A Man Named Dave

Dave Pelzer #3

by Dave Pelzer

A Man Named Dave, which has sold over 1 million copies, is the gripping conclusion to Dave Pelzer’s inspirational and New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with 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." 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 New York Times and international bestselling memoirs know that he lived to tell his courageous story. With stunning generosity of spirit, Dave Pelzer invites readers on his journey to discover how he turned shame into pride and rejection into acceptance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography, Psychology, True Story, Biography Memoir

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

An author best known for his 1995 memoir of childhood abuse, A Child Called It.

At the age of 12, Dave was removed from an abusive home and placed in a series of foster homes. In 1979, he joined the Air Force and later became an author of memoirs and self-improvement books.

A CHILD CALLED "IT" IS COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN.

August 2017 - We are very excited to announce that writer/producer David Goldblum of Conscious Contact Productions has acquired the film rights to Dave Pelzer's, #1 New York Times bestselling book, A Child Called “IT” which was on the New York Times Best Sellers List for a record breaking six years. Tamlin Hall, whose film Holden On has won multiple awards around the country is attached to direct. Dave Pelzer is adapting the screenplay alongside Goldblum and Hall. The movie is in pre-production, with production set to begin in Spring 2018. A-List talent are already circling the project. Be sure and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates. https://www.facebook.com/AChildCalled....

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do love all three of these books, but there WERE some things that started to bother me by the end of this one. It's hard to put my finger on them all. To name a few, though, Pelzer gets pretty repetitive at times and doesn't seem to realize it (he'll put an anecdote in parentheses like this and then do it again with the same anecdote later, like we forgot the first time...when actually, I think he did). He also focuses so much on the negative and then suddenly time speeds up and everything is fantastic at the end, but we didn't really get the entire road map to his greatness. I feel like he is a different person now than the guy in this story, and I thought this story was supposed to show us how he got here.

Also, when he's quoting an argument or something, and someone is ranting and raving for two pages without a breath, come ON, Dave, you don't actually remember what they said word for word, and we all know it - you could have written those part differently! I am a huge fan of dialog but I couldn't get past how hokey it was at times to feel like we're expected to believe that every word is fact.

Anyway, I do appreciate the series, and I love that he wrapped it up on a positive note and then continued into the self-help genre after this. I think that was a good step for him. This was definitely the end of the bad things and the beginning of the good things, and it's nice to have some closure after the first two books.

[Lorraine Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

(19/85) 5 stars *****
How can you even begin to rate out of 5 the story of this guy's life anyway?
It's not doable and I still don't understand how he so successfully came out the other side of his abusive childhood and made so much of his life AND forgave both his parents as well! He really is living proof that the cycle of child abuse can be stopped and that victims can live a healthy, fulfilling life of their own.
Dave Pelzer is the definition of the word inspirational, and reading his life story has certainly changed my outlook on much in my own life. As he so succinctly puts it -
'Life is what you make it.'

[Saber Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

من أكثر الكتب التي أثرت في وهي الجزء الثالث لحياة المؤلف دايف بيلزر يتحدث عن فترة نضوجه وما بعد المعاناة التي عاشها مع أمه
الحقيقة الكتاب أعتبره من أروع ما قرأت
للتنبيه
الجزء الأول
طفل اسمه نكرة
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67...
الجزء الثاني
الولد التائه
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69...
الجزء الثالث والاخير
حكاية رجل اسمه دايف

لمن يريد النسخة الالكترونية على هذا الرابط
http://www.4shared.com/document/cHKit...

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very tedious to wade through, and as Pelzer developed his series, and became more confident in his writing, he became more wordy and as such this book was far and away the worst of a poor series. I think it's a little rich of him to claim the book is about forgiveness: he clearly hasn't forgiven his mother at all for the abuse she handed out when he was a child, nor has he forgiven the foster care system that didn't give him the attention he needed.

Yes, there's one thing to be said for needing to have your story told. I think he milked his opportunity to keep writing, and should have stopped at the first book, or at least culled this one a little.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good examination of Pelzer's transition into adulthood, as he tried to lay to rest the demons of his exceedingly abusive past and build a greater sense of his own self worth. It seems he may finally have achieved that, but it's hard to imagine that this man is not still plagued at times by haunting memories of torturous treatment. Although it is clear from his books that both his parents were alcoholics, and that his mother may have in turn been abused somewhat by her mother, it's still hard to find justification for his mother's actions (and his father's extreme passivity)--if I were him, I don't know that I would have been able to forgive her (which he, in fact, never did do to her face--he just told her to "go in peace"). These are difficult books, in the sense of wading through horrific experiences of childhood abuse, but inspirational ones at the same time. Like, I feel I need to get off my buns and get on with my life--what excuse could I possibly have if he, having been through all that, doesn't operate that way? So, onward and upward....

