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116th out of 244 books
—
95 voters
A Brother's Journey
- A Brother's Journey will appeal to the same audience that made #1 New York Times bestsellers of Dave Pelzer's popular novels: A Child Called "It" (Health Communications, 1995), The Lost Boy (Health Communications, 1997), and A Man Named Dave (E.P. Dutton, 1999), which have sold over six million copies combined. - There is a strong market for memoirs detailing traumatic e...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
May 12th 2006
by Grand Central Publishing
(first published September 5th 2000)
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Another view from Davids brother Richard on what went on in that abusive home with their mother/monster. A captivating story on childhood abuse that went on for years with more than one child involved. Sad but reminds people that reading such a story makes it real and instils in one to help stop this sort of parental abuse on their children whom they are supposed to protect. A very good read. Contination saga of this poor family.
This might be a good suggestion for readers who can't get enough of Dave Pelzer's stories. This book retells the Child Called It story and continues afterwards. Richard Pelzer discusses witnessing the abuse of his brother and then having the abuse turned towards himself. The pace is slower and it is not as well written. It still offers an interesting perspective.
This book is written by Richard Pelzer; David Pelzer's (the author of "A Child Called It", etc.) brother. He tells the story of how he was to blame for some of David's abuse as a child. He was his mom's Little "Nazi" as he called it. In fear of becoming the outlet for his mother's abuse, he did everything he could, lying and making up stories, to turn her anger towards David nad not to himself. This all ended though when the state removed David from the home and Richard's biggest fear came true;...more
This book is a sequel of a sort to A Child Called It
. A Child Called It follows the true story of David Pelzer as he survives the abuse at the hands of his mentally ill, alcoholic mother. David is moved from his home at age 12. A Brother's Journey follows David's brother Richard. Richard becomes the new scapegoat for the mother's abusive rages after David is removed from the home. This story is particularly interesting because Richard offers a glimpse of the twisted role siblings can play in a...more
. A Child Called It follows the true story of David Pelzer as he survives the abuse at the hands of his mentally ill, alcoholic mother. David is moved from his home at age 12. A Brother's Journey follows David's brother Richard. Richard becomes the new scapegoat for the mother's abusive rages after David is removed from the home. This story is particularly interesting because Richard offers a glimpse of the twisted role siblings can play in a...more
After reading A Boy called IT, A Man Named Dave, and The Lost Boy I had a lot of questions that were left unanswered. For example why did Dave's mother only abuse Dave? I found this book by Richard Pelzer and it was like a continuation of where Dave left off. Unfortunately, once Dave was removed from the home his mother turned the abuse on to another child - Richard. This book explains from Richard's point of view what he went through as a child and what his mother did to him.
I read the book in...more
I read the book in...more
I read this book after reading the trilogy of "A Child Called It" by this brother, David Pelzer. This book is as graphic and heart wrenching as his brothers but also make the reader feel more. Although I cannot understand why he said publicly that his brother exaggerated his abuse but then turns to write this...maybe he had a hard time facing the truth?
What I do not understand is his brother was so badly abused, why the Hell weren't ALL his siblings taken and mother placed in jail or at the ver...more
What I do not understand is his brother was so badly abused, why the Hell weren't ALL his siblings taken and mother placed in jail or at the ver...more
A BROTHER'S JOURNEY is a memoir. A cathartic work for the author, and I certainly pray that it helps him heal, for what he describes is a nightmare... a thing of pure evil. I found it difficult to read.
The best part of the book for me was his insight into the motivations of outsiders, and his own mother. Mr. Pelzer also allowed me to understand the sort of Stockholm mentality that plays out amongst children that are in an abusive situation. And I'd also like to think that I'm more eyes-open for...more
The best part of the book for me was his insight into the motivations of outsiders, and his own mother. Mr. Pelzer also allowed me to understand the sort of Stockholm mentality that plays out amongst children that are in an abusive situation. And I'd also like to think that I'm more eyes-open for...more
The book, “A Brother’s Journey” by Richard B. Pelzer was written to inform readers of the reality of child abuse. This book is written in narration form. Richard describes in detail the extreme abuse that he suffers from his mother. In the beginning of the book, Richard’s brother David is the object of their mother’s abuse. The most chilling line in the book describes Richard being afraid to even look at David because Richard knew how easily he could be the abused. After David is taken away, Ric...more
Richard is one of David's older brother's. Richard was used by their mother to get at oportunities to abuse her youngest even more. Richard and the other brother (as so unamed) did do much that they made sure Dave got blamed for as children, if for no other reason to protect themselves, this is the story through much of their childood with their mother. After David got removed by child services, Richard and the remaining son became the sole point of torture, neglect and abuse by their mother. Sh...more
A Brother's Journey is a sequel-esque book, following up in an abusive household that A Child Called It (David) was able to escape when he was 12. The book is told from the younger brother's viewpoint: how he treated his older brother and what happened after his brother left. This book was not as visually/emotionally engaging for me as A Child Called IT. When I read that book I ached in knowing what type of horrible child abuse happened within the household of an alcoholic, possible mental illne...more
Richard B. Pelzer is the younger brother of David Pelzer, author of the incredibly inspirational story of survival detailed in his personal memoirs, beginning with "A Child Called It".
