| From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava | 
 enlarge | Authors: Jay Kopelman, Melinda Roth
Publisher: The Lyons Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  116 reviews
Sales Rank: 14994
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 208
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 1599211823
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.70443092
EAN: 9781599211824
ASIN: 1599211823
Publication Date: June 3, 2008
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| • | Hardcover - From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava | | • | Hardcover - From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series) | | • | Kindle Edition - From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava | | • | Audio Download - From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
In From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava, Jay Kopelman tells a story that is both tender and thought-provoking--candidly portraying the ugly conditions in wartime Iraq, while also describing his (and his fellow Marines') growing attachment to a scruffy stray puppy. Here Jay Kopelman answers a few questions about his aspirations as a writer, and the effect his book has had on readers. Questions for Jay Kopelman Amazon.com: Before you met Lava and had this experience smuggling him out of Iraq, did you ever have ambitions to write a book? Jay Kopelman: Yes, I'd considered writing a book previously and have started--but not finished--a novel. Not surprisingly, it's a military murder mystery. And I'm still hoping to get it published. I've also been offered a deal by my publisher to write another book. So I guess I'm now officially an author. Amazon.com: How has the military responded to it given that you broke a number of rules during your adventure with Lava? Jay Kopelman: I've actually not had any real feedback from the military establishment. In fact, mostly I only get the good-natured ribbing from my contemporaries about how much money I'll make or about who will play me in the movie. When the story first broke a year and a half ago, one of the generals jokingly asked me for an autograph, and I've given the previous commanding general for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force a signed galley. So, thus far, there's been nothing "official" to which I've had to respond. We'll see what happens now that the book is released and there's going to be a media blitz surrounding the book. What you have to remember, though, is that I really didn't use military assets to get Lava home. Nor did I ever endanger anyone in the military while doing so. Amazon.com: In the book, you say that you would like it if it can bring hope to people who've lost loved ones in Iraq by showing them how something positive can come out of a brutal situation. Have you heard from people that your book has made them feel better? Jay Kopelman: I've not yet heard from anyone who's lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I have heard from a counselor who works with the returning Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who said she finds the story so very positive and helpful. She's planning to come to the book signing there. I also got an e-mail from a Marine who said that while her unit was in Iraq, they adopted a puppy and tried to bring it home, but he was ultimately put down. She says that the Marines "remember how Charlie the dog helped us. Charlie will always be loved. During a time when we were far from home that dog made us smile." So, I suppose Lava's story does help people remember and gives them hope. I've also heard from people who appreciate my candor describing the conditions in Iraq.  td> |  td> |
Product Description
A war memoir that will capture the hearts of its readers, just as one scruffy puppy sneaked his way into the hearts of hardened Marines just when they needed it most.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 111 more reviews...
 Not just for dog lovers September 4, 2008
This is an interesting book to get a soldier's perspective of the war in Iraq. It's not the best written book but if you understand it's not fine literature going into it then you'll be fine. I think everyone should know what's going on over there -- what our soldiers are going through for us here back at home.
Thank you LTC Kopelman for your service to our country and for writing a book about your experiences. I am so happy for you that Lava came into your life.
A Moving Tale August 26, 2008
This is a nice little novel about, as I'm sure you already know, a group of Marines who come across a very young puppy who they named "Lava" and "unofficially" adopt him, despite orders that prohibit soldiers from keeping pets.
It's a simple book written by a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps who grew attached to the puppy and made it his mission to save the dog. Some other reviewers complain it's poorly written and has too much profanity throughout the story. Well, when you take into consideration the author, the story, where the story takes place, etc...it's perfect.
The author, Jay Kopelman, does an excellent job of making you at least comprehend just a fraction of what he and thousands of other soldiers go through while serving in Iraq and you quickly understand why saving at least one life in Iraq was so important to him and everyone else involved in getting Lava to the U.S.
Any dog lover will understand how Lava impacted the life of a Marine serving in a place like Iraq and will understand the emotional roller coaster Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman went through, even if he's unable to put that part of the experience down in words. And this story makes you realize there's more to the war on terror than killing and being killed for the men and women who serve their country with honor and distinction.
 Could Have Been So Much Better June 12, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
I had heard about Lava the dog and the many pitfalls it took to overcome to get him home and so I couldn't wait to finally read the book. Unfortunately, this book does not live up to it's potential. It could have been a real gem had the author perhaps had a lot more help from a more experienced writer.
