A Man Named Dave (Dave Pelzer #3)

About This Book

Condition & Size

A Man Named Dave (Dave Pelzer #3)

Dave Pelzer

Small Paperback

Some wear
A Man Named Dave is the conclusion to a trio of autobiographical books by Dave Pelzer, who to millions of readers of A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy has become an inspirational figure. A Child Called "It" is the gripping and harrowing account of Pelzer's abuse at the hands of his mother, beginning when he was four years old and continuing until teachers and neighbors were finally able to intervene and he was placed in foster care at age 12. The Lost Boy picks up where A Child Called "It" leaves off and details Pelzer's experiences in foster care and his difficulty navigating the "normal" world with the dark shadows of his abuse and of his mother's actual presence in his life looming over him.

In this installment, Pelzer narrates his life from his enlistment in the Air Force at age 18 to the present day. While all three books show the consequences of profound cruelty with a frank immediacy and gut-wrenching, carefully chosen detail, they are -- as the subtitle of this final installment of the trilogy suggests -- ardently inspirational works. Pelzer's thematic focus is forgiveness and the ability of the human spirit to triumph over adversity. Pelzer demonstrates that it is possible to channel feelings and experiences of trauma into positive energy.

Pelzer includes just enough flashback and summary material that the reader new to his work has a complete grasp of the scope of his mother's abuse and his experiences in foster care. And those fans who have read his previous work will find A Man Named Dave to be an essential, capping complement to A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy.

A Man Named Dave describes Pelzer's more recent experiences and affords readers access to a more mature, gradually ripening adult perspective during Pelzer's agonizing struggle to confront the demons of his past and conquer them. To read all three works in sequence is, therefore, to experience a voyage from darkness with only a glimmer of hope to full illumination.

Throughout A Man Named Dave, Pelzer carries with him a touchstone memory from his childhood, on which he ruminates and to which he returns in his most acute moments of distress. The memory is from his very early childhood, when he and his father had a tender talk alone during a family outing to the Russian River. This is an immensely precious memory for Pelzer, who has an abiding love for the father who mostly stood by or was absent during the long period of his mother's abuse. This treasured fragment from the past serves as a driving force in Pelzer's adult life -- he dreams of building a house on the Russian River and ultimately, living there with his father.

About Readmatter Online Used Bookshop

Born from a dream during the COVID-19 pandemic, ReadMatter has grown into one of South Africa's premier online used bookstores. With two dedicated online depots and a by-appointment public store in Gauteng, we’re always ready to connect readers with the books they love. Our custom-built bookmobile brings the joy of reading to events and underserved communities across the region, offering access to hundreds of books on wheels.

At Readmatter, every title is hand-picked to meet our quality standards. We have over 10,000 unique books in stock, with an additional 100,000 titles available upon request. Our inventory evolves constantly, with approximately 250-300 new books added each week. It’s worth visiting our site often or signing up for stock updates to stay in the loop!

With a 100% user rating on Bobshop, a 5-star Google rating, and recognition as a finalist in Radio 702’s Gauteng’s Greatest Bookshop Competition, we are dedicated to quality, customer satisfaction, and sharing the magic of books with every corner of South Africa.