Eva Marie L. (babyjulie) -
I've been pondering what makes a hero while reading this book. We hear about ball players and rappers and the like being heros. A lot of them do good, I know, but does that make them a hero? In my eyes it doesn't.
I want my daughter to look up to Pen Farthing. I want him, and others like him, to be her heros. It doesn't matter what side of the war you're on, whether you believe troops should be activated or not, aside from the military standpoint totally, Farthing is still a hero in my eyes.
So many men before him, and after him, have walked by stray animals without a care in the world. We sit in our warm homes, going to the frig whenever we want to eat or drink, without ever thinking of those doing without.
Farthing was stationed in Afghanistan, in one of the most dangerous places in the world today, in some of the most horrendous conditions, and he still found it within himself to help these dogs. By helping those dogs he helped the local people, he helped the country, and he's helped the world.
I don't think you can be a dog lover and not cry at points while reading this. I laughed more than a few times as well, it's a beautiful, beautiful story.
I do wish there had been more photos. There are some snapshots included on the inside front and back cover but I found this in the library so the dust jacket was glued to the covers and I only was able to see the one half of each page. I saw almost every dog that was imtimately talked about in the story with the exception of Dushka and Patches I think.
As a true dog lover it was easy to follow along and know just what Farthing's heart was feeling at certain times. I can't imagine being faced with the choice of who to save and who to leave behind. To even think and type the words it pains me. I can't imagine it. I can't imagine some of the feelings he's had to live with... even though he did all he could. Not everything ended happily-ever-after. He must think about RPG and AK every day.
I know I'm not exactly flowing along with this review but I can't help it. I'm going by what I'm thinking and I'm not putting it into any sort of easy order.
Farthing's writing is... I'm not sure what it is. It's not the best and it's not the worst. If you pick this up looking for some of the best writing you've ever read you'll probably be disappointed. At the same time though he writes better than I think most people in his situation (not being an author by trade) would.
The little stories and anecdotes, the telling of how each dog came into his life, it's all just so beautiful. I don't know why we have to have places and people like these in this world. A huge part of me thinks we should remove all the animals and young children (the ones not old enough to be affected by their parents and elders insane thoughts) and just blow the place off the map. It bothers me that Farthing and his fellow soldiers actually had to halt what they were doing to wait while the Taliban recharged enough to counter another attack.
Farthing's wife Lisa should also be mentioned because she's just as much a hero as he. Lisa did much on her end of things to help Pen save these dogs. Together they're helping to make this world a better place. Something that so many people wish for but make no move to actually do.
Pen Farthing was wrong about one thing - there are people who would take an Afghan fighting dog. People like me. Nowzad is absolutely beautiful. If you don't know what you're looking at and what to look for he looks frightening. But if you know what to look for you see inside him, you see him smiling, and you see his eyes. There are people out here who will take a chance for dogs like Nowzad. I know that because I'm one of them.
I hope, wherever they are, that RPG and AK, and all of the rest of the animals in that awful place and all of the other places like it, find a way to live a happy life. I wish I had the money Oprah or Britney has. Instead of buying Bentley's and diamonds a lot of good could be done. :(
If anyone out there is wanting to help Pen & Lisa Farthing have started Nowzad Dogs, a charity which does a number of different things. Among other things they're giving help to soldiers who find themselves in the same spot as Farthing did, with a dog, wanting to help, and not getting any help from others. They're aiding the Afghan rescue that helped Lisa and Pen get the dogs out of Now Zad and have goals to open shelters in Afghanistan and Iraq which will sponser free neutering and spaying of strays, re-homing for the strays, education programs for the children, etc. A lot more important than buying that new book or CD right?
