[nagdu] guide dog books

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

Mitzi really took to trail guiding last summer when I managed to get in some
hikes.  I was really tired on the way back (even the youngsters were), so
she started getting a little moody about having to work with my clumsiness
when she could be running and sniffing.  /smile/  But it was the first
really long (comparatively) hike we had taken with her in harness and in a
new place, so I thought we both did really well.  I'm looking forward to
doing more this summer, although my favorite hiking buddy is going off for
school.  /sigh/

I'll have to look that one up, since it should be a fun read.

The other one does sound annoying.  Maybe it's a question of perspective or
something, but I don't the whole "a dog dog gives you your life back" theme
when it's all sappy.  I'm not saying a guide dog doesn't add a whole lot,
and they certainly do change your life, literally...  But when the
suggestion is that the dog fundamentally repairs the poor blind person's
psyche in some profound and fundamental way...  I just feel a little oogy
about that.  /smile/

I would rather go out with her than with just about anyone, and she has
added way more than mobility just by being her...  But she hasn't made me
better than I am; that is not her job!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Wayne Merritt
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:49 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] guide dog books

I've read Blind courage and really enjoyed it. I liked reading of the
dog's transformation from a guide to a dog that really wanted to get
out on the trail each day, as well as of the different experiences the
author had with his dog and with other hikers on the trail. I havent
read the other one you mentioned Julie, but it doesn't sound like one
I'd want to read anyway. I'm not a huge fan of those sappy or overly
narrated stories. Depending on the narrator, sometimes I can fight
through it and sometimes I can't.

Wayne

On 3/11/10, Buddy Brannan <buddy at brannan.name> wrote:
> Another new guide dog book is out, for Fidelco's 50th anniversary. It's
> available in print and in commercial audiobook. I've just ordered my copy
of
> the audiobook (on MP3 CD, it's $15, regular CD's are $24). It can be had
> here:
> http://www.tantor.com/BookDetail.asp?Product=1506_TrustDog
>
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
> On Mar 11, 2010, at 8:28 AM, Julie J wrote:
>
>> Hello all!
>>
>> I've just recently read two books that feature guide dogs:
>> "Blind Courage"  and "Together, A Novel of Shared Vision"
>>
>> I really enjoyed "Blind Courage.  It's about a guy who hikes the
>> Appalachian trail with his guide dog.  It is honest, interesting and very
>> well written.
>>
>> The second book, "Together, a Novel of Shared Vision" was less exciting
>> for me.  It's about a guy who looses his vision in a mountain climbing
>> accident.  He then goes to get a guide, which fixes all of his problems.
>> I'm not sure if the over dramatic narrator was the problem or if the book
>> is just that sappy.  There was a lot of focus on using other senses and
>> how they sharpened after he became blind.   It also bugged me that the
>> author constantly referred to guide dogs as "animals".   I mean that's
>> accurate and all, but it was just weird.
>>
>> I got both of these in digital download format from NLS.
>> If anyone has read either of these books, I'd love to hear your take.
>>
>> Julie
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