Richard's memoir is a must read for anyone who has been moved by the story of his brother David, as it provides an important point of view in this story of horrific abuse--that of a sibling who first participated in the family's abuse of David, and then after David was removed from his abuse environment, as the ne...more
Richard's memoir is a must read for anyone who has been moved by the story of his brother David, as it provides an important point of view in this story of horrific abuse--that of a sibling who first participated in the family's abuse of David, and then after David was removed from his abuse environment, as the ne...more
Amazing,the will to survive these children had. Richard B. Pelzer is the younger brother of David, who wrote, " A child named it", "Lost Boy" and a "Man Name Dave." Richard went from the position in the family of their mothers little partner in crime taunting " IT" ( David) to "IT" himself after David was finally removed by Social Services after years of hanis abuse was endured. Richard became the focus of her attacts as a result of untreated mental illness and alchol abuse. Although three other...more
A Brother’s Journey is a true account told from Richard’s point of view. I believe he wrote this book so that other victims of child abuse don’t have to feel so alone, and so that those of us who have not been abused can be made aware.
In the beginning of the book Richard is still his mother’s darling. He helps get his brother David, known as “IT” in trouble. Sometimes Richard looks at David in fear knowing that he could easily be in David’s place. What makes this sadder is that Richard is only...more
In the beginning of the book Richard is still his mother’s darling. He helps get his brother David, known as “IT” in trouble. Sometimes Richard looks at David in fear knowing that he could easily be in David’s place. What makes this sadder is that Richard is only...more
After reading A Child Called It, I thought it couldn't get any worse. I was wrong. The Pelzer's mother continues her torture and abuse upon her son Richard once David is removed from the home. The abuse is often different than what David suffered, but horrific nonetheless. Some details may be difficult to read for some. Similar to A Child Called It, you see how Richard developed coping mechanisms to live under the torture his mother inflicted upon him. The book is written with the insight Mr. Pe...more
If you've read A Child Called It you should read this book. It is told from the perspective of David's younger brother Richard who was his mother's "Little Nazi" when David was in the home and after David was taken away he became It.
The things that went on in this home just boggle the mind I hope that something like this would not be able to happen in this day and age, that they took one child away and left the rest in the “care” of this insane woman is just unfathomable.
This story will break yo...more
The things that went on in this home just boggle the mind I hope that something like this would not be able to happen in this day and age, that they took one child away and left the rest in the “care” of this insane woman is just unfathomable.
This story will break yo...more
Dave's books were really good, and this just...wasn't. Richard seemed to repeat himself over and over. I hate that he went through so much, but I had pretty much heard all about it in Dave's books.
A quick read, not memorable for its literary quality but for its value as a child abuse testament. It supplements Dave Pelzer's A Child Called It and expands upon the abuse that occurs in the home once Dave is removed. Some have questioned the Pelzer brothers' recollections of abuse and criticized their zeal for marketing their work, but I say these are woefully insignificant issues compared to the importance of documenting the horrors that so many children endure. If you want to nitpick their w...more
This book was good but not as good as his brother Dave Pelzers book a Child Called It. Richard the main character had it hard but not as bad. The type of person I'd recomend this to would be men or women who like reading about abuse. Or just want to read more of the Pelzer familys books. I'd give this book a 3 out of 5 it was good but deffinatly not one I'd recomend to someone I like. I think this book could've had a better ending if he actually did something to his mother from all the anger he...more
I read this book after reading Dave Pelzer's 3 books on his life involving abuse with the same mother of Richard Pelzer.
The book was good and heartbreakening from all the abuse. But I think it lacked good writing style. The only thing that kept me going was the plot. I think Richard could've gotten more writing and description into the book because I got bored in some parts. Compared to Dave's (his brother) book, I thought Dave's was better.
But I do suggest any of you guys to read the book! Fi...more
The book was good and heartbreakening from all the abuse. But I think it lacked good writing style. The only thing that kept me going was the plot. I think Richard could've gotten more writing and description into the book because I got bored in some parts. Compared to Dave's (his brother) book, I thought Dave's was better.
