Amazing Survival
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What to say. The whole story left me breathless, staring into space, uncomprehending, wishing I could turn back time and remove that little boy from his terrible fears and desperation. Yes, it is a "fantastic" book, though "fantastic" doesn't seem the right adjective as his story is so terribly sad.
What's most amazing -and uplifting- is the third part, as the back cover of the book says "a remarkable tale of survival and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity". THAT is fantastic. I'm so glad Dave escaped his terrible fate and is now helping others. He is an inspiration to say the least.
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A Child Called It
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This is by far the most amazing book I have read. It is discraceful how a mother could single out one son out of, was it 3 she had? and bully him so badly. It wasn't even a case of 'you are not allowed to do certain things in my house' but she even controlled his eating at school, by making him sick when he got home!
She made him eat the contents of his brothers nappies, made him a slave, stabbed him, burnt him...and the way he writes this book really makes it all that much more upsetting, because it really does get to you. Its such a shame that his father was away so much, and scared of her too so unable to help him. His brothers also, just turned a blind eye. Often in stories like this, brothers and sisters are there for each other, and the love they share with them gives them all the chance to pull through, but Dave did not even have this.
I have lent the book to my mother who also enjoyed it. It makes you feel bad for saying it is such a good book as it is such a tragic story, but it is fantastic that he managed to share his thoughts and feelings with others in this book.
I'm not much of a reader. There are few books that touch me in the way that this book managed to. Fantastic, well worth the few quid to get it! 10/10!!
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Am I The Only One...
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...who doubts the accuracy of David's account? There are several inconsistencies in his book, for example on one page he states that he could never remember the colour of his mother's hair, but on another he describes his mother's once beautiful black locks. The policeman that saved him (without an escort from Social Services??) jots down David's address and telephone number in his notebook, but then asks David for his telephone number so he can contact his mother? These are just two contradictions off the top of my head, which I point out not to be pedantic, but to demonstrate that David's recall may be flawed. Chronologically, the book is all over the place, which makes it difficult to put the book in any sort of context and for me amplified the unrealness of it all. Certainly, his virtually photographic childhood memory from the age of four is most unusual, not only because he was so young but also because the human mind tends to blank out extreme trauma.
Then there is the abuse itself - so extreme that it should have killed him or at the very least left him with serious chronic health problems. He was starved for up to 10 days at a time for eight years. He was gassed repeatedly. He was even stabbed in the chest, the wound became infected, and he managed to treat the wound by cleaning it out with a dirty rag and water? How is that possible? At the very least, he should have scar tissue on his lungs, as well as bone disorders from malnutrition. Yet his was fit enough to join the air force and be hand picked to fly elite aircraft. Sorry, but you need to be at peak fitness and health for that to happen.
I do not doubt for a second that David was abused. He writes in a emotionally unengaging way, which is typical of someone that has cut himself off emotionally to protect himself. However I do feel that he exaggerated his experiences either because he could not remember them accurately, or to ramp up the sales of his books.
I've given this book two stars because although it was poorly written, it was "unputdownable".
I intend to by the rest of the trilogy, as well as read his brother Richard's account of his abuse (his brothers have also cast doubt on David's story). My instincts tell me that Richard's book will be much more authentic.
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UNBELIEVABLE!
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At 16, i borrowed the first book, a child called it, off a friend, and ended up buying the whole lot, what a fantastic, well written account of a young boy and how he grew up, unbelievable! I would recommend this book to anyone, but readers need to be mature because of some shocking accounts in the book! would recommend! A* book!
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Remarkable
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Remarkable story, remarkable man.
The book is heartbreaking and is a source of inspiration for wanting to work with children.
Absolutely incredible. Remarkable. There are simply no words.
Five Stars. More if there was an option.
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