39th out of 441 books
—
973 voters
From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava
Snuffle. Clickclickclick. Snuffleclick.
An insurgent strapping a bomb to his chest ?
They should have prepped the room first with a grenade - tossed it in and just let it do all the dirty work. Instead, for reasons still obscured by war and fear and things just destined to be, they backed up to the walls on either side of the doorway and positioned their weapons to fire.
The...more
An insurgent strapping a bomb to his chest ?
They should have prepped the room first with a grenade - tossed it in and just let it do all the dirty work. Instead, for reasons still obscured by war and fear and things just destined to be, they backed up to the walls on either side of the doorway and positioned their weapons to fire.
The...more
Hardcover, 196 pages
Published
October 1st 2006
by Lyons Press
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Opening line:"I don't remember exactly when I got to the house that served as our command post in the northwest sector of Fallujah, and I don't remember exactly how I got there."
This was a surprisingly great read that held me captivated from beginning to end and I've been recommending it like crazy to all my friends. FROM BAGHDAD WITH LOVE tells the heartwarming and somewhat heartbreaking story of a starving abandoned puppy named Lava and the hardened marine who along with wartime journalists, I...more
This was a surprisingly great read that held me captivated from beginning to end and I've been recommending it like crazy to all my friends. FROM BAGHDAD WITH LOVE tells the heartwarming and somewhat heartbreaking story of a starving abandoned puppy named Lava and the hardened marine who along with wartime journalists, I...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Megan loaned me this book like two years ago (Maybe three now? Jeez...) and I've put off reading it until now because I knew it would probably make me cry. And it did.
While the writing is not all that great, Kopelman is very honest about what the situation was in Baghdad and Fallujah during the war; it actually kind of surprised me that at times he's pretty critical of certain policies and about U.S. military thinking, although never in a way that sounds overly bitter or angry. Some of that may...more
While the writing is not all that great, Kopelman is very honest about what the situation was in Baghdad and Fallujah during the war; it actually kind of surprised me that at times he's pretty critical of certain policies and about U.S. military thinking, although never in a way that sounds overly bitter or angry. Some of that may...more
Another dog book off my shelf >:D
This book was a little harder to digest (for me) than the other usual doggie books I've read. The other books are mainly about "the dog's life". This book though, is about the attempt to transport "a dog in the war zone in Iraq to the US".
The whole process was pretty nerve-wracking, even for the reader, so this Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman must have been at his wits' end.
I found the writing style a little hard to understand - there were sporadic colloquial...more
This book was a little harder to digest (for me) than the other usual doggie books I've read. The other books are mainly about "the dog's life". This book though, is about the attempt to transport "a dog in the war zone in Iraq to the US".
The whole process was pretty nerve-wracking, even for the reader, so this Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman must have been at his wits' end.
I found the writing style a little hard to understand - there were sporadic colloquial...more
A compelling story between a fluffy puppy and a U.S. marine. A forbidden love and the struggles they have to go through just to be together. This book shows what its like to be a marine during the war in Fallujah, Iraq during operation desert storm. The tragedies could be intense, but the heart warming scenes are immense creating a feeling of love even when things could be so rough. There was this one scene that I had to read over and over again when the main character (Lt. Jay Kopleman) looks u...more
This is a beautiful story about people in bleak and soul-poisoning situations trying to find something life-affirming that will help them hold up and keep going. People who are surrounded by war, grinding poverty, disasters, and personal tragedies all have these needs in common - like the rest of humanity, just more so.
This is a memoir by a Marine, then-Major Jay Kopelman, of how his unit adopted an abandoned puppy they came across in the middle of the battle of Falujah, one of the worst in term...more
This is a memoir by a Marine, then-Major Jay Kopelman, of how his unit adopted an abandoned puppy they came across in the middle of the battle of Falujah, one of the worst in term...more
How can you not be sucked in by the picture on the cover. If only all puppies were this quiet when awake, I'd have a puppy. I have a bratty cat instead.
