A Man Named Dave Review

Manufacturer: Plume
Author(s): Dave Pelzer

Binding: Paperback
Pages: 352

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

The inspiring conclusion to A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy

"All those years you tried your best to break me, and I'm still here. One day you'll see, I'm going to make something of myself."--Dave Pelzer, from A Man Named Dave

These words were Dave Pelzer's declaration of independence to his mother, and they represented the ultimate act of self-reliance. Dave's father never intervened as his mother abused him with shocking brutality, denying him food and clothing, torturing him in any way she could imagine. This was the woman who told her son she could kill him any time she wanted to-and nearly did. The more than two million readers of Pelzer's previous international bestsellers, A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy, know that he lived to tell his courageous story. A Man Named Dave is the gripping conclusion to his inspirational trilogy. With stunning generosity of spirit, Dave Pelzer invites readers on his journey to discover how he turned shame into pride and rejection into acceptance.

User Submitted A Man Named Dave Reviews

December 14, 2008
Highly Recommended
I bought the trilogy I simply could not put the books down! I highly recommend them!

October 7, 2008
Personally I didn't care for it
I have to admit that his books are compelling but I didn't think they were convincing. There were a lot of unanswered questions and non enough substantial information to make it real to me.

August 29, 2008
It's A Complete Trilology...
It was very exciting to find out how his adulthood went for him. I give Dave a lot of credit for forgiving his mother after all she put him through. God bless this man for sharing his life story. Hopefully, this will help other abuse victims out.

August 29, 2008
Heart Wrenching Story!
The book is just as good as expected after the first 2, if not better.

August 24, 2008
More Than a Story of Triumph and Forgiveness!
This book is the conclusion to a trilogy written by Dave Pelzer. The other two were A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy. All three are touching stories that arouse a range of emotions and are filled with the unbelievable horrors of child abuse and its aftermath.

This book provides flash backs to Dave's physical and mental abuse at the hands of his mentally ill mother, his rescue by school teachers, his life in and out of foster and juvenile homes, his escape and success to and with the air force, getting to know his biological family, his struggle learning social skills, coping with the death of his father, living with and marrying a woman he did not love, becoming a father, learning to trust, helping others, forgiving his mother, finding love, and succeeding as an author and "speaker."

David Pelzer's story as a survivor of one of the most horrific cases of child abuses ever documented is a must read for people of all ages and backgrounds who come into contact with children to recognize and help prevent this kind of crime to humanity.

Dave's ability to describe and articulate his fears and feelings have touched the heartstrings of teachers, medical providers, police, social workers, legislators, parents, and numerous other people in our communities and have undoubtedly saved the lives of thousands of children.

Thanks for bearing your soul Dave, you touched our heart and saved precious lives!

August 4, 2008
Simply the best!
As I read this book, I was so captivated and distraught at times. It touched me to the core and made me cherish and value life more. This is the last book of the trilogy by David Pelzer and the ending couldn't have been more befitting. How a beautiful family is destroyed due to the alcoholism of the parents stands at the core of this really brutal tale. If it was a work of fiction, one might just dismiss it, but the fact that a mother could be so brutal to her son, is just so very incomprehensible! The fact that the tragic life of Dave ends in triumph gives immense satisfaction to me as a reader. It's simply amazing how he survives through sheer determination and immense will power and eventually triumphs.
The most poignant lesson here is the human ability to forgive. And Dave does forgive his mom in the end, thereby making him a `real' man. His challenges in life did not leave him bitter and resentful, in fact they compelled him on a greater course in life whereby he helped millions of kids who have suffered like him.

July 26, 2008
A Man named Dave
Great book. Trilogy is a real eye opener to the world of child abuse.

July 15, 2008
A Man Named Dave
This book is well written and I would recommend it to any teachers and students for insight into child abuse and how someone can make their life matter by not continuing the cycle of abuse. I also recommend A Child Called It by the same author.

July 7, 2008
The first two are more compelling
I understand that I'm in the minority here, but I truly found this third book in the series by Peltzer to be preachy and over the top. I realize that the bok is a celebration of his triumph over the abuse and atrocities that he suffered, but I felt that the first two books were more "real" than this one. I can almost feel the presense of a finger reaching out, shacking, and wagging at the reader. I didn't even read the next one because I felt turned off by this one. No disrespect meant to the author.

June 20, 2008
David Pelzer's best book
I loved this book. I already read A child called it & The Lost Boy. I was touched by all three. However A Man named Dave brought tears to my eyes and made me very emotional. I applaud David Pelzer for sharing his life. He seems to be a re-markable man.

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