A Man Named Dave

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Summary: The Triumphant Conclusion to Dave Pelzer's Trilogy
Review: Dave Pelzer's life finally comes full-circle in this final installment of his wonderful and mesmerizing trilogy. Having finally escaped from his abusive mother, Dave spent several years as a foster child, all the while being shuffled between different foster homes. Upon reaching the age of eighteen, he decided to join the Air Force with the hopes of becoming a fireman. As per his nature, Dave worked hard, but his dream ended up in disappointment. Due to a mix up in paperwork, Dave was given the job as a cook. Undaunted, Dave dove into his new assignment with his typical gusto; always wanting to do the best he could. While toiling away as a cook, he began to develop interest in becoming an aircraft crewman specializing in mid-air refueling. He again applied himself as hard as he could only to have his dream shattered again. But his determination and drive to succeed drove him to keep sight of his goal. Finally, he received his long-awaited commission as an in-flight refueler; a post he held for thirteen years.

Dave also met and fell in love with a woman named Patsy, but their marriage was rocky at best. Dave was never able to completely allow himself to break free from his past, and this affected his life with Patsy immensely. Fights always broke out, and Dave seemed to always be the one apologizing, while Patsy continued her freeloading ways. They did have a son, Stephen, who is the light of Dave's life. After ultimately divorcing from Patsy, Dave met and fell in love with Marsha and settled along the Russian River.

As with the other books in this series, Dave takes the reader on a journey through the highs and lows of his life. Dave is confronted with the fact that his alcoholic father, who never so much as raised a hand while his mother was abusing him, is dying of cancer. Ultimately, Dave finds it in his heart to forgive his father, but he never forgave his mother for the hell she put him through.

This series is a must-read. From a terrified child to a successful best-selling author, Dave Pelzer has seen and endured more in his lifetime than most people ever will, and he's survived by his life-long motto of trusting in God and working as hard as you can. The result is a successful author and motivational speaker. Dave's inspiration should serve as a shining example of trusting in one's abilities to overcome even the most extreme of circumstances. Congratulations, Dave!

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Summary: From "It" to Dave
Review: The last part of this inspiring trilogy maps out the life of David Pelzer starting at the age of eighteen. He has to drop out of school to work so he can support himself. He insteads on joining the Air Force to become a firefighter, to follow in his father's footsteps. He is greatly disappointed when he finds that he will not be receiving the postion he had signed up for. He instead becomes a cook and has several doubts about himself and his self imagine. At this point David believes that he will never amount to anything just as his mother has told him.
One day while in the Air Force he recieves a call from his foster mother telling him that his father is very ill and that he must come home. He later finds out that his father has cancer and will not make it. He decides to visit his mother's home, where he is once again treated like "It". This leaves him feeling almost as though it was his fault that he was mistreated the way that he was.
When his father does die, he gives David his only prized item that he owns, his fireman badge. David gladly takes this knowing that it is very important to his father. He feels sadden but he feels like a better person for being able to be there in his father's time of need.
David later meets Patsy, who he marries and has a son with. After the treatment that he has gone through from his own mother, he finds it hard to trust Patsy. The two later get divorced, but David does not lose any contact with his son. It seems that his sonis the element he needed to beleive in himself.
David later tries to talk to his mother and ask her what he did wrong to make her mistreat him. She acts as though "It" and David are two totally different people. It is then that he decides that his mother truely is ill. He realizes that he must forgive her for what she has done.
I recommend this trilogy because it makes you try to do everything in your power to understand people. It makes you think twice about making fun of the "weird kid" and makes you think about their feelings and not just your own.
I think that it is great that he can openly share his horrible life with other children that may be experiencing that same abuse. David Pelzer is a great man for trying to influence children to talk to someone about their problems. He creates a safe agression release for the children that he speaks to. He helps them to find a way to get away from their anger and abuse.

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Summary: Save Your Money!!
Review: It's a good read, but I really hate to think I was duped into purchasing not one, not TWO, but THREE of this guy's books to find out what happens (when, in reality, it should have been a compilation under one dust jacket.) This guy is a MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER! This is how he makes a living! The books are fairly good, but full of inconsistencies. The title book, A Child Called It..... is a good example. Only once does his mother call him, "IT"....but if you buy his last book in the series the phrase is peppered throughout. Did he just get his memory working whilst penning the third episode in this tragic saga, or did his IMAGINATION get better by then? Up to you to decide, but as an avid reader of non-fiction works I've read enough to know I don't believe him. Another example I found was in the profound memories this 4-year-old child has. Nobody thinks that way as a kid.....who remembers details so vividly at the age of 4!?! If you want to waste your money on a non-fiction read, buy this book. However, if you'd like to read a good STORY, then you've found one in Pelzer's works. I know this guy suffered some form of abuse, it is recorded in the county records, but as the episodes morph into more bizzare forms of punishment as you buy each installment, I think there is a bit of exaggeration going on here. One point in the last book he writes that his own wife doesn't believe him. Well, no wonder. The story just keeps e x p a n d i n g. I think that she has hit upon the one last morsel of REAL truth; that she didn't believe him and neither should we. If I could get my money back, I'd gladly do it! In fact, this series is nothing more than garage-sale fodder. Save your money, folks....this guy is a LIAR.