Just from looking at the cover and the title, I knew this would have me in tears. There were times when I had to close the book because I would start tearing up and I knew my face would hurt from crying hard.
This is about a stray puppy found in Fallujah during a Marine reconnaissance mission. It is against military rules to harbor animals/pets in...more
Just from looking at the cover and the title, I knew this would have me in tears. There were times when I had to close the book because I would start tearing up and I knew my face would hurt from crying hard.
This is about a stray puppy found in Fallujah during a Marine reconnaissance mission. It is against military rules to harbor animals/pets in...more
I give this book 4 stars. Although the military brass and the hordes of brains and suits at the Pentagon don’t like military members in combat to adopt animals ,they say it’s against regulations for “health reasons,” actually it’s because they don’t want them to feel normal human compassion when their jobs require them to kill the enemy. You let a little compassion slip in and what might happen when you’re in the field and instead of acting on your training you start to think.
But what the Penta...more
But what the Penta...more
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Li este pequenino livro na praia, no espaço temporal de um dia. E sim, é isso mesmo que eu vou para a praia fazer - ler! Isso e praguejar contra as pessoas que vão para lá dormir e, consequentemente, ressonar sonoramente...e contra os miúdos que vão para lá correr, guinchar, e levantar a areia toda...e contra a minha irmã, que ainda não percebeu que se eu quisesse saber os últimos mexericos sobre o alegado jet7 português eu própria pegava no raio da...more
Li este pequenino livro na praia, no espaço temporal de um dia. E sim, é isso mesmo que eu vou para a praia fazer - ler! Isso e praguejar contra as pessoas que vão para lá dormir e, consequentemente, ressonar sonoramente...e contra os miúdos que vão para lá correr, guinchar, e levantar a areia toda...e contra a minha irmã, que ainda não percebeu que se eu quisesse saber os últimos mexericos sobre o alegado jet7 português eu própria pegava no raio da...more
When I read books like this I wonder if I am crazy... Books like this break my heart. This is the 2nd book I am read about a dog coming out or a war torn area (Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle was the first one). The problem is that while I am reading I am genuinely worried that the dog won't make it out, I cry, I put the book away even though I know this won't change the ending but in the end I keep reading (of course). Part of my brain goes - "You know it will all be ok...more
A wonderful and touching story of the horrors of war and how Lava helped Lt. Col. Kopelman get through them. Not only was it a great story about how far a person will go for something they love, but also a great war story that really reveals how awful Iraq was. I, being in first grade when the war started, never really thought about the war. It was sad but it happened. It gave me a new perspective. Also kind of funny how at many times he talked about when the war was going to end and how it was...more
When a group of Marines storm an abandoned house looking for insurgents, they hear strange noises. That's when they discovered a little puppy that had survived the bombing in Fallujah. Although there is a regulation forbidding the Marines from keeping pets, the little dog won the hearts of the tough Marines, especially Jay Kopelman.
This is the story of Jay's attempt to bring the puppy, Lava, back to the United States with him. The book also tells the story of the military in Iraq in 2004-2005 ar...more
This is the story of Jay's attempt to bring the puppy, Lava, back to the United States with him. The book also tells the story of the military in Iraq in 2004-2005 ar...more
Não costumo ler muito livros de memórias mas os que li acabam sempre por divagar muito em coisas que não interessam e muitas das vezes fazem me perder o interesse na leitura. Neste livro aconteceu exactamente o contrário, parece que estamos a ouvir a estória directamente da boca do narrador enquanto estamos sentados numa explanada a desfrutar de uma bebida.
A partir do relato do Tenente-coronel Jay kopelman assistimos à luta burocrática e a várias tentativas, muitas frustradas, para resgatar de...more
A partir do relato do Tenente-coronel Jay kopelman assistimos à luta burocrática e a várias tentativas, muitas frustradas, para resgatar de...more
"When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire.