[Elaine]

*spoilers ahead*

I read My Story (comprising of this book, The Lost Boy and The Child Called "It"). Basically an autobiography that covers his life up to this moment. David was abused from the age of 4 to 12 by his mother. This took place within closed doors but it was possible to deduce this from just looking at his appearance. No one did anything concrete to intervene. Any halfhearted attempts were blocked by his mother. Several times, he came close to losing his life or suffering permanent damage. Finally his teachers informed the authorities and he never had to live with his mother again.



But the path to normalcy was rough. For a young boy who lived most of his life struggling to survive in his own home, it was hard to adjust to a life that everyone takes for granted.



All the way through to adulthood, his life was wrought with stumbling blocks but he managed to stay strong and even earned recognition from his country and the world for his achievements and his work to prevent child abuse.



At times, he comes across as whiney and sometimes martyr-like. But people are different. This is the way he is, and how he sees his past. There is no right or wrong. And at the end of the day, his achievements speak for themselves. And he's finally happy. Truly happy

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this is terrible to say, but I was super frustrated by this book.

I'm sorry - I know Dave had a terrible life (controversy aside), and that he suffered more than any child should ever have to, but I still couldn't get over his attitude as he got older.

So I'm heartless, maybe. But there was a clear movement from memories of horrors from his youth to accounts of how his adult life was too tough and altogether unfair to live through.

At least he was given a chance! At least he was removed from the house and given a chance to live! How many abused children never get that chance? How many of them never get a chance to know any kind of happiness?

I couldn't handle Dave's morose telling of his first marriage, or how he treated her. I wanted answers as to what drove his mother to behave the way she did, why she picked on him, and why his father refused to help. I didn't want to hear about how it was so difficult to find a publisher for the first two books. I didn't want to see his father's end, or his eventual understanding that his mother would never change. The questions were left, completely unanswered, and when you add in Dave's attitude and whining, it just frustrated the hell out of me.

[Brit McCarthy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is possibly one of the most unnecessary books I have ever read. The 1 star review is partly my fault, because I was 95% sure I wouldn't like this book based on the previous two books of the trilogy. That doesn't mean, though, that it's my fault the book is bad.

Because it is. It's poorly written, wanders through Dave's life as an adult, sees him make some stupid decisions and then yay, tie it all up with a bow, here's a happy ending (this guy's life is not over but the book is).

I can see the point of this book. Dave Pelzer suffered terrible abuse at the hands of his mother as a child, and this book can be seen as a message to other survivors that it doesn't have to end there, you can get out of your situation and make a real life for yourself. But did we not establish that already in books 1 and 2?

This book was painful to read because I just couldn't put up with any more of Dave Pelzer's whining. I can't stand people who complain about their lives and then do nothing about it. I'm not saying what happened to him wasn't awful, because it was and it should never have happened (and you know what else? This whole thing of what happens in the home, stays in the home is absolute bullshit and is no excuse for the other adults in Dave's life), but then he got out, into foster care, found a loving family (who suddenly disappeared like halfway through the book). Things go wrong in everyone's lives, and your life after that was in your hands, no one else's. This book felt like a huge account of 'everything gone wrong in my life' by Dave Pelzer.

I am so glad I never bought any more of Dave Pelzer's books. If it wasn't for my little pledge that I would start trying to finish all the series I've started, I never would have made it this far.