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Summary: David's experience
Review: "A Man named Dave," written by David Pelzer, is about his life growing up and his experiences of being mentally and physically abused by his mother for many years. David's goal throughout this book, is mainly to get out of his mother's control and out on his own. This is a triumphant story, describing the obstacles, which David had to live through while growing up with his mother.
Pelzer writes with very descriptive sentences, for example, "I use the top of my shirt as a tent to cover my head, imagining my exhaled air will somehow keep my face and ears warm.(1)" This quote puts you in Dave's position and you feel his emotions and thoughts. Imagery is used a lot throughout the book, mostly describing what he feels, or what how his mother is treating him. David quotes, "Above me The Mother stands poised, revealing her yellow teeth and putrid, steamy breath.(39)" Throughout the book, you encounter stories, in which he describes how he was treated and abused. It makes you so mad and makes you realize that some people do go through with the same experiences.
Throughout A Man Named Dave, I kept wondering what was going to happen next, was he going to ever get away from his mom's abuse? If he does get away, will he keep in touch with her, because she is his mother? My emotions were very high while reading this book. At parts I just wanted to cry, and other parts I just wanted to yell at the mother for mistreating Dave in such a manner.

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Summary: A man Named Dave
Review: The book "A Man Named Dave" is the compelling ending to the series about David Pelzer's life story. The book goes through it all though, David wrote them each so that you wouldn't have had to read the others to read this one. I hadn't so this was nice. I think that this book could be read and understood by anyone who can relate to the human struggle. All ages could see the triumph and the challenges. I think that this book is really inspirational in the way that David writes, he uses very strong imagery in order to get his readers to understand what he really went through. The style that He writes in is very up and down, he has you all wrapped up in the book at parts where you can even remember the real world and then parts where you can relate to it on a personal level. I really enjoyed this book and I think it is a great story of overcoming life's obstacles. Everyone should read it, I absolutely guarantee that it will move you. 5 stars!

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Summary: A man named Dave
Review: I thought this book was great. I have never seen a man like him so full of hope and determanation. I also think it is cool that he goes out and tells his courageous story. I would recommend this book to anyone. It incourages people to go out and follow their dreams and to live life to the fullest and it also teaches you forgiviness.

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Summary: Highly recomend!
Review: Great conclution to the serie's. Highly recomended. Very inspiring to see that after all Dave endued growing up,is now living his dream.

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Summary: The end and begining......
Review: Man Named Dave is the ending in the trilogy of fantasticlly moving set. Dave Pelzer ,now a man, copes with life as an adult but his past never seems to leave him compleatly. The Books were so upseting at times that you feel compeled to read on. One of the things I did like about the books was in the beggining he lets us off the hook (read the books and you'll see what I mean).
Pelzer, now a man, learn how to put the past behind him and forgive those who wronged him. He shows how hard work and a never give in attitude. Pelzer is somone to be admired.

In closing in this last review I will give an overall of the three as a whole. These three books are not only a study in triumph and tragady but also in how people can do unspeakable things and get away with it. This is one of the most sickening case of child abuse I have ever heard of. This mans mother was a monster who you will dislike more than Pelzer becouse he has learned to forgive. The reader will have to also.
Thank you David Pelzer for these books, and thank you Lisa for giving me these books.

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Summary: A Man Named Dave
Review: The book "A Man Named Dave" is a sad book. It is a non- fiction book about a boy and his adolescence. Dave was abused by his mother, who was an alcoholic. His dad was never at home when Dave was young so he never knew what Dave's mother did to him. There was a couple of times that Dave would try to tell his dad about what his mother did to him but his father never paid any attention. There was a few times when I didnt think Dave would make it out of his mother's little "schemes." Dave's mother did a lot of things that were cruel and nearly fatal. I really like this book because it was full of suspense and sorrow. I couldnt put this book down becauseI was always wondering what would happen next. If you are looking for a book that is a true story and looking for quick reading material then this is the book for you! By; Dave Pelzer, 284 pages

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Summary: Very moving, compelling, and helpful book
Review: I have not read the books that preceded "A Man Named Dave", but I read this book and also Dave Pelzer's "Help Yourself". Both books were very well written and contained valuable advice. Although I still don't think I fully understand the concept of "forgiveness", I think this book explores the topic of forgiveness quite thoroughly. I think that Dave is an exemplary individual of honesty and integrity--because he had the courage to stand up and break the cycle.

There were a few times in the book that made me cringe. Each time Dave would go back to visit "The Mother" as a fully grown man, I just wanted to beat her to death. I wanted Dave to just stay away from her! However, through his visits with his aging and dying mother, I think Dave realized what a sad and pathetic person she was. I think that he understood that she was a raving lunatic and that the abuse was never his fault.

It was also heartbreaking to read about Dave's relationship with his father, a homeless alcoholic who never lifted a finger to protect little Dave or any of his children from his wife's wrath. Dave was starved, beaten, burned, and tortured on a daily basis by his mother. Dave was not allowed to be a part of the "family", and was forced to live in an unheated garage. His dad had once been a fireman, and Dave looked up to him, even though his dad never protected him or stood up for him. His dad ignored his wife's abusive behavior. Once his father abandoned the family and presumably became homeless, the Mother's daily attacks became even more vicious. However, Dave went to the hospital to be with his father as the former fireman died of cancer. He forgave his father, because Dave knew that he couldn't change the past. I don't know how Mr. Pelzer's heart has such forgiveness and compassion. Compassion is truly the mark of a great individual.