After continuous months of seeing the death toll of U.S. soldiers in Iraq continue to rise I began to subconsciously block out anything that had to do with the so-called “War on Terrorism”. Yet some how, some of the statistics and events still managed to filter their way into my mind. One thing that I was not aware of however, was the story of a marine trying to bring home the dog he loved. I honestly do not recall any mention of this in the newspapers nor did I catch it on television either. After finishing this book I honestly felt as though I had missed out on something special by not having been aware of this when it occurred.

During the first week of the U.S. invasion of Fallujah, Iraq the members of the First Battalion, Third Marines, also known as the Lava Dogs, were securing a building to be used as their base of operations while stationed in Fallujah. They circled the building and as they heard shuffling and clicking noises inside they could only come to one conclusion – the building was occupied. It would have been the safer, and the more logical, choice to toss in a few hand grenades to clear the building before entering it. For whatever reason, they decided against and entered with their guns trained on the source of the noise. It would be the first glimpse the marines had of a small puppy soon to be named Lava. Fed on MREs, de-wormed with chewing tobacco, and bathed in kerosene to de-flea him, Lava was a source of comfort for the marines stationed in Fallujah, a reminder that despite their training and expectations, they were still human.

When I first picked up From Baghdad, With Love I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The summary intrigued me, and yet I hesitated over the book. Did I really want to willingly read literature about the war in Iraq, something that was and is such a touchy topic? Despite my hesitation, I am glad I gave this book a chance – it was well worth it.

The author, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, does a remarkable job relaying the events leading up to the safe arrival of Lava on American soil. Along the way we are regaled with tales of Lava’s mischief, the fear and worry that gripped the people involved in Lava’s escape from Iraq and the numerous attempts it took before finally succeeding. Most intriguing, however, is the change that Lava wrought upon the author himself. Perhaps what I found most entertaining, not to mention refreshing, was the fact that Kopelman managed to lay all of the details, all of his thoughts and feelings, bare on the table for the readers to rummage through as they saw fit. He sugarcoats nothing, tells you exactly how it is, and lets you decided to take it or leave it for yourself. While he doesn’t go into crude details, Kopelman, as mentioned, does not gloss over any of the details and there are a few explicits as well. Some might find this offensive, but I found the stark honesty of the author to be like a breathe of fresh air in a room filled with people too hell-bent on censorship.

Now, not only does Kopelman do a remarkable job of conveying the thoughts and emotions that were coursing through him as he struggled to secure a safe passage for Lava out of Baghdad, but he also carefully slips in information about the situation around them. In doing so, Kopelman sets a more dramatic and real atmosphere for the reader that couldn’t have been achieved otherwise. Something that isn’t seen often enough in memoirs and biographies is research and background information. Readers are often given only one side of the story, however, Kopelman makes certain to back up all of his claims with actual data. Data that somehow becomes more alarming than flowery words could have ever hoped to be.

As the reader reads that the military began cracking down on the strays found in or around base by ordering their immediate extermination upon discovery, one can understand Kopelman and the Lava Dog’s fear for Lava. But when one sees the results of the strict enforcement of General Order 1-A¹, through anecdotes, the panic, fear, and worry that those involved in protecting and aiding Lava felt becomes all too real. It settles deep within the pit of reader’s stomach, where it sits there gnawing at you, forcing you to turn the pages at a faster pace so that you can see for yourself that everything is going to be all right.

Along with giving Kopelman another vehicle with which to help convey the emotion and thoughts behind the words, the snippets of information about the war going on around them will also help serve to give the reader a better sense of the time line in which all the events played out.

From Baghdad, With Love is a well written work that does a remarkable job of taking the reader from the comfort of their own home and placing them into Kopelman’s boots. As you read you, Kopelman’s mission to bring Lava home will become your mission as well. I highly suggest that anyone who calls themselves a pet or dog lover pick up this. Do not, for one moment however, believe that this book is only for animal lovers. The road to bringing Lava home was a treacherous one filled with a great deal of sacrifice and the selfless acts on the parts of many people. It will call out to folks from many walks of life.

Joana’s Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)

1. General Order 1-A: Prohibited activities for service members include adopting as pets or mascots, caring for or feeding any type of domestic or wild animals.

Truth be told, I did not know what to expect when I picked up this book. It’s been at the top, or near top anyway, of several book recommendation lists for animal-lovers which, I must confess, is what helped to draw me in. After all, there is nothing worse than to pick up a book written by a self-proclaimed animal lover, only to find out that the term could never be applied to them. Thankfully, this wasn’t such an occasion, and for once, the recommendation lists were spot on.