[Vivi Vigil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read is called A Man Named Dave. It is a non-fiction book. It is written by Dave Pelzer himself, and that is his third book. It is “A story of Triumph and Forgiveness”, it talks about child abuse and how Dave survived it and how he went on about his life when he became a man.
Dave had an abusive mother as a child and was able to escape her around the age of 12. He was put in foster care and later placed with a family who cared for him. Dave lost connection with his family for some time. He later found out that his father was ill with cancer and he was dying. He tried to reconnect with his father because he knew he was alone and he wanted to help him out, “And now he’s alone living on the streets and has nothing” (Pelzer). Dave wanted to buy a house so that his dad could live with him. After his dad died he decided he wanted to join the air force, so he did. There he met his first wife and the mother of his son. He married her and they named their baby Stephen Joseph after his father.
The author starts the book by giving some background information and about his previous books to recap the story. The rising action is when he joins the air force and when he meets Patsy. The conflict is when he finds out that his father is sick. When he dies, Dave feels helpless. The climax is when he has his baby because that is when Dave is really happy, “I’m gonna make things right, I promised Stephen…As God is my witness, I’ll make things right for you” (Pelzer). He wanted to do everything right for his son, and give him the life he always dreamed of as a child. The conclusion was getting a divorce from Patsy. The falling action was that they were able to get along and Dave was welcome to see his son whenever he wanted to. The conclusion was that he remarried and later lived in his dream house on the Russian River.
The theme of the book is to keep faith and to never give up. Dave always tried and did his best to survive his mother’s tortures and anything that he faced in life. He was very strong throughout his whole life, “Just a few more minutes before another day in hell begins” (Pelzer1). Every day of his childhood was hell and even then he was able to escape that. He was able to live his life and he became a good man. He found good lady who he married and he was a great father to his son Stephen. He did everything he could to have his son happy. Dave never lost faith and he never gave up. That made him a very strong man.
I liked the book a lot. I already had the background information from the first book A Child Called “It”. It was very interesting to find out how Dave’s life turned out and what happened to him. How his mother’s actions towards him as a child impacted his adulthood. I would recommend this book to anyone. It teaches you that no matter what you go through in life never lose hope and to always reach for your dreams. If you try really hard and put your mind to it you can accomplish anything.

[زوربا · Rating 4 out of 5]

اكتسحت الرواية الأمريكية الحديثة اهتمامات القراء في العالم نظرا لتميزها بعدم تقيدها بالقالب اللغوي في بنائها السردي بقدر ما تهتم بصدق المشاعر التي يراد ايصالها وقد مثلث رواية "طعام صلاة حب " ورواية "حكاية رجل اسمه دايف" افضل مثال على ذلك اد ترجمت الروايات لمعظم لغات العالم .

سنتطرق اليوم الى رواية "حكاية رجل اسمه دايف" اين يمثل هذا العمل الادبي تجربة حياتية رائعة يستطيع القارئ من خلالها فهم التقنيات المجدية للتخلص من المتاعب النفسية والتحرر من الماضي . دايف الفتى الصغير الذي يتعرض بصفة يومية الى اعتداء جسدي من طرف والدته المدمنة على الكحول ،اين عاش حياة الاستعباد النفسي قبل الجسدي ، اذ لم تكن والدته تدعوه باسمه بل تفضل ان تناديه بلفظ "نكرة" ، فتبدا احداث رواية "حكاية رجل اسمه دايف "من سرد لتفاصيل العذاب النفسي والجسدي الذي كان يمارس عليه ،اين يسرد خوفه الشديد من ظلمة الكراج الذي يبيت فيه لان والدته لا تطيق رؤيته ،كان ينام هناك ووضعية راسه تميل الى الخلف في حالة شبيهة بحالة المحكوم عليهم بالإعدام ،يتحايل الطفل دايف كل يوم على ممرضة المدرسة بسرد تفاصيل حوادث تحدث له في المنزل فأحيانا سقط من السلالم واحيانا اخرى نتجة شجار من اخوته وتسبب على اثره هده النذوب الجسدية نتجة تخويف والدته له من عقابها الكبير ادا اكتشف شخص خارج المنزل معاملتها له .

"حكاية رجل اسمه دايف" هي حكاية الام طفل يبحث عن الحب، حكاية طفل يؤمن ان والدته تعاملت معه بتلك الطريقة المؤلمة لأنها تحبه ،حيث كان يرد على معاملتها له بان يحاول التقرب منها اكثر ،الا ان ذلك لم يفلح مما اضطره الى الهروب من ذلك الجحيم بتخيل حياته خارج الحياة الواقعية ليتماهى مع الشخصيات الكرتوينة الخارقة بسبب خوفه الشديد و هشاشة نفسيته الطفولية التي لم تعرف الامان مطلقا .

