Author: <\/span>Ann Chiappetta, New Rochelle, NY<\/span><\/p>\n Website:\u00a0Here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Publisher: KDP\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Edited by: DLD Books,\u00a0Here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Narrator: Perkins Library<\/span><\/p>\n Classification: Candid memoir in prose and poetry<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Book Review by Lynda McKinney Lambert<\/p>\n Q_<\/span><\/p>\n What does it mean to share one\u2019s life with a guide dog?<\/span><\/p>\n A_<\/p>\n Readers encounter this first question right away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The author seeks to respond to several questions during the process of telling her story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This question is the key to unlock the mystery of why some blind people decide to go through rigorous training to receive a guide dog.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Q<\/span>_<\/span><\/p>\n Would you trust an animal with your life?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A_<\/p>\n Ann Chiappetta writes the opening sentiments in her book as she presents her case<\/span><\/p>\n that a dog is the only friend that will never desert \u2013 only the dog remains<\/p>\n when everyone else has gone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Q_<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n What is the layout of the book<\/span><\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A_<\/span><\/p>\n Follow Your Dog<\/em> is a memoir written as a chronological journey over many years in<\/p>\n Chiappetta\u2019s life. She opens the book like a person would open the door to a<\/span><\/p>\n secret room. Slowly and carefully, she treads through the years of her life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ann Chiappetta gives her background information on growing up with sight loss and the<\/span><\/p>\n difficulties she encountered in a home where her parents did not understand how<\/p>\n to adapt to her circumstances and struggles to find peace and acceptance at<\/span><\/p>\n home and daily.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She covers the issues that are involved in being a dog owner in general. She gives<\/span><\/p>\n insight into what it is like to own a dog by describing the accidents and<\/p>\n behavior she encountered. The lack of preparation and understanding<\/span><\/p>\n of a child who has sight loss is typical, it seems. Other blind authors repeat this story. There are common themes of misunderstanding<\/span><\/p>\n and frustrations that run through stories from childhood and how those<\/span><\/p>\n circumstances damaged the child and extended into adult insecurities.\u00a0Chiappetta repeatedly discussed her own bouts of anxiety and spoke about her efforts to gain control when the anxieties and depression seemed to overtake her.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Q_<\/span><\/p>\n When did Chiappetta decide she needed a guide dog and why?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A_<\/span><\/p>\n Her next step in pulling together her personal life story is when she decided to go<\/span><\/p>\n to an in-residence program where she learned how to transition from a blind<\/p>\n person who uses a mobility cane to a person who travels with the aid of a guide<\/span><\/p>\n dog. The two methods of traveling are pretty different, and she offers detailed<\/span><\/p>\n examples of working with a dog in her own home, in her travels outside the<\/span><\/p>\n house, and on the job. She also clarifies the role of the dog in all situations<\/span><\/p>\n as well as interactions with the public encounters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some unusual language describes the connection with the guide dog. Blind people refer to their relationship with a guide dog by calling themselves a \u201chandler\u201d of the dog. Concerns arise when the handler notices that the dog cannot perform the tasks needed and how the dog is retired from its work. She describes the conflict that she had when her dog, Verona, became unable to work.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Q_<\/span><\/p>\n What additional information hides in the pages of this book?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A_<\/p>\n Chiappetta included links to tourist information for Niagara Falls adventures, various<\/p>\n blindness sites.<\/p>\n Patiently, Ann Chiappetta sprinkled in a few touching poems through the non-fiction story. They add a nice touch and provide an intimate view into her emotions, fears and joys. This book is recommended and enjoyable.<\/span><\/p>\n __<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This book review is courtesy of Lynda McKinney Lambert, May 31, 2021.<\/p>\n Copyright 2021.\u00a0 All rights reserved.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Please\u00a0 v<\/span>isit\u00a0 Lynda Lambert\u2019s blog, <\/span>Walking by Inner Vision, \u00a0<\/span>on <\/span>Face Book<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n ou can also enjoy \u00a0Lynda Lambert\u2019s Author Page at <\/span>DLD Books<\/a><\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Smashwords in e-book format \u2013\u00a0 Buy NOW\u00a0\u00a0– $7.50<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amazon in Kindle\u00a0 ($7.50) and Paperback\u00a0 ($17.50)\u2013 BUY\u00a0 NOW!<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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Buy Lynda\u2019s Books~<\/span><\/h3>\n
NEW \u2013 Songs for the Pilgrimage<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
Published April 20, 2021<\/h3>\n
![\"Book](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.lyndalambert.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Songs-E-Book-Cover.jpg?resize=200%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis new book was on my heart for nearly twenty years. This exciting new book is an expanded and revised version of my very first book,<\/h3>\n
Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage,<\/em><\/h2>\n
published by Kota Press, 2002.<\/h3>\n
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During 2020, I\u00a0 worked on bringing this\u00a0 large collection to life.<\/h3>\n
Poems, Personal Essays, Memoir, <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Biography, Journal Entries<\/strong><\/h3>\n
This new book features work I created over four decades.<\/h3>\n
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Where to BUY my NEW BOOK, and previously published books?<\/span><\/h3>\n
READ IT CHEAP – only $7.50 on SMASHWORDS and KINDLE.<\/span><\/h3>\n