mother's abuse.
He managed to get out of that house at age 12, but always carried ... more
If it wasn't for the authorities, Dave Pelzer wouldn't be here today, he would have been killed at the hands of his mother.
When Dave was 12 he managed to get out with the help of the police and his teachers, but left behind his four brothers, one of whom suffered his mother's raff. Dave was placed in foster homes up until he was 18 when he became a US Army officer.
His first book a child called it was on the US best seller for 6 years and his other books were on for nearlly as many as that.
I haven't read a child called it in over a year, but it still chills me to this day to remember it. Everyone was reading this book at school, we would read it, hand it in the libary and then the next person would get it out, we all loved this book, and all had our own say about the story of a child called it.
From a very young age, David became a punch bag from his achoholic and metally disturbed mother. He didn't have a decent room to sleep in like the others, and he had to eat off the floor if he wanted food. The other boys lived a high life, getting everything the wanted but "IT" wasn't aloud anything because he was bad.
Imagen living like this from an early age, you would think that it was your fault and Dave felt like this. He tried hard to be good, he did exactly what his mother told him to do for fear of being punished. The one thing I remember most about the book is the time where he was made to swallow amonia, he was locked in the bathroom with all the fumes and was made to swallow it. That's where you can see the extent of his mother's abuse.
He managed to get out of that house at age 12, but always carried his mother's abuse around with him. He struggled later on in life to get a girlfriend because he was afraid of her finding out the truth about his life, when he had a kid, he didn't want to be like his mother so he was causious.
Read the trilogy of A Child Called It, it's completley changed my opinoon of the authorities because of how long it took them to realise what was going on, you just know this sort of abuse is going on today and this book is a great role model to help get out of it.
Advantages: May inspire others to write about abuse. Disadvantages: May also show how NOT to approach the subject.
The publication of Pelzer's two books, "A Boy Called It" and "A Man Called Dave" in one volume was wriitten in such a style as to be easy reading, but not so with its content. The main protagonist, written in the first person, describing his life, I found particularly dull and not a little self-piteous, self-indulgent and 'holier- than- thou." Moreover, since the book was supposed to be an honest account of childhood abuse and recovery, it hardly ... ...social services department than anything else. Having had first hand experience of abused children there were many instances where I found myself being incredulous at what I was reading. The book opened with a promise which it failed to fulfill. 'David', does not as suggested, rise above or overcome his supposed early abuse but rather transforms into a neurotic adult. That this book has become an international best-seller isn't surprising, but to ...
crystalline 16.09.2007
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When I first read this book I couldnt put it down...DavePelzer tells his story as a child growing up and how his mother abused him. He leaves nothing out and tells you exactly how it was for him and I honestly feel that he must be an extremely brave man to go through it all again while writing this book and even more extraordinary is that he holds no resentment towards his mother.
The book starts in a way you wouldnt expect for the subject it is going to cover. Instead you find DavePelzers early life was actually very happy and that his mother and father and him and his brothers lived a normal and happy life. This makes what happens even worse as you find yourself thinking if his mother loved him once why did it all change?
Whats even more heartbreaking is that it was only DavePelzer who was abused his brothers escaped it ...
Advantages: A heart rendering read, that you will not be able to put down Disadvantages: none
A Child Called It is part of a trilogy from the author DavePelzer. It is a true account of his life from the age of four till an adult. Dave has experienced a truly extraordinary life. As a child, he endured the horrors of child abuse, which included physical torture, mental cruelty, and near starvation. Upon Dave's rescue, he was identified as one of the most severely abused children in California's history. At age 12, Dave's teachers risked their careers to notify the authorities and saved his life. Upon Dave's removal, he was made a ward of the court and placed in foster care until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 18. As a young adult Dave was determined to better himself--no matter what the odds.
A Child Called It
This book tells the story of Dave who became known to his mother as the boy then the child called It. He ...
Advantages: very moving, very gripping Disadvantages: very upsetting
This trilogy shows a man growing from strength to strength as he over comes the tragedy of the abuse in his youth. DavePelzer's imagery and language gives a clear picture of what he went through as achild, without the accusatory air that normally come from these biographies. It is a hearty wrenching story of a little boy in the midst of violent world, and will not have anyone unmoved, a box of tissues is definately required to accompany it. It's well worth reading, but i wouldn't take it on holiday or choose it for light reading- it's a very heavy story, filled with emotion, violence and hatred. After this i would also recommend finding the book by his brother (name of which escapes me right now) it fills in some gaps made by this book. ...