يخرج الطفل دايف من معتقل والدته الى عالم التبني بعد ان اكتشف امر التعذيب الجسدي من قبل المدرسة التي لم تقتنع بكل الأكاذيب المتكررة من الطفل الصغير ،ليعيش حياة التبني في كنف عائلة اخرى اين تم اكتشاف ان الطفل يعاني من مشكلة اعاقة في التعلم إذ لا يعرف المشي السوي كما انه لا يستوعب الحديث الذي نتج عنه عدم قدرة في الكلام ليصبح حلمه ان يكون رجل اطفاء مثل والده الذي طردته والدته من المنزل من اجل ان يتخلص من ذكريات العذاب النفسي الذي مزال يلاحقه .حيث يواجه مشاكل عدم قبوله في أي منصب عمل نتجة لغبائه الحاد وفي نفس الوقت لانعدام مستوى تعليمي حقيقي له ليصبح في الاخير طباخا في هيئة الدفاع الجوي الامريكي .

تمثل رواية "حكاية رجل اسمه دايف" سيرة ذاتية لطفل بحث طيلة حياته عن معنى التقدير والإحترام الذي فقدهما مند الصغر ، اين يتعرض للاستغلال والاستهزاء لكنه في الاخير يصبح احد اهم المتحدثين في امريكا حول موضوع الاحترام والتقدري اذ أصبح يظهر في أهم البرامج التلفزيونية حيث يقدم محاضرات حول معاني احترام الذات المستمدة من عمق تجربته الشخصية جاعلا من الأحداث الرهيبة التي رافقته في طفولته الأولى مشوار نجاحه و شمعة أمل لمن يعيشون ذات ظروفه بأنهم سوف يكونون يوما ما أفضل حالا.

[Lör K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit. I haven't read The Lost Boy, and skipped straight ahead to this book in the Dave Pelzer series because my mother didn't have the second book in her collection. I still haven't read The Lost Boy and I fully intend to reread the whole series this year.

I read this back when I was fifteen, after rereading A Child Called "It" for the second time, and my heart sings with happiness. Every time I think back on this book, I tear up a tiny bit, smiling because he made it.

As a person who had to suffer through abuse in my childhood, and right up to when I was eighteen before I moved out, Pelzer is an idol. He managed to get through it all, and make something of his life. He is a father, and he is a good father. He does not let his childhood twist him into something distorted. He accepts what happened to him, and he moved through it, and he allows it to define him only in the best possible ways. I have so much respect for him.

Reading this book was really something I needed to do. This gave me a lot of hope growing up that I never had before. This series is inspiring to everyone that has gone through abuse in their life, or is going through it.

This series teaches us that we are not alone, we do not have to be defined negatively from what happens to us, and we do not need to feel terrible because of it. We can live, and we can become a wonderful, loving person. This book is a definite read, and I will read this whole series for a long, long time and it will definitely be on my book shelf for the rest of my life.

[Kohei · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew what to expect when I first picked up this book and begun reading it. Not to say that it is a terrible predictable book, it's actually quite the opposite. I remember awhile back I read Dave Pelzer's other books of him as child going through extreme levels of child abuse from his psychotic mother. I was sucked into all those books he wrote. They had so much life in them, that it felt like you were in the shoes of Dave Pelzer as a child. "A man Named Dave" had a different feel and tone then the two other books he wrote about his childhood. In this book he talks about his life as an adult, when he is grown up and on his own in the world. This book had a different tone then the other books he wrote because the other stories had more fear in it since Dave was just a child and was completely helpless. In this one, Dave had more power now then he did before and was no longer afraid to be in the presence of his mother. This is a great story along with the other two books he wrote. It is a must-read!!

[Udai · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is a really sad story but is it worth three books of writing?
I don't think so. Dave got a little bit repetitive and annoying in some places.
and personally I don't like all around good characters that commit no harm to anyone.
I feel like this is a commercial book but still a sad story.

[Loreta Griciutė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirma knyga buvo super, ir vis užvertus paskutinį puslapį galvojau, kaip gi tam berniukui sekėsi vėliau gyvenime, ir gavau atsakymą perskaiciusi šią knygą.

Apie norą turėti tikrą šeimą, kur visi mylėtų vienas kitą, apie mirštantį tėvą ir jo skausmų palengvinimą ir paskutines akimirkas kartu, apie tarnybą JAV karinėse oro pajėgose, apie pirmą žmoną ir sūnų, pagalbą vaikams, kurie kentė smurtą šeimose, apie gyvenimo tikslą būti geru tėvu ir padaryti viską, kas įmanoma, kad daugiau nė vienas netaptų toks, kokia buvo jo motina,nes jos meilės troško visą gyvenimą,bet negalėjo atleisti. Vėliau motinos mirtis, skyrybos su žmona ir nauja gyvenimo meilė.
Apie vaiką, kuris nepasidavė, apie sunkų darbą, išnaudojimą, pakilimus ir nuosmukius, apie geresnį gyvenimą vėliau, kurio jis nusipelnė.