My five year old daughter saves her change and allowance for a farm for when she gets older and she's well on her way believe it or not. But she also takes half of it, each time we cash it in, to donate to a different charity or to help in some way. This is going to be where that money goes now and I'm going to do the same with what I can. People always say "every little bit counts" and it's true. If everyone on PBS donated $5.00 imagine how much Nowzad Dogs would be able to do.
www.nowzaddogs.com
I want my daughter to look up to Pen Farthing. I want him, and others like him, to be her heros. It doesn't matter what side of the war you're on, whether you believe troops should be activated or not, aside from the military standpoint totally, Farthing is still a hero in my eyes.
So many men before him, and after him, have walked by stray animals without a care in the world. We sit in our warm homes, going to the frig whenever we want to eat or drink, without ever thinking of those doing without.
Farthing was stationed in Afghanistan, in one of the most dangerous places in the world today, in some of the most horrendous conditions, and he still found it within himself to help these dogs. By helping those dogs he helped the local people, he helped the country, and he's helped the world.
I don't think you can be a dog lover and not cry at points while reading this. I laughed more than a few times as well, it's a beautiful, beautiful story.
I do wish there had been more photos. There are some snapshots included on the inside front and back cover but I found this in the library so the dust jacket was glued to the covers and I only was able to see the one half of each page. I saw almost every dog that was imtimately talked about in the story with the exception of Dushka and Patches I think.
As a true dog lover it was easy to follow along and know just what Farthing's heart was feeling at certain times. I can't imagine being faced with the choice of who to save and who to leave behind. To even think and type the words it pains me. I can't imagine it. I can't imagine some of the feelings he's had to live with... even though he did all he could. Not everything ended happily-ever-after. He must think about RPG and AK every day.
I know I'm not exactly flowing along with this review but I can't help it. I'm going by what I'm thinking and I'm not putting it into any sort of easy order.
Farthing's writing is... I'm not sure what it is. It's not the best and it's not the worst. If you pick this up looking for some of the best writing you've ever read you'll probably be disappointed. At the same time though he writes better than I think most people in his situation (not being an author by trade) would.
The little stories and anecdotes, the telling of how each dog came into his life, it's all just so beautiful. I don't know why we have to have places and people like these in this world. A huge part of me thinks we should remove all the animals and young children (the ones not old enough to be affected by their parents and elders insane thoughts) and just blow the place off the map. It bothers me that Farthing and his fellow soldiers actually had to halt what they were doing to wait while the Taliban recharged enough to counter another attack.
Farthing's wife Lisa should also be mentioned because she's just as much a hero as he. Lisa did much on her end of things to help Pen save these dogs. Together they're helping to make this world a better place. Something that so many people wish for but make no move to actually do.
Pen Farthing was wrong about one thing - there are people who would take an Afghan fighting dog. People like me. Nowzad is absolutely beautiful. If you don't know what you're looking at and what to look for he looks frightening. But if you know what to look for you see inside him, you see him smiling, and you see his eyes. There are people out here who will take a chance for dogs like Nowzad. I know that because I'm one of them.
I hope, wherever they are, that RPG and AK, and all of the rest of the animals in that awful place and all of the other places like it, find a way to live a happy life. I wish I had the money Oprah or Britney has. Instead of buying Bentley's and diamonds a lot of good could be done. :(
If anyone out there is wanting to help Pen & Lisa Farthing have started Nowzad Dogs, a charity which does a number of different things. Among other things they're giving help to soldiers who find themselves in the same spot as Farthing did, with a dog, wanting to help, and not getting any help from others. They're aiding the Afghan rescue that helped Lisa and Pen get the dogs out of Now Zad and have goals to open shelters in Afghanistan and Iraq which will sponser free neutering and spaying of strays, re-homing for the strays, education programs for the children, etc. A lot more important than buying that new book or CD right?
My five year old daughter saves her change and allowance for a farm for when she gets older and she's well on her way believe it or not. But she also takes half of it, each time we cash it in, to donate to a different charity or to help in some way. This is going to be where that money goes now and I'm going to do the same with what I can. People always say "every little bit counts" and it's true. If everyone on PBS donated $5.00 imagine how much Nowzad Dogs would be able to do.
www.nowzaddogs.com
