4.8 Stars Out Of 5
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Value:
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Meets Expectations:
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  1. Debra Brinkman
    Yoder, CO
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A fascinating personal account of 9/11
    July 27, 2011
    Debra Brinkman
    Yoder, CO
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    On a whim, I requested Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog & the Triumphs of Trust at Ground Zero by Michael Hingson to review a week or so ago. It looked like it would be a fairly easy read, and that is what I was in the mood for.

    It turned out that it was gripping, compelling -- a real page-turner. Once I started it, I had a very hard time putting it down.

    The basic story -- Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, are at work one day nearly a decade ago, preparing for a sales presentation. Michael works on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center, and obviously (given the title) this day is going to be far from normal, as it is 9/11.

    An explosion rocks the building, and Michael and his co-worker get their clients to evacuate, while they shut some things down and finally head out themselves.

    The main narrative of Thunder Dog relates Michael and Roselle working together to get down 78 flights of stairs and away from the tower, which collapses shortly after they get out. Obviously, since Michael is the author, we know he is going to make it out. Still, I kept flipping page after page as I really wanted to find out more.

    Michael recalls earlier scenes in his life, so we learn about his childhood. He was born a couple of months early. That means he was treated like virtually every other preemie in that generation -- given excessive oxygen, causing his blindness. Michael tells about his childhood, his first guide dog, attending college, driving a car, flying a plane... and escaping Ground Zero.

    The book made me laugh. A lot. It made me cry. Towards the middle of the book, there were a couple sections told from the point of view of Michael's wife that I really appreciated.

    I will have my children read this when we get to really recent history. Because this story is incredibly inspiring, and it definitely brings an interesting point of view to 9/11.

    Disclaimer: As a Booksneeze Blogger, I did receive this as an ePub book from Thomas Nelson. No other compensation was received. For more about my take on reviews, visit my blog post here.
  2. Suzie Q
    Alaska
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Thunder Dog
    October 19, 2016
    Suzie Q
    Alaska
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I was rivited to the story. To have been in the Twin Towers as they were burning was a terrible thing. But Thunder Dog was a hero to all he encountered in the stairwell. This is a book to be read by everyone.

    Suzie Q

  3. TiaB
    UK
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Inspiring story of trust between man and guide dog
    August 19, 2011
    TiaB
    UK
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero.

    I was interested in reading this book because my friend's son had just received his first Guide Dog, and since I'm not going to get to see them for a while, reading felt like the next best thing.

    One man and his dog, and a long walk downstairs on one of the most terrifying days of their lives. It's a story in itself, but this story is woven into the background of Michael's relationship with all his Guide Dogs, with his life before and after the events of September 11th, and with the story of his own childhood growing up blind living in a sighted world.

    It did surprise me how much of this book was about events unconnected with the Twin Towers; that was not what I had expected from the title. But this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book; instead I found this to be a fascinating insight into Michael's life, and into the relationship he has developed with his dogs over the years. It has helped me to think about particular challenges my friend's son may be facing at this time, and I hope his own dog gives him as much independence as Michael has had himself. I also sincerely hope he never faces the battles Michael's family had to fight in order for the dog to be allowed on school transport!

    I received a copy of this book free from BookSneeze in return for writing a review, I was not obliged to write a good review and the opinions contained in this review are my own.
  4. Childoftheking84
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Wonderful Read
    August 1, 2011
    Childoftheking84
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Their are those moments you remember in life for the rest of your years on earth. Those big moments that stay with you weather good or bad. On September 11,2001 is a day everybody always ask where were you on that day and it's one you know exactly where you were. It was the day terrorist took down the world trade center and killed hundreds of innocent people. In this book we go through the day from the view of a man that was in the building and lived to tell his story. His story is different though,his name Michael Hingson and he was born blind. I learned so much from this book. He goes back between telling of that day in the stairway coming out of the trade center and back to his childhood and growing up blind. He tells us what it was like growing up with no sight. This book made me think of what it must be like to grow up and live never seeing anything. Now take yourself to that horrible day and imagine trying to get out a falling building with no sight. He tells of him and guide dog getting out and one story touched me in it. A lady was afraid they were all going to die in the stairway and a group gaithered around her and gave her comfort and his guide dog nudged the womans hand and she petted the dog. It makes you truly see how smart dogs are and what a wonderful comfort and help they truly can be to people. This is a great read and one of the best accounts of a person who survived 9/11.

    I received this book from booksneeze.com free for my honest review.
  5. alannahp
    New Brunswick
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    Wonderful!!
    August 26, 2011
    alannahp
    New Brunswick
    Age: 18-24
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This is a true story of a blind man named Michael Hingson. Blind since birth, Michael has learned how to live a normal life despite his blindness. He and his guide dog, Roselle, traveled every day to the twin towers in New York City, where Michael worked an office job. On September 11th, 2001, that all changed. The World Trade Center was attacked, and the plane hit just fifteen floors above him. He and his co-workers knew that they had to get out. And soon. He managed to walk down 78 flights of stairs, which was approximately 1,463 steps. Walking down a fume-filled concrete staircase, he and Roselle worked together, helping others during that time.

    In this book, Michael gives you a brief history of his life in each chapter. The book has Michael's family history, stories of his previous guide dogs, and a thought of how he manages to live his life as a blind person. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It's set in such a sad, awful time, but having the story told by a person who was really experiencing it made me realize a little bit of what happened. I cried through most of this book, but I'm glad that I read it. Roselle and Michael are truly heroes, and their story is such an amazing one. I heartily recommend this book!
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