What they find during the U.S.-led attack on the "most dangerous city on Earth," however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city's population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewin...more
What they find during the U.S.-led attack on the "most dangerous city on Earth," however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city's population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewin...more
I absolutly melted at the cover and wasn't disappointed by the story. It's about a US Marine who's company finds a dog in an abandoned house in the middle of a war zone (Iraq) starting in 2004. What attracted me was not necessarily the story of man and dog but of living in the war itself - it was told in the most beautiful way and gives human meaning behind the pictures we see and articles we read around areas of war, you could feel emotion and the atmosphere.
The simple comment of why not save a...more
The simple comment of why not save a...more
Didn't expect to like this book, as I was sure there would be so much about the Iraq war in it, and I have been opposed to the military action in Iraq since the start.
I was wrong. (Not about the war, but about the book.) This is an exciting, edge-of-your-seat book about a marine trying to get a stray dog home to the states from Iraq, when everything is working against them. Kopelman's description of the situation in Iraq is full of raw honesty and disturbing images. the reader can feel the tensi...more
I was wrong. (Not about the war, but about the book.) This is an exciting, edge-of-your-seat book about a marine trying to get a stray dog home to the states from Iraq, when everything is working against them. Kopelman's description of the situation in Iraq is full of raw honesty and disturbing images. the reader can feel the tensi...more
Wonderful, wonderful story!! Absolutely lovely, also because I'm a sucker for any true animal story with a happy ending. Especially when it involves a little puppy, and then the fears and nightmares and all other trouble that go hand in hand with war, makes it all the more heartbreaking.
On the flipside, the success of the book must have sky rocketed the author to a level of fame that he can't handle, which has made him want to repeat the success he gained from this book by writing a second book...more
On the flipside, the success of the book must have sky rocketed the author to a level of fame that he can't handle, which has made him want to repeat the success he gained from this book by writing a second book...more
I figured reading this soldier's story would be a good way to spend my Memorial Day and I'm glad I did because it was such a touching story. It is both sad and amazing how many hoops one had to go through to save an innocent dog. But so many friends were made along this journey and even though its hard to imagine happy endings where war is concerned, this story has one. I cried right along with Kopelman over his furry friend and then cried again just reading this his acknowledgement to all his f...more
Aug 10, 2012
Zoey
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Dog Lovers, those interested in the war in Iraq
I really enjoyed this book. It was a lovely story about a Marine & the difficulties he faced in trying to get the puppy he found out of Iraq & home to America.
Its not the most well written book, but you just want to keep reading to find out what happens to the gorgeous little puppy Lava, even though the blurb on the back tells you how it ends.
There was some military terms that went over my head at times & also some disturbing information on what happens to a lot of dogs in that &...more
Its not the most well written book, but you just want to keep reading to find out what happens to the gorgeous little puppy Lava, even though the blurb on the back tells you how it ends.
There was some military terms that went over my head at times & also some disturbing information on what happens to a lot of dogs in that &...more
Jan 01, 2012
Rebekkila
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
dog lovers
Shelves:
bookcrossing,
non-fiction
This is such a great story for dog lovers. I am glad he didn't go into too much detail about the war and kept the story focused on Lava, his Iraqi dog. Lava brought so much joy to people in the war from soldiers to journalists. I am glad that the NPR allowed Lava to stay in their quarters in the red zone and helped in the effort to get him to America.
Lava even made a friend out of an Iraqi who was working for NPR in their hotel in the red zone. The Iraqi who remains unnamed for his protection,...more
Lava even made a friend out of an Iraqi who was working for NPR in their hotel in the red zone. The Iraqi who remains unnamed for his protection,...more
Kopelman keeps it 'real' about the war in Iraq and the things highly trained soldiers go through, mentally, physically or otherwise. Saving Lava kept him from completely losing his humanity. Kopelman offers a laugh-your-butt-off commentary about the dog's antics, cliffhanger worry about whether or not Lava's story will end well, and a big picture of Lava's healing power and the hope that there are a lot of good people out there willing to offer a helping hand. I found myself laughing, I found my...more
I've always had somewhat of a soft spot when it comes to books about animals, especially dogs. This particular book has been on my "must-buy" list for quite some time so when I found it in my favorite used books store, I snagged it immediately.
