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From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava Audiobook
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(3.06) - 228 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman won the hearts of readers with his moving story of adopting an abandoned puppy named Lava in a hellish corner of Iraq. For this Marine and his comrades, the puppy served as an important emotional touchstone in a grim and seemingly endless war.
Kopelman now writes about what it's like to be home. He credits his canine best friend with finding his wife—in the park, Lava began playing with her dog and the two owners met—and for keeping him sane as he readjusted. With the same intelligence and insight he showed in From Baghdad, With Love, Kopelman sets forth more than a dozen lessons, including: Life can change in an instant, but you'll be able to handle it; passion for something can help you tap into your most powerful reserve of energy; have a standard operating procedure for everything; and never forget who you are or how you got here. Active and retired troops, soldiers' friends and families, and everyone who has ever loved a dog will embrace this book.
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"Jay leads on the continuing journey of himself and Lava. Lava has changed his life as well as Jau has changed Lava's life. I hope Veterans read his books and rech out to the help that is available to them."
— Gloria (4 out of 5 stars)
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“An inspiring story, one that will connect even with readers allergic to ‘life lessons.‘”
— Booklist -
[Narrator Christopher Lane] portray[s] to perfection an ex-Marine whose writing admits to anger, hostility, and personality damage resulting from his combat experiences.
— AudioFile
From Baghdad to America Listener Reviews
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" At first I had expected more about Lava, but when you take into account that it says right in the title "Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava," I realized the book was more about what Jay has learned from the experience of helping Lava overcome his own PTSD. I think it's a great way to show our military men and women that there is no shame in asking for help and seeking therapy. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to that knows how to listen. "
— Janine, 2/11/2014 -
" Interesting follow up with what happened with Lava and his American owner...lot of anguish and rantings in this sequel but that may be how the author/dog owner is trying to show how ptsd is affecting him and Lava and how it can be confusing for all. "
— Jan, 1/25/2014 -
" Could have been a great story. Unfortunately as he writes this memoir he uses such bad language I couldn't finish it. "
— Jennifer, 1/6/2014 -
" I thought this book was going to be about Lava once he got to America, well it really wasn't. 98% of the book was how the writer was dealing with life after war. "
— Jennifer, 12/23/2013 -
" Just met Jay - what a sweetie! "
— Birdie, 12/13/2013 -
" not as good as the first one but it still made me laugh and cry all at the same time. It was all at once serious, lighthearted, warm and heartbreaking. "
— benebean, 11/15/2013 -
" I liked his first book the best, but this gives real insight into military people coming home, and how PTSD affects them. It is a very good book, and had me laughing and crying. "
— Janet, 10/31/2013 -
" Excellent book. I recommend that anyone connected with the military (mom, dad, brother, sister, etc.) and the servicemembers themselves read this book "
— Cindy, 3/28/2013 -
" Not as good as the first book. Skipped pages as I wanted to read about Lava only ;) "
— Jacqueline115, 9/18/2012 -
" Lava was rescued by Jay Kopelman from the war in Iraq. Lava suffers from PTSD it was a moving story brought tears to my eyes several times. "
— Melanie, 4/9/2012 -
" I just didn't find it to be as interesting as his first book. "
— Karen, 1/26/2012 -
" love-a lava! "
— Krazykat, 12/20/2011 -
" Wonderful story about compantionship and love! "
— Gail, 12/4/2011 -
" insightful - I read it for a newsletter, but gained more from the book than I thought...a good read. "
— Arika, 11/11/2011 -
" It was good, I like Kopelmans writing style but first one was much better, not sure I recommend the second unless u r military or have close experience w/ someone deployed. "
— Kim, 10/3/2011 -
" I just didn't find it to be as interesting as his first book. "
— Karen, 4/12/2011 -
" It was good, I like Kopelmans writing style but first one was much better, not sure I recommend the second unless u r military or have close experience w/ someone deployed. "
— Kim, 2/10/2010 -
" Wonderful story about compantionship and love! "
— Gail, 6/16/2009 -
" Excellent book. I recommend that anyone connected with the military (mom, dad, brother, sister, etc.) and the servicemembers themselves read this book "
— Cindy, 5/5/2009 -
" I thought this book was going to be about Lava once he got to America, well it really wasn't. 98% of the book was how the writer was dealing with life after war. "
— Jennifer, 4/12/2009 -
" insightful - I read it for a newsletter, but gained more from the book than I thought...a good read. "
— Arika, 1/17/2009 -
" Not as good as the first book. Skipped pages as I wanted to read about Lava only ;) "
— Jacqueline115, 12/29/2008 -
" Just met Jay - what a sweetie! "
— Birdie, 7/12/2008
About Jay Kopelman
Jay Kopelman is a former lieutenant colonel in the US Marine Corps. He lives in La Jolla, California, with his wife and their two children, Cheddar the cat, and, last but not least, two dogs: Koda and, yes, Lava.
About Christopher Lane
Christopher Lane is an award-winning actor, director, and narrator. He has been awarded the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration several times and has won numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards.