Once you start it, you won't be able to switch it off!
How does it compare to similar audio books?
Not applicable
How does it compare to audio works by the same author?
Not applicable
Advantages:
Interesting read
Disadvantages:
some of the details are hard to read
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
From Baghdad with love is a book which has been written by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman.
THE BOOK
The book begins with Kopelman setting the scene of when he was serving in Iraq during the invasion to rid Sadam Hussain of his power. Kopelman is serving with the US Marines and his section has been given the name of the Lava Dogs.
He tells about when they are out in the towns searching the houses for any 'enemies'. As he enters a building he and the other Marines here a taping noise coming from one of the rooms, they suddenly think that the noise might be grenade pins dropping on the floor so they are prepare to storm the room with their weapons at the ready. As they do enter the room Kopelman is set back when he finds a small puppy in the corner of the room and it was his claws on the floor which was making the tapping noise. Kopelman and his men prepare to leave the building but the puppy insists on following them. Kopelman tries his best to get the dog to leave but the puppy persists and ends up back at the camp with them.
Kopelman is very torn as he knows the Marine law which states that no animal is allowed on the camps or to be adopted as a mascot as they may be carrying diseases. He tells about how lonely it is out their and how the Marines are not allowed to become soft as they might loose focus on the task which they are set out to do. Kopelman soon softens towards the puppy who has been given the name Lava by the other Marines.
Before long the puppy is living hidden on the camp and is receiving lots of attention from the other Marines, Kopelman makes a point of saying how strange it is how these hard killing machines (the Marines) can suddenly become the softest wimpiest person when in the presence of Lava.
Lava soon starts to grow and the Marines find it harder and harder to hide him. Kopelman by this point has become very attached to the dog and decides that he will try to get Lava back to the USA.
As Kopelman is moved to a different part of Iraq he has to leave Lava in the hands of the other men but he starts with the hard and long task of trying to arrange Lava's journey back to the USA. He is spending all of his extra time on the internet sending emails back and forward desperately trying to get Lava out before he has be destroyed as the Army bosses have re-reinforced their rules about pets. Also the stray dogs around Iraq are being killed as the enemy have been using them to carry bombs.
Kopelman makes a great friend in the way of an American news reporter, Anne Garrels, who becomes a massive part of Lava's escape and she spend weeks looking after him in Baghdad.
Will Kopelman succeed in getting Lava out of Iraq and back to the USA or will Lava's journey and life end in Iraq?
MY OPINION
What a very moving book. I think I went through every emotion when I was reading this. The way Kopelman talks about the events which he went through and the sights he saw when serving in Iraq were very shocking, I think I felt this more as this was set at the same time as when my husband was also stationed out in Iraq so it made it more real for me. When the Marines spent hours playing and fussing Lava this was heart warming as it was the only thing which truly gave the men a release from what they were experiencing over there and the relief I felt when Lava would make it to the next station or city on his travels but also the disappointment when each stage failed.
I though the book is written extremely well and the fact that it is written by a Lieutenant Colonel who serves in the USA Marines it is not lacking ion honesty or emotion.
I did find that at times I did get slightly lost with the huge amount of people involved in Lava's escape as there were so many names to try and remember. Also as Kopelman was moving around from post to post I did find I would forget what town he was in.
In the middle of the book there are some photographs which show Lava as he was growing up and also some of the Marines and men who helped to look after him. These photos did help to set the scene for the book.
INFO
The book was written by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman with the help of Melinda Roth. The book was published by Bantam Books and has a retail price of £7.99. I picked my copy up for £3.89 in Tesco.
The book is a paperback and has 244 pages. I would recommend this book to all as it really is a case of Puppy Love!
I am reviewing the paperback edition of this book and not the audio as Ciao have listed it.
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
