Alive Day: A Story of Love and Loyalty [Paperback]

Tom Sullivan (Author), Betty White (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2009

Based in part on a true story, Alive Day is an inspiring, affirming tale about the power of love, loyalty, and living full-out.

A Marine's "Alive Day" celebrates the survival after an almost certain death. It's a time of hope and joy.

But Antwone Carver isn't celebrating. Home from war but not quite whole, Antwone's having trouble dealing with his new physical limitations.

Psychiatrist Brenden McCarthy can relate. He thought he'd lost everything when he was blinded in a mountain climbing accident. But with God's help, he's now living a satisfying life and feels called to help Antwone do the same. Problem is, he's hit one dead end after another trying to reach this bitter young Marine.

Enter Brenden's big-hearted and courageous black Labrador, Nelson. With boundless energy, contagious optimism, and a big heart, Nelson shows them both what it means to live a truly abundant life.

The journey Brenden began in the heartwarming novel Together continues with Alive Day.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Sullivan, who lost his sight as an infant, is an actor, singer, author, and producer. He has been nominated for Emmy awards and has written nine books.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595544577
• ISBN-13: 978-1595544575
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit too sweet........, September 1, 2009

By 

deeper waters (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alive Day: A Story of Love and Loyalty (Paperback)

(What's this?)

"Alive Day" is a feel good read about the loss of purpose, identity and hope that overwhelms people who have sustained severe, life changing injuries, and the healing that faith and committed relationships can facilitate. Published by the Thomas Nelson Company, a gamut of complex socio-political issues is addressed in a way that is too soft, inoffensive and tidy to challenge the reader significantly. The entire incident with Dr. Craig is a clumsy moral statement that added little to the story. The book also lost points with its stereotyped characters and the essentially predictable, fantasy-like resolution. Showing how the power of hope and goodness can transcend despair and darkness is of the greatest value when it invites people outside of their comfort zone. I am not certain that this does.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good intentions, horrific execution, September 24, 2009

By 

AIROLF (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alive Day: A Story of Love and Loyalty (Paperback)

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I really wanted to like Alive Day. The story is solid and the intentions of the morals are so genuine and strong and the story is furthermore written by blind man. Nevertheless, I cannot, in all honesty, say I liked reading the book or that the writing style was very agreeable. The message in the book - of loving oneself even if there are faults within us - is important, and the call to arms to support our troops and our veterans is very noble. Still, one can't help but lament the fact that the writing is choppy, trite, and very cumbersome at times.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible writing; not about the dog; patronizing., January 3, 2010

By 

Teddy Bird (Deer Creek Mesa, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alive Day: A Story of Love and Loyalty (Paperback)

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I'm very sorry to have to submit a harsh review when it's abundantly clear the author is trying to do something so useful and honorable. But this book delivers on no levels.

To begin with, the writing is atrocious. The dialogue, pacing, tone...basically everything you learned about in 9th grade English class are all a complete mess (and would have probably earned a C+ in that class). It's actually sort of insultingly bad. It's as if the author read a pamphlet on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans and then tried to morph it into a novel. The dialogue is absurd, the events completely unbelievable.

The book's cover is deceptive, as well. I chose to read this book based on the twin enticements of the cover photo and subtitle, as well as the Betty White endorsement. In fact, though, the dog is barely a character at all. So if you're an animal book lover, don't be tricked -- give this one a miss.

Several of the characters are sympathetic but by and large they're stock characters with no depth.

Sorry this book wasn't better. The soldiers who suffer from these issues deserve better representation in fiction.