Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Child Called It

A Child Called “It”: One Child’s Courage to Survive  by Dave Pelzer
1995
Weight: 3.2 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating



I think I am going to kind of skip out on this one.  I have wanted to get rid of it, but I have not because I cannot figure out exactly what to say about it.  I know there is some controversy about the validity of it, and I have no desire to get into all that.  I do not want to claim to know what abuse someone did or did not endure.  I have no desire to deny someone their past and their pain.  I also do not care for the arguments against his profiting off abuse.  Who are we to judge if someone makes money from something horrific they endured?  I will tell you now that I have always felt that it was unfair that I had to pay out so much money to the emergency room and for therapy after I was raped, and that my rapist never had to pay a dime for anything.  If I could put that experience out there in a way that would help other people and not hurt others, while also making money, you bet I would.  Why not get something beneficial out of a truly horrific experience?

I can say that it was an appalling read, as it details some pretty extreme stuff.  I did not read any of the books that followed it in the series.  The Lost Boy, A Man Named Dave, The Privilege of Youth.  By avoiding these I might have missed out on the inspirational component.  I have heard that it was groundbreaking in the way that it was a firsthand account of abuse when there were not many of those.  I do not know anything about that.

Anyway, this book is going in a box and is being taken away by the AKF tomorrow.  If you want it you better let me know fast.

1 comment:

  1. This book is very touching. It really makes you think, and how lucky you are. This story is about the life of Dave Pelzer when he was a young child. He had an abusive, alcoholic mother, his father was always working, and 4 brothers. None of them helped the poor child. He sleeps in the cold garage, on an army cot. His mother beats him til his insides bleed, and plays "games" with him. Deadly games. This is no joke. It's a true story. Once you read it, you won't forget it.

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