I'm surprised this book had two authors and quite possibly an editor and yet, it's so choppy and poorly written and dare I say, juvenile at times and I'm not talking about the profanity sprinkled throughout the book either. I'm not tremendously offended by profanity. In this case, I didn't feel it added or detracted from the book for me. The problem here is vocabulary. For example, there are several passages where the author used one word or one phrase over and over and over. In one passage it's the word "weird" when he's trying to explain to the reader how being in Iraq was and in another passage it's the phrase "at least" that begins every sentence for at least a paragraph. Maybe someone can gift him a thesaurus.
Frankly, until I read the interview between Amazon and the author, I would have just given the book 1 star because if the subject matter of the book wasn't so attractive, I doubt it would ever have gotten published. In the interview above at least, he does seem to have a more diverse vocabulary than was apparent in the book.
Another thing I found extremely difficult to get past was a passage where the author describes those who join the Army as basically losers, the guys who couldn't get the girl, who didn't play sports and who just weren't "good" enough was the impression I got. So unnecessary to the story and in my opinion, absolutely NOT true.
One last thing that gave me pause was the way he described himself getting into the faces of Iraqi's and hollering at them, including profanity which he insisted the interpreter include when relaying it back. Maybe they needed it, I don't know, I wasn't there but all I could think of while reading that was that's the sort of behavior that quite possibly could cost lives down the line. It's sort of like you can criticize your own children but woe unto those who are NOT a part of your family criticizing them. It just doesn't fly and even the author comes to realize this later in the book.
I don't know if I can honestly say this book is worth reading. I gave it two stars because I love dogs and found the subject matter appealing. The rest of the book just wasn't up to par to me and if you are looking to read down-to-earth, I-Was-There accounts of the goings on in Iraq or poignant, heartwarming stories about dogs then there are much better books out there on those subjects.
The Horror of war creeps on you, and yet, touched by hope June 12, 2008
This book is one of those that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Deeply emotional. Heroes vs evil. The author infuses his psychological insights into a story of an insane situation.
The horrors of the true story memoir creeps and builds. Intertwined by the deeds of the people coming together to help, adds hope to dispel the sense of a world with no compassion.
The emotional connection to the group of Marines known as Lava (named for where they trained in Hawaii) is immediate in the first few pages.
A career Marine fighting in Iraq (and sometimes near the border of Syria) desperately searches for a way to bring home to the States - a rescued puppy. (Thou shalt not have pets nor befriend animals, Article G something). Marines, news reporters, State side animal rescue groups, supportive Iraqis; fighting against the military machine ordered to shoot dogs. All this, while under the guns of insurgents, rocket propelled grenades, car bombs, cows strapped with suicide equipment.
To add more heart pressing depression to the harsh truths revealed, reading the parts about puppies being buried alive in sewers, fresh in my mind was the 'youtube' story. (Of the puppy thrown off the cliff by Marines making home videos. How could you?)
The author describes the military rationale behind some of the numbing military rules and realities.
Do I feel a little wiser after reading this?
What's the difference between foreign militants or American Marines shooting puppies?
I read this book in one sitting, not skipping to the last page (no cheating). I couldn't put it down.
Apple pie, Marilyn Monroe, dogs and waggily tailed puppies.
Tears for 21 Lava. Angels with wings, for sure.
Love and War June 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is not a book I would have ever picked up on my own. Although I love and care about dogs, and all animals, with a passion, I generally don't have any interest in reading true-life "My Dog and Me" stories. However, my mother highly recommended it and now I'm glad I read it, because it made the war more real to me that just about anything else has.
The heart of the story is, of course, the dog Lava, but this book is much more than a story about a dog. The tagline is "A Marine, the War, and a Dog..." for a reason. Lava is the vehicle for Kopelman's journey, and it makes for a powerful story of war and healing. Nowhere is this more evident than the chapter where Kopelman sits at home, in the agonizing hours he waits for news of Lava's escape and at the same time details the deaths and atrocities occurring in Iraq at the same time as all this effort is being exerted for a puppy.
Honestly, I didn't love the writing, but it was effective. Kopelman is obviously a smart and capable guy, and the book reads as though he is sitting in the room with you, relating this crazy story over dinner and a beer. He is honest and emotional about all sides of the war, Marines, and himself, for good and bad. I liked him and was rooting for him as much as the dog. The questions raised by the war for all of us are the questions Kopelman is faced with in person, in the form of a scruffy puppy he finds in his boot. He addresses these questions, if not eloquently, than at least thoroughly and with feeling. He makes his choice, as we all must, and he has to live with it, as do we all. Though it may have been a bit heavy-handed at times, this book brought together many issues, and many facets of each, into one emotional package, and it made me think as well as feel.
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