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 seller for 6 years and his other ... ...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 ...
DixieChick10 25.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dave Pelzer
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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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dave Pelzer
Having shared his story of redemption through his previous bestselling autobiograhy, Dave ... more
Pelzer now draws lessons from that experience with Help Yourself--a highly personal self-help book. Dave survived one of the worst child abuse cases ever recorded in the state of California. His mother, a mentally disturbed alcoholic, tortured and abused him throughout his childhood--smashing his face into a mirror, forcing him to swallow ammonia and making him sit on a burning stove, among other heinous cruelties. In his bestselling memoirs, A Child Called It, The Lost Boy and A Man Called Dave, Pelzer recounts his horrific childhood, demonstrating how inner resilience helped him survive and even become a highly caring and accomplished adult. (He was eventually selected as one of 10 Outstanding Young Americans.) Although Pelzer has a graduate degree in the school of hard knocks, he never got a chip on his shoulder. In this self-help book, Pelzer sticks with his warm and plainspoken narrative style (think Chicken Soup for the Soul) to offer advice on how to help yourself overcome adversity and let go of the past. Wisely, Pelzer often deflects attention away from his overpowering story, offering anecdotes that pertain to more common, everyday scenarios: you feel taken advantage of at work but are afraid to quit; you have unresolved issues with your spouse. His guidance is familiar, such as never go to bed upset and tackle problems as they arise--don't let them fester. It may sound simplistic, but sometimes that's just what we need--a trustworthy ally who can dole out "been there" advice in a straightforward style. --Gail Hudson
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