"Mano pasakojimas ne apie tai, jog vaikystėje buvau smurto suka, bet apie žmogaus dvasios stiprybę".

Verta perskaityti, tikrai❤️

[Nour Allam]

كتابي الثامن لعام 2018.

الجزء الثالث من السيرة الذاتية للكاتب دايف بيلزر، يتحدث فيه عما بعد بلوغه الثامنة عشر، عمله، زواجه، ولادة طفله، والده ووالدته.... أعجبتني قدرته على العمل بجد، على التسامح، على التصالح مع نفسه، أعتقد أنه انسان عظيم🌼

[Gina ionela Belciug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cărțile lui Dave vorbesc despre " colacul de salvare" pe care îl așteaptă fiecare dintre noi. Însă acest colac nu vine din exterior. Ne putem vindeca doar singuri.

[Saj · Rating 2 out of 5]

* This review is for all three parts of Dave Pelzer's story

A horrible translation! I needed to get that out of my system first. There is so much bad language in my Finnish translation that it's almost difficult to concentrate on the actual story. The grammar geek in me would love to hit this book with the Red Pen of Dissapproval.

The story in itself is obviously horrible. I'm so happy that times are changing and it's more and more easy for children to get the help they need. I was a bit dissappointed in this book's strong message of self-reliance. Sometimes it even seemed a little anti-therapeutical. I believe that everyone needs help sometimes, everyone needs someone to talk to. To tell children that only determination and hard work will get them through, is putting responsibility on them instead of the adults that should be taking care of them.

I would have loved to hear more about Dave's relationship with his brothers after their mother died. Did they become close and share their childhood experiences and memories? This was probably excluded out of respect for the brothers though.

I really hope this book isn't the whole truth about the American foster care system. Everything I hear about it is more or less sad and confusing. From where I'm sitting, the Finnish system of providing long-term homes for every child in foster care and after-care up to the age of 21 just seems superior in every way.

A very sad book with a questionable message of self-reliance, success and "just getting over it". Would not recommend it as a therapeutical reading.

[Trevor Schmoldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read about was a boy who had been in an abusive home. Dave was an “it” as his mother would call him, but had to respond to every request in a very little time period or he had to pay the price. Dave’s mother would beat him with objects, feed him ammonia, make him sleep in the garage with no blankets, she was just horrible. She paid no attention to him, but all the attention to her other children. She didn't even count him as hers.

The main characters would be Dave and his mother, along with Dave’s foster parents. Dave was a very self centered man, just hard make school work. Dave would go to school and have to go to the nurse because of all the marks. Mother would make Dave lie and lie to the nurse so she wouldn't get in trouble. One day Dave let the truth slip , and everything turned good.

This mainly took place when Dave was young. Young as if he was in his early teens. David had felt safe when father was around even though mother still had beaten him. Father ended up moving out and mother would still beat him. None of the other boys got beat besides Dave. When Dave went to a foster home , he ended up going to high school doing good , but dropped out because of math. He shortly joined the Air Force and got good at math and is doing good with his life , until he found out his father has cancer.

I would rate this book a nine. I thought this was a very good book. I would definitely recommend others to read this , but start at the beginning of the series. I eventually want to read the series. My next book I plan to read is “Heaven Is For Real.”

[Erica Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A man named Dave" was a fantastic story that talked about survival, forgiveness, love, confusion, and pain. As a younger child Dave was abused by his alcoholic mother, who in Dave's words gave him strength to never quit. He escaped his brutal life at twelve years old, and enrolled into foster. There he met a few friends where he finally felt like he fit in. At twenty years old he enlisted in the United States Air force, and applied to become a firefighter in honor of his sick father. After a few months of enlisting his father checked into the hospital due to wide spread cancer. Before his father died Dave was awarded with his fireman's badge. Dreams of becoming a firefighter came crashing down when his paperwork was not excepted into the right field. After many trials he exceeded to become a Air Crew member. While still enlisted he met a woman named Patsy, who he married, and had a child with. While flying over seas he realized that they were to different people.When he returned home they had a divorce, and he moved out. He started to write a book about his life. While working on his inspiring story, he interferes with a woman named Marsha. He gets married to her, and lives a good life. The story is inspiring, he is a advocate, a husband, and a father. I recommend reading this book.

