Rating: 
Summary: wonderful and humble
Review: I grew up in the "Brady Bunch", so this really open my eyes
to a problem I know nothing about. One reason I found the
book so good is the determination of Dave to be the best he
could be for his mom and dad, while they never tried to be
the best they could be for him. Obviously his mother had a
mental illness, now in 2002 she could have possibly gotten
some kind of treatment and Dave been saved a life of pain.
I really got the feeling that Dave has completely moved on
with a wonderful life, he beat the odds! I read all three
books and loved them. Can't wait for Dave to write one on
raising a teenager... got any advice for a mother of 3 boys?
Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING
Review: For some reason, I purchased the third book before any of Dave Pelzer's others, but later returned to buy the other ones. It was one of the most wonderful books I have EVER read! It showed the human spirit at it's best, striving just to survive and still coming out with a decent outlook on life and a respect for others. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for Dave and found his tenacity unbelievable. I highly recommend it to anyone who is struggling (anyone out there exempt?) especially with some very difficult issues in their life. A real page-turner. If this book doesn't impact your way of thinking, nothing will. Should make each of us ashamed to ever complain about most things in our life. Made me an even more grateful person. I've purchased several copies and given them as gifts.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: "A Man Named Dave," a sequel to "A Child Called It," and "The Lost Boy" continues the story of a young man who endures a painful and turbulent childhood. It is a story of endurance and success. As an adult, Dave's struggles continue, and he is faced, to some degree, with the conflicts from his childhood, and the demands and responsibilities of adulthood. I enjoyed this book because it champions the strength of the human spirit against great odds. I would also recommend the first two books from this series, "A Child Called It," and "The Lost Boy."
Rating: 
Summary: Bravo
Review: OK, that's the conclusion of the whole story to tell. If you have read the first book, I would say you wouldn't wait to finish the trilogy. But if you happen to read the third book first, you would still be able to understand the essence of the background, whose brief illustration is included in this book.This third book follows the life of Dave Pelzer from the age of 18-40. This is the next phase of life for him, now that he's no longer under the state's custody. Indeed he had been preparing himself for this. As he ventured out, the same questions still haunted him. I couldn't help be amazed at and sympathize with how he dealt with the issues, and in the long and gruelling process, turned them around. I cheered for his resilience, persistence, and faith. Reading it made me question myself - do I appreciate life as it is for me, do I contribute enough for others? The book makes us ponder, and helps shape a wider perspective of life. Indeed, it's a story of triump! Bravo, Dave!
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring conclusion
Review: "A Man Named Dave" is an inspiring conclusion to "A Child Called It" and "The Lost Boy." One of the things sthat makes this book influential would be that fact that it is a nonfiction book about the author, Devid Pelzer.
I started reading this searies last year. The first and second books nearly made me cry. I could not believe that someone could treat their own child like that. David's mother made him do several chores in certain time limits. She also forced him to clean the bathroom with a mixture of ammonia and bleach. Not so bad?? Well, that's only the first part, she then shut the door and window. Fortuately, David was a very bright child. He came up with the idea to breathe fresh air from the vent. I think that's pretty clever coming from someone that was so young. David's mother once put his arm over a hot burner on their kitchen stove. This happened just before he was rescued. It was those nosey teachers that, in my opinion, saved David Pelzer's life. I just sat and thought "It's about time!" I was so happy!!
The book also talks about his foster homes and his own efforts to "break the cycle" when he had children of his own.
I liked the way the books were written. The first two ended with "cliffhangers" to make you want to read this one. Well, it definitely worked for me. I have read and loved all three!
The one thing that I dislike about this particular book is that he puts himself down. David still, in many ways, considers himself that child called "It." To me, no one is an "It." Everyone should be treated with respect. I know that isn't the way it works in our world today, but theat's how it's supposed to be.
For the most part, I lived this book and really enjoyed reading it. It would be well liked by anyone who has a heart. However, I think those who pick on others just because are the ones who really need to read the series. Ever since I began reading it, I think that I have become somewhat of a better person.
Rating:
Summary: Honesty and simplicity in healing from severe abuse
Review: Dave Pelzer's books illustrate the absolute worst of what can occur when abuse is perpetuated throughout a family, and passed down from generation to generation, but even more what it illustrates is how it only takes one person to stand up and break the cycle. After generations and generations of horrifying abuse, turned to mental illness, Dave Pelzer ended the cycle. It is people like Dave who teach me that there is hope for this world. I smile thinking about the future of David's lineage. What will his great great great grand children be like? The abuse died and was buried with his mother. Now, instead of abuse, generations of people will spread kindness, and it began with one man's choice to face his past, to understand it, to heal, and to be a good father. Despite all the twisted rage and torture that was inflicted upon Dave, he remained as innocent, loving, and kind as the day he was born into this world, and he has grown into a wise and compassionate man. I could see all this in his books (this one is my favorite of the four he has written). Reading his story has helped me as well in dealing with and facing the abuse from my own past. Dave Pelzer and his wife, Marsha, are amazing people. Dave's achievements as a writer and an activist are commendable.
Rating:
Summary: My favourite Book.. yehh! =D
Review: ok well im actually 2/3 thru the first book, "a child called 'it'" but i felt i had to express how much i liked the book.. plus i needed a break! ive been reading it nonstop thru my last two lessons in school (Science and German. bleh.) and on my way home. i honestly couldnt put it down!!.. Im not usually one to become so fixated on a book, and im only 2/3 thru the it, as i put before, but its become my favourite since i was on the very first chapter! my second favourite book is 'junk' (i forget the author now) but it also includes a boy named David (nicknamed 'Tar')who gets abused which i think is quite weirdy cuz the two main characters have the same name.. er, anyways, i totally loved this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated....
Review: Being an adult male victim of child sexual abuse I think this book is heavily overrated. Much better are: Half the house, In my father's arms and A rock and hard place.
The book is definitely better than the author's other overrated book: Help yourself. In lieu of that I recommend: Victim's no longer and The courage to heal.
Rating:
Summary: Agony of defeat to Triumph=Full Circle!
Review: I have just completed A Man Named Dave today, the third book in the gut-wretching trilogy. You have to read all three books to see how Dave came full circle in his hell of a life. It's truly wonderful how Dave was able to be strong and determined and come full circle in a life that could have been very horrible. God bless you, Dave Pelzer, and keep you and your family safe! You deserve it!
Rating:
Summary: A Courageous Story
Review: I read both "A Child Called It" and "The Lost Boy" last year and was stunned at the horror a child can go through and survive. The first two books in this trilogy about David Pelzer's life recount the extreme abuse he went through in his early years and follow him from his rescue to bouts in several foster homes. With "A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness", Mr Pelzer allows us into the young adult years in his life as he marries and becomes a father. With honesty, he reveals the flaws in himself, his trouble with self esteem yet comes away as a person of great strength and intregity to the reader. With his mind set on success and being a better person, he moved forward in his life, not always without hardship and at the expensive of his first marriage, but eventually arrived at a place where he could heal the wounds from his old life and focus on his future. This book ends with hope and, utlimately, shows the determination of the human spirit. Through his own personal tragedy, Mr. Pelzer teaches us that we can overcome even the greatest and most fearful of circumstances---but we must believe in ourselves, work hard and be dedicated to making a better life. This trilogy of work can be looked at as several things: a set of autobiographies, a case study of child abuse and its effects, and self help. The abuse in the first two is hard to stomach, but if he could survive it as a small child, reading it can be no worse. Read these books and see if you don't come away realizing how important life is.
|