The story of Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman and the scruffy pup who changed his life named Lava was touching. I found myself tearing up a couple of times and loved the fact that Lava finally made his way back into the arms of Lt. Col. Kopelman after what must have...more
The story of Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman and the scruffy pup who changed his life named Lava was touching. I found myself tearing up a couple of times and loved the fact that Lava finally made his way back into the arms of Lt. Col. Kopelman after what must have...more
This is a story about redemption. It is a memoir of the Iraq war with a beautiful twist. Jay Kopelman is a modern day warrior who had dream of being a Marine since boyhood. His mission in Iraq is to kill and killing came easy to this desensitized warrior class. Then Kopelman met the little bundle of fur who had managed to survive the bombing of a city. As a result Kopelman learns he can cry, he learns that killing isn't everything. He becomes a new human who learns that saving something, even a...more
A group of Marines in Iraq found a puppy in an abandoned building they took over. They named the puppy Lava, and despite a military order not to care for any animals, the Marines fell for the cute little guy, and Kopelman started to worry about what would happen to Lava when they left. He did everything he could to make sure Lava was brought to the United States.
It was good and what animal-lover wouldn’t fall for the cute, but slightly obnoxious puppy Lava!? Loved reading about Lava, and found t...more
It was good and what animal-lover wouldn’t fall for the cute, but slightly obnoxious puppy Lava!? Loved reading about Lava, and found t...more
Ok I found this book because I read another book about an animals story. I immediately picked this book to read next because the cover just absolutely hooked me.
This is a wonderful story about as the cover says "A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava". I read a chapter or two then had something else to do. When I picked it back up I could not put it down. You become so immersed in the story and what is happening and wonder what is going to happen next. I am so glad that this had a happy ending...more
This is a wonderful story about as the cover says "A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava". I read a chapter or two then had something else to do. When I picked it back up I could not put it down. You become so immersed in the story and what is happening and wonder what is going to happen next. I am so glad that this had a happy ending...more
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This book was more than what I thought it would be. Of course, I knew it would be about soldiers finding and taking care of a puppy. What I didn't expect was how it opened my eyes to a glimpse of life as soldier in war, or how dogs are even affected in a war zone.
Dog lovers will be rooting for Lava all the way, but there are parts, like where it talks about what happens to other found stray dogs, that will pull hard at their hearts. It did mine. I still would recommend this book to anyone wonde...more
Dog lovers will be rooting for Lava all the way, but there are parts, like where it talks about what happens to other found stray dogs, that will pull hard at their hearts. It did mine. I still would recommend this book to anyone wonde...more
I love dog stories, love love love them Im a total sucker. So why am I calling this book just OK? The first half is great, its about humanity in war, brought out by a goofball puppy and his hijinks. Marine falls in love, etc. WONDERFUL!
Second half of the book is basically every detail of the logistics. Who's going to watch him, how will we get him his shots and how will we get him out. Every e-mail, phone call, dead end. Its probably a lot like war. Mostly boring, tons of red tape and a second o...more
Second half of the book is basically every detail of the logistics. Who's going to watch him, how will we get him his shots and how will we get him out. Every e-mail, phone call, dead end. Its probably a lot like war. Mostly boring, tons of red tape and a second o...more
I just finished reading this book last night. I would recommend it to anyone who loves animals. The military jargon at times was confusing. At times it was also difficult to read about the atrocities to animals and humans. I appreciated his honesty in the book. I also found the use of animals in the military to be interesting but shocking. I was appalled at what the soldiers over there witness and know they will never be the same. Although I don't think the writing was that good, it was interest...more
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“When you spent your entire career on the fringes of violence, the dogs helped remind you that you were still human”
—
6 people liked it
“Why wasn't my time spent helping people instead of a puppy? I don't know and I don't care but at least I saved something.”
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3 people liked it
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