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the previous two books about Dave Peltzer's journey in becoming a man. I even liked this book until about 2/3 of the way in when I turned a corner and could no longer deny how irritating I was finding him. From inspirational in facing adversity, to whiny and self-rightous all in a matter of a few chapters. I could barely stand hearing about how hard he worked, how little sleep he got, how he would only eat "cup-o-soup" because he was saving for his beloved son. Did you know he loved his son? Yes. Do you think you work hard to provide for your children? Do you think you have made sacrifices for the good of others? Well. . . you might have. . . BUT if it is a contest for saint or martyr. . . it is all about Dave. Mother Theresa would take second place. Yet, he lives in one the most expensive areas in the United States, and receives an Air Force Pension. I don't buy it. My guess is that "cup-o-soup" was not necessary.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third and last book of Dave Pelzer's retelling of his experiences as he searched his way to recovery and total forgiveness. He knows he cannot change his past but he must do something to vindicate himself especially his mother... and father. He will learn this the hard way and he will become a father himself. More than forgiveness, this novel brings hope to those who are suffering similar child abuse traumas.
Along one's road to recovery are people who will make you feel right about yourself, notwithstanding your dark past. There are good people and people who had it worse in the past don't necessarily have to be wicked.

[Christina Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man named dave is an inspiring book. In the book there is a boy name david, but his family referrs him to "it". As he grows older, from being tortured and constantly beaten he tries to find whats right for him when he escapes from the house he lived at all his life. From bouncing around from foster home to foster home, he starts to better himself as a person and tries to escape the traumatizing life he once had.
I rated this book 5 stars because it was a really intreiging book. I would recommend this book because it is very senitmental and could help others who went through this or something similar to what David did.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Pelzer’s childhood was one of unspeakable abuse at the hands of his mother. His first two books went into more detail on his childhood, but it had been years since I read them. This book is about the man Dave became and how he overcame everything that happened to him. It is a powerful memoir about a man who refused to let his past rule him. Today his is a motivational speaker and works with youth to help them get past their own demons. Although it was about a terrible subject, I thought the book was interesting and moved fast. I was cheering him on the whole way.

[Emmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good writing about the self improvement. Every sentences of the book might have encouraged the people who needed real help. Appreciate Dave and his wife for their services to foster children. I really appreciate Marsha, Dave's wife who believed him and encouraged him for his services.

I really feel very good about the man and every area should have a man like Dave who helps others with his real experience he faced in his past. And I recommend this book for all who frustrated because of their past life.

[Eva Saris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing journey! A little boy who lived through such an extraordinary experience, treated so brutally by his own mother, the woman who at one time adored and loved him, and how he walked away a better and stronger person. A person who went on to help others in similar situations. His strength and determination helped him repair the damage done to him and gave him strength to grow as an individual.

[Caroline Roche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easily the weakest in the trilogy of Dave Pelzer's books charting his childhood abuse. I struggled to finish this as I found it far too melodramatic and dare I say it cheesy. The cynic in me feels some of the loose ends were tied up a little too nicely and in such a way that it could almost read as a generic Hollywood script. Overall I found it to be bordering on tedium and thus would be loathed to recommend this to anyone.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! It touches on so many topics. I don't even think you need to read the first two books, to enjoy this one. However, if you read the first two you will just see how much David has been through. This was a fantastic read. I was a bit hesitant to read these three books, but they taught me a lot and reassured me that forgiveness is possible and the importance of life.

[Myndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was as touching as all the rest. I especially liked the part about his wife, Marsha, I got butterflies. This man is an inspiration and I'm so glad that he was brave enough to tell his story, the whole story to the world. As a victim of child abuse, it's encouraging to see a story of someone who made it good, and stopped the cycle.

[Paula Acedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a heartbreaking story of a man who has been through a lot as a child, and who continues to go through a lot as an adult. Someone who grows up to be better, than anyone expected to be. Who at the end, wins. This a story of a true underdog, someone who proved everyone wrong, and grew up to change the world a little, for the best.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Pelzer's story continues as he enters the air force, gets married and becomes a father. The abuse he received as a child definitely affects his present and future but he keeps perservering. He loves his son with all his heart and is intentional with being a father for his son. I was angry at his birth mother for not giving him more information about his father's funeral. I did not like Patsy - I felt she was lazy and deceitful with Dave but I think they were both dealing with the effects of abuse from when they were children.