Chosen By A Horse opens up with with Richards standing in the cold March drizzle outside of a coral where forty horses, rescued by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, are awaiting new and loving owners. She questions why she’s there, especially since she already has three Morgans of her own to care for, and yet Richards still came to adopt a mare and her foal. All of the horses are rightly terrified and the volunteers are having a hard time locating the horse that Richards picked off of a list, let alone herding it into her horse trailer. In the end she tells them that she’ll take whoever will get in the trailer easiest. From the terrified herd a single horse calmly trots up and into the trailer, her foal not far behind. Once the mare and her foal were secure in the trailer, a worker called off the horse’s number and Richards was informed of the name of her new horse; Lay Me Down.

Chosen by a Horse is not just another tale about a singular animal who had a lasting affect on their owner. Rather, Richards does a remarkable job of reliving her past moments spent with Lay Me Down for her reader’s benefit. Intertwined with Lay Me Down’s story is Richard’s own struggle to pick herself back up and live again after a failed marriage and despite her gaining in age. In the process, Richards and Lay Me Down develop a bond that is unlike any that Richards has ever had with any of her own horses, even her beloved Georgia, a Morgan whom she dotes upon.

Initially, Lay Me Down is a horse who has Richard’s sympathy and understanding, yet as time passes, it becomes quite obvious that Lay Me Down not only has Richard’s respect but also manages to teach her own owner a few lessons about life. The need to keep going, to pick oneself up, to be patient and gentle, but never submissive or a doormat – these were all things that Richards observed in Lay Me Down and her interactions with the other horses in Richard’s stable.

Despite having a sense of where Lay Me Down’s story is heading throughout the tale, one cannot help but feel a sense of loss, regret, and slight anger when Lay Me Down’s tale comes to an end. Loss and regret that such a beautiful spirit was taken away and anger at the circumstances that led to this loss. After finishing the book I couldn’t help but to feel that Richards was incredibly lucky to have met such a horse and been able to take care of her and watch over her for that period of time. There were many different messages and themes in this book, however the most important one was simply to keep moving forward no matter the obstacles or hardships and enjoy what you can while you can.

For the most part I found the book to be an enjoyable read. Richards manages to insert a fair amount of wit into the book while still managing to convey the emotions felt at the same time. As a result the author manages to allow us a chance to not only live the moment in her shoes, but also allow us a glimpse into her thoughts as well. Something I haven’t seen many authors manage to accomplish, with regards to memoirs and biographies.

There were, however, moments where I was lost with regards to horse-terminology. For the most part the author gives a very brief explanation of what purpose certain tools and terms are, and yet there were times where the author completely neglected to do so. In those moments I found myself floundering about, trying to not only grasp the full purpose and meaning of the term, but also to picture the scene in my mind. Other than those instances however, I found the book enjoyable and I highly recommend it for any person who calls themselves an animal lover. Regardless of whether or not you know a thing about horses, this book will definately reach out and touch you.

Joana’s Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)

As a cat lover, let me just say that this book was absolutely heartwarming and gripping. This book is comprised of ten different stories featuring a variety of felines, all of which are told in such exquisite detail, as to capture the heart and imagination of the reader. Any person, cat lover or not, would be hard pressed not to smile at the antics of Olly and Ginny and trials and tribulations that they put the good doctor through as he tried desperately to care for them and to earn their trust. Even more heart wrenching was the tragic end that came to this happy duo that broke them up. I found myself tearing up and had to put the book down in order to search for a box of Kleenex.

Another story contained within these pages that I found equally moving was the story of Buster and his mother Debbie. His mother was a stray who visited one of Dr. Herriot’s clients quite frequently. When the winter came she disappeared for a lengthy time only to return on Christmas day to bring the woman a special present in hopes that the woman would care for it as she could not. On Christmas day Debbie the stray returned to the lady’s house to bring her newborn kitten, Buster, to stay as she passed on. This was a beautiful tale and perfect for the holidays.

One of the biggest problems with adding in illustrations to a novel, especially illustrations that don’t just mark the beginning of a new chapter, is the fact that the illustrations may detract from the story itself. Lesley Holmes did an excellent job bringing to life the images of each adorable feline in a manner that complimented Herriort’s stories without detracting from the story, or distracting the reader in the least.

My only criticism of this book would be that it was all too short. If you are cat lover or just an animal lover in general I highly recommend you pick this book up. It’s an excellent read and makes for a great afternoon.

Joana’s Rating: