Status
Available
Call number
Call number
B Hop
Collection
Publication
Atria Books (2017), 336 pages
Description
Lone Survivor meets Marley & Me in this "inspiring and very moving" (Bear Grylls, host of the hit TV show Man vs. Wild) memoir of an extraordinary service dog whose enduring love brought a wounded soldier back to life. A decade ago, special forces warrior Jason Morgan parachuted into the Central American jungle on an antinarcotics raid. He'd served with the famous Night Stalkers on countless such missions. This one was different. Months later, he regained consciousness in a U.S. military hospital with no memory of how he'd gotten there. The first words he heard were from his surgeon telling him he would never walk again. The determined soldier responded, "Sir, yes, I will." After multiple surgeries, unbearable chronic pain, and numerous setbacks, Morgan was finally making progress when his wife left him and their three young sons. He was a single father confined to a wheelchair and tortured by his pain. At this very dark, very low point, Morgan found light: Napal, the black Labrador who would change his life forever. A Dog Called Hope is the incredible story of a service dog who brought a devastated warrior back from the brink and taught him how to be a true father. It is the story of Napal, who built bridges between his wheelchair-bound battle buddy and the rest of able-bodied humankind. It is the story of Jason, who found life's true meaning with the help of his faithful companion. Humorous, intensely moving, and uplifting, Jason and Napal's heartwarming tale will brighten any day and lift every heart.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member vera_mallard
STORY-LINE A DOG CALLED HOPE B JASON MORGAN WITH DAMIEN LEWIS:
In A Dog Called Hope, authored by Jason Morgan with Damien Lewis, the reader will find an emotional charged true life story of Air Force wounded warrior, Jason Morgan. Jason served with honor in the famous Night Stalkers until the night
The following years filled with pain, surgeries, depression, and many set backs, begin to define Jason's existence. Jason's life went from the highest highs to the lowest lows after his injury. A chance meeting puts Jason in touch with CCI, which provides companion and service dogs to veterans and others. Confined to a wheelchair, racked with pain and depression, Jason will meet his fate when he receives Napal, his CCI service dog.
Napal, an extraordinaire dog, brings Jason back from the edge and helps heal a family, as well as, bringing the plight of wounded warriors to national attention. Able to reach the soul of Jason, these two communicate on a level as no other. My review for memoir novel, A Dog Called Hope, follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
First, I must tell the reader, this is a 2 Kleenex box novel. Character driven and emotionally charged from the first pages, the reader's sucked into a world of endless pain as Jason holds on to hope by his finger nails. If you can read the story of this magnificent dedicated warrior brought low without tears in your eyes, nothing will ever make you cry. Secondly, Morgan and Lewis captured the devastation of a severely wounded body, the raw emotions, and the affect on the family unit.
Telling the story from the view-point of veteran Jason, and Jim who raised Napal, gave the reader a look into the mechanics of how the service dog foundations operate. As well as, how closely knit the people are with each other and their charges. I did not realize the time, effort, or countless hours which go into raising each service dog at a final cost of $50,000.00. Nor did I realize how many of our wounded and others need these dogs in their lives, forming bonds which turn lives around.
Finally in concluding my review of memoir, A Dog Called Hope, I found a well-developed story-line with realistic characters which will tear your heart out. I found the depth of love, devotion, and companionship, Napal imparts to Jason magical. As result, Jason discovers his reason for surviving and a purpose driven life. This book will cause the reader to think and ponder our warriors. They deserve the best our country can provide. Whether they are physically or mentally wounded each one should received the best this country can give. I live within miles of Camp Lejeune Marine Corp base and feel strongly about our service men and women. Although, Jason's an Air Force Veteran, I would say, Semper fi my friend, Semper fi.
A DOG CALLED HOPE RECOMMENDATION: STARS 5
Furthermore, this story-line alone is deserving of 5 stars. Combine the well-developed plot and characters, you have a 5 star emotional character driven novel highlighting the service dog and his companion.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from Netgalley and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest memoir novel review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, no one influenced my voluntary memoir review.
In A Dog Called Hope, authored by Jason Morgan with Damien Lewis, the reader will find an emotional charged true life story of Air Force wounded warrior, Jason Morgan. Jason served with honor in the famous Night Stalkers until the night
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it all went wrong in the Amazon jungle.The following years filled with pain, surgeries, depression, and many set backs, begin to define Jason's existence. Jason's life went from the highest highs to the lowest lows after his injury. A chance meeting puts Jason in touch with CCI, which provides companion and service dogs to veterans and others. Confined to a wheelchair, racked with pain and depression, Jason will meet his fate when he receives Napal, his CCI service dog.
Napal, an extraordinaire dog, brings Jason back from the edge and helps heal a family, as well as, bringing the plight of wounded warriors to national attention. Able to reach the soul of Jason, these two communicate on a level as no other. My review for memoir novel, A Dog Called Hope, follows.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:
First, I must tell the reader, this is a 2 Kleenex box novel. Character driven and emotionally charged from the first pages, the reader's sucked into a world of endless pain as Jason holds on to hope by his finger nails. If you can read the story of this magnificent dedicated warrior brought low without tears in your eyes, nothing will ever make you cry. Secondly, Morgan and Lewis captured the devastation of a severely wounded body, the raw emotions, and the affect on the family unit.
Telling the story from the view-point of veteran Jason, and Jim who raised Napal, gave the reader a look into the mechanics of how the service dog foundations operate. As well as, how closely knit the people are with each other and their charges. I did not realize the time, effort, or countless hours which go into raising each service dog at a final cost of $50,000.00. Nor did I realize how many of our wounded and others need these dogs in their lives, forming bonds which turn lives around.
Finally in concluding my review of memoir, A Dog Called Hope, I found a well-developed story-line with realistic characters which will tear your heart out. I found the depth of love, devotion, and companionship, Napal imparts to Jason magical. As result, Jason discovers his reason for surviving and a purpose driven life. This book will cause the reader to think and ponder our warriors. They deserve the best our country can provide. Whether they are physically or mentally wounded each one should received the best this country can give. I live within miles of Camp Lejeune Marine Corp base and feel strongly about our service men and women. Although, Jason's an Air Force Veteran, I would say, Semper fi my friend, Semper fi.
A DOG CALLED HOPE RECOMMENDATION: STARS 5
Furthermore, this story-line alone is deserving of 5 stars. Combine the well-developed plot and characters, you have a 5 star emotional character driven novel highlighting the service dog and his companion.
FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE:
Additionally, I received this book from Netgalley and chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest memoir novel review. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, no one influenced my voluntary memoir review.
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LibraryThing member Twink
A Dog Called Hope:A Wounded Warrior and the Service Dog Who Saved Him is the story of Jason Morgan. and his service dog Napal.
Morgan was a Combat Meteorologist with a Special Forces unit when a covert mission went awry and he suffered catastrophic injuries. Morgan was declared a paraplegic.
A Dog Called Hope is Morgan's life story after that horrific accident - and the dog named Napal, who changed Jason's life.
Although we know accidents happen like this all the time, it is hard to listen to someone's personal story - the pain, the anguish and the grief. But I knew that Morgan had an important and uplifting message to impart. As a dog lover, I was already invested in this story simply from looking at the warm, wonderful and somehow wise face of Napal on the cover of the book. The journey through his accident, to CCI and Napal and afterwards is fascinating, uplifting and yes tear-jerking. (You're going to need a tissue for a few chapters) Morgan has made it his life's work now to spread the word about CCI and the service dogs they train. He now spreads that word as a motivational speaker.
I chose to listen to Morgan's story - the reader was John Moraitis. His voice fit the story of this soldier. He has a matter of fact, get on with life tone that suits this soldier's story. His enunciation is crisp, clean and easy to listen to and understand. I often find that listening to a book is much more intimate than reading - the listener becomes part of the story. And what a story this was!
Damien Lewis is an author who worked with Morgan on this book - and indeed plays a part in Napal's story.
While I found the writing slightly overly dramatic in spots, how can you give anyone's life story anything but a five?
Morgan was a Combat Meteorologist with a Special Forces unit when a covert mission went awry and he suffered catastrophic injuries. Morgan was declared a paraplegic.
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Fighting unbelievable pain both physically and mentally, Morgan seized upon a ray of hope - Canine Companions for Independence. CCI provides service dogs free of charge to those in need.A Dog Called Hope is Morgan's life story after that horrific accident - and the dog named Napal, who changed Jason's life.
Although we know accidents happen like this all the time, it is hard to listen to someone's personal story - the pain, the anguish and the grief. But I knew that Morgan had an important and uplifting message to impart. As a dog lover, I was already invested in this story simply from looking at the warm, wonderful and somehow wise face of Napal on the cover of the book. The journey through his accident, to CCI and Napal and afterwards is fascinating, uplifting and yes tear-jerking. (You're going to need a tissue for a few chapters) Morgan has made it his life's work now to spread the word about CCI and the service dogs they train. He now spreads that word as a motivational speaker.
I chose to listen to Morgan's story - the reader was John Moraitis. His voice fit the story of this soldier. He has a matter of fact, get on with life tone that suits this soldier's story. His enunciation is crisp, clean and easy to listen to and understand. I often find that listening to a book is much more intimate than reading - the listener becomes part of the story. And what a story this was!
Damien Lewis is an author who worked with Morgan on this book - and indeed plays a part in Napal's story.
While I found the writing slightly overly dramatic in spots, how can you give anyone's life story anything but a five?
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
It's the beautiful story of a Wounded Warrior and his service dog but it also tell the backstory of the man that raised the dog from a puppy. Jason Morgan reveals a great deal of himself and the unimaginable that he went through to get his life back where he is today. It was, for him, an emotional
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roller coaster. Then this beautiful black lab came into his life and his world again turned upside down...but this time in a good way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll thank God for your two good legs, and you will fall in love with Napal. I guarantee that you will absolutely never look at a person in a wheelchair the same way again. Show Less
LibraryThing member nancynova
The chapters bounce back and forth between the service dog puppy-raiser's experience with Napal and Jason, the wounded soldier who was on a covert mission in Ecuador when his jeep overturned and ran over him. Years later and confined to a wheelchair, the dog he's matched with not only can assist
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him, but encourage and love him, forcing him on a path forward. Very good read Show Less
Pages
336