From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava (Lava #1) by Jay Kopelman

[gilda_elise]

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 chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.
Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava and Lava’s rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war.

From hardened Marines to war-time journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee.

Being a dog lover, I was immediately drawn into Lava’s story and the measures taken to get him out of Iraq. And even though I knew they were ultimately successful, I was on the edge of my seat through every setback.

The author does veer off onto other subjects from time to time, but, given the circumstances, I think he can be forgiven. An all-around satisfying story.






Links are to more information regarding each book or author, not to the review.


1. ReDeus: Divine Tales
2. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created
3. The Exodus Quest
4. Troy: Shield Of Thunder
5. Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph
6. Hyperion
7. Thin Air
8. Gods and Generals
9. White Seed
10. The Killer Angels
11. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
12. Troy: Fall of Kings
13. The Last Full Measure
14. Gwendy's Button Box
15. We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy
16. Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition
17. The Mists of Avalon
18. In The Shadow of FDR: From Harry Truman to Barack Obama
19. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
20. The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos #2)
21. The Lost Labyrinth
22. Autumn of the Black Snake: The Creation of the U.S. Army and the Invasion That Opened the West
23. A Brief History of Phoenix
24. Point of Contact
25. Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War
26. The Gap into Conflict: The Real Story
27. God: The Human Quest to Make Sense of the Divine
28. The Dog Master: A Novel of the First Dog
29. Warnings: Finding Cassandras to Stop Catastrophes
30. Fire In the Sea
31. The Song of Troy
32. From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava

Comments

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

Good lord, even the summary filled my eyes with tears!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely book. And while there's suspense, there's no harm done to Lava. Just the story of how he found a home. :-)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Who can resist a puppy?! What a lovely tale.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Indeed! I certainly can't. I can understand why so many soldiers ended up bringing one home.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely putting this on my to-read list.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It's a real feel good story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. :-)