This is one son's survival of a harrowing childhood in which his mother, unhindered by any intervention, besieged her oldest child with imprisonment, starvation & torture. This is the third in David J. Pelzer's memoirs yet is complete unto itself.
Because of the childhood Dave survived he was uneducated in the ways of society & the military yet this resilient young man sets out to earn a career in the air force where he thrives. Along the way he marries the first girl he meets & has a son who gives his life meaning. Even though his marriage is fraught with trouble there are good times & when it finally ends it is done so with kindness.
When, after many years, he reconnects with his mother & visits her in the home of his childhood, we get to watch as the cobra mesmerizes her prey until... Must remember that Dave's childhood was before most of the laws about child abuse in the home were even thought of let alone enacted!
The truly inspirational transformation in Dave's memoir is his relationship with his dying father & the well of compassion & forgiveness he finds within. Then the love of his life enters & Dave is truly on the way to healing. All this while he has been giving talks about surviving abusive childhoods & writing books. In time he has become a major voice in the protection & survival of battered children. An amazing, heart-wrenching vital read! Highly recommended! For more of my reviews do check out rebeccasreads.com