But I do suggest any of you guys to read the book! Fi...more
This was a quick and easy read though the topic wasm't easy to handle. I agree with the previous reader that this is not as good as Dave's book and her reasons but I did like to read it. It was interesting to see how things changed when Dave left. This woman was so cruel and that is putting it lightly. It is amazing these men did not grow up to be serial killers or something. I hope to eventually read the rest of their books and see how they recovered when they finally got away from her. I wish...more
Mar 14, 2013
Rachel
added it
A Brother's Journey was a decent book. It is not one of my favorites, but it is a good book. It is kind of depressing because it talks about certain children getting abused and how no one helps the children. The mom abuses one child, David, so bad that he actually gets taken away! Read about this book to find out what horrible things she does to David and who takes him away and why. It is hard to believe that things like this actually happen in real life. Read this book to find out what happens...more
I couldn't help but notice some of the glaring contradictions to his brother's book. It seems to me as if this is a sort of 'hey, don't forget about me! I was abused too!' book. While he admits that his brother had it MUCH worse than he ever did, it seems to me that he wrote this in hopes of convincing others, and mainly himself, that he isn't a bad person for instigating and adding to the abuse of his brother. I don't know how I feel about him, but I certainly hate the mother even more now. I h...more
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This book tells more about the abuse suffered by the Pelzer boys at the hands of their Mother. This time the tale is told by David’s younger brother Richard. It once again horrified me that their mother was able to act, unstopped by the authorities in such a drunken, violent and mentally unstable manner. Especially as it sounds from what Richard has to say that they lived in a respectable suburb of San Francisco and the neighbours were well aware of what w...more
This book tells more about the abuse suffered by the Pelzer boys at the hands of their Mother. This time the tale is told by David’s younger brother Richard. It once again horrified me that their mother was able to act, unstopped by the authorities in such a drunken, violent and mentally unstable manner. Especially as it sounds from what Richard has to say that they lived in a respectable suburb of San Francisco and the neighbours were well aware of what w...more
These books about life in the Pelzer household are difficult to read. It is hard to imagine the type of abuse that went on. Having read Dave Pelzer's books, I found it that much more interesting to read Richard's explanation of why he treated his brother the way he did--and the guilt and struggles he had when David left and his mother began to abuse him instead. I "remembered" a lot of the incidents in this book..some from Dave's point of view, but I also think I may have read this one when it c...more
I did not care for this book as much as the Dave Pelzer books. This books replays the atrocities David had to go through. After David was removed from the home, Richard then became the scapegoat. What I couldn't get past was that Richard found it entertaining when David was being abused. I suppose you don't fully understand a situation until you have been in it but I couldn't comprehend how watching someone be abused could ever be entertaining.
A Child Named It was a huge book during my high school years, I never read it but I came across this book. Oh it crushed me, it tells the story of David's brother. I won't go into too much detail. It left me with a huge desire to change the world, and want to go out and find any child who is suffering abuse by a parent. 5 Stars for the fact that this made lived to tell his tale, and find some way to find a way to move on.
This was written by the brother of the guy who wrote "A Child Called It"--they both survived their mother's horrific abuse and went on to write a book about their story. This child was kept in a basement for five years and forced to eat table scraps like a dog--and he only got to eat what his dog didn't want--it was fucking sickening and mind-blowing the abuse these kids went through at the hands of their mother.
I did not like the end of this novel. There was a building climax throughout, but no resolution, and this left frustration as I couldnt tolerate what his mother was doing to him. Just felt a hole in my heart for these boys. The author really did explain his feelings well in regards to the family structure and what he felt for his mother and the confusion and clash of feelings between love and hate.
It took me 2 hours to read this book. I feel as though it was kinda jumbled but it was still good.It wasnt as terrifying as the A Child Called It books but it was still horrible. I liked how the brother wrote his own book from another point of view. And it is scary how the state worked back in the 70's. I find it crazy that when they took David out of the home they didnt take the rest of the boys either.
Aug 20, 2012
Kristal
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Readers of Dave Pelzer
Shelves:
non-fiction
Like others have said, this book is not as great as David's books. It was interesting to read because it backed up what Dave wrote and because it added another point of view, however, I found myself longing for more. I dislike the ending because it leaves you hanging.
I'm going to read Richard's other book,"A teenager's journey : surviving adolescence" to see if any of my questions are answered.
I'm going to read Richard's other book,"A teenager's journey : surviving adolescence" to see if any of my questions are answered.
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| Class of 2014: Book Review | 2 | 5 | Mar 25, 2013 10:29am |
Mar 26, 2012 03:06pm