PALS: Part One

Pals #1

by David Nelson Nelson

This is a humorous memoir that, at times shows the dark side of growing up in the 1950s in Dubuque, Iowa. His parents were alcoholics and his mother mentally ill. The author was a victim of physical and emotional child abuse. Fortunately for him he had five pals who helped him survive a decaying home life and decaying neighborhood. Learn how he used pranks and laughter to survive. It's a collection of short stories that follows the author from kindergarten to high school graduation. Be there for his first kiss, egg throwing, the great paint fight, the day he met his idol, Jesse Owens. Jump into the Mississippi River from the train bridge. Listen to the river ice rupturing in the spring when he walks across it. Hop on passing trains, join in the watermelon throwing contest, and be there when he set records in track & field. You'll be there the day Marilyn Monroe died and the times he helped change the ways America's does business. You'll also feel the tearing of skin from the belt buckle beating, the broken rib from being kicked with a steel-toed work boot and the pain of ears being ripped by powerful hands of an adult. You will feel the hopelessness of being locked away in a darkened closet for eighteen hours with no food,water or bathroom privileges. He had only the heat and cockroaches to keep him company. And yet through it all and with the help of his pals, he survives. This is a story of friendship involving five boys and one girl. It's a story about how this group became friends at an early age and remained friends for over fifty years. It's a story of conflict, trauma and escape. It's a story of love, respect, laughter, pranks and life. It's a success story. To an outsider the author's life may seem abominable. To him, it was normal. A "must read" for baby boomers.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2013

About the author

An authority on child abuse, David Nelson Nelson wrote three books related to this subject. The Shade Tree Choir deals with the specific physical and emotional abuse he suffered as a child. PALS: Part One takes the reader through the teenage years and how five friends helped him to cope. PALS: Part Two shows how he experienced success after abuse.

Additionally, David wrote a book of poetry devoted primarily to the subject of love. It is titled, My Treasure.

Nelson was a retired physical therapist, office ergonomist and national public speaker. He wore another "hat," as well. He was a Cowboy Poet and storyteller. He was the Cowboy Poet Laureate of Tennessee and performed across America. His book, The Campfire Collection of Cowpoke Poetry is filled with his poems and stories, and Art from the Heart combines his poems and stories along with his artwork.

Reviews

[Kim Gedeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One should...be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise" F. Scott Fitzgerald from " The Crack-Up",,,,,last quote of many great quotes in the book...I have been thinking about my Christmas experiences through out the years,,,This is one I will never forget,,,reading Pals Part One on Christmas Eve 2013,,,What a Funny yet Sad, then Hysterical book,,, Been there,, bored in the heat of Summer or Winter,,,relate to it all,,,It's all of us from "The North End" LOVED IT!

[Tracy Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a nice, autographed copy of this book on Goodreads. It was a very enjoyable memoir. Lots of fun to read. I didn't care for some of the inconsistancies though, and that took something away. In the introduction the author says that he is one of 7 kids. On page 19 he says that his mom was raising 9 kids. That left me scratching my head and doubting other things that I read. At the end of the book the author lists a handful of things that were not true. This is fine for fiction, but I didn't like it in a memoir. Otherwise a fun read. Sort of like the troubled kids version of The Wonder Years.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i received this book for free through goodreads first reads.
really not my favourite genre. i found it a little hard to read but in the end it deserves 4 stars.
it has a set of mixed emotions and i wasn't able to cope with some of them.
i don't know if i will be able to read part 2 but i think i will read it anyway if i have the chance of finding the book around.

[E.J. Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, sad, uplifting, inspiring, thought provoking. Looking forward to part two.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads, and I thought it was pretty good, but it jumped around a little bit. I would be interested in reading part two of this book though!