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Until Tuesday  By  cover art

Until Tuesday

By: Luis Carlos Montalvan
Narrated by: Luis Carlos Montalvan
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Editorial reviews

For Luis Carlos Montalvan, Until Tuesday is the story of how a service dog led him through the darkest days following his return from service in the United States Army in Iraq. For the listener, his narration of Until Tuesday offers the rare experience of hearing a soldier discuss his journey of coming home from war. To hear Montalvan narrate his own story of transition from constant emotional and physical pain to successfully integrating back into his “normal” life at home is riveting and unforgettable.

Montalvan is a returning veteran whose homecoming and assimilation back into society has proven to be one of the greatest struggles of his life. After years of daily experience with horrifying combat, a mere trip to the grocery store seems like an insurmountable task. Enter Tuesday — a service dog trained to help veterans and the disabled put the pieces of their lives back together. Like Montalvan, Tuesday’s unethical training and serial abandonment suggest that he was treated as a soldier, too. Montalvan and Tuesday, wounded veteran and “broken” service dog, together find a way to bring each other back to life, to cope with the significant psychological damage that comes with post-traumatic stress. Montalvan’s erudite storytelling offers a deep exploration of what service dogs do for the disabled and of what it’s like for a soldier to come home from the war in Iraq. The profound impact of this service dog pervades the narration; Montalvan’s tone demonstrates his unwavering gratitude to Tuesday.

While Until Tuesday tells the story of a soldier’s experiences in Iraq, Montalvan does so without straying into too many political tangents. However, he does make clear his advocacy for veterans and disabled people, making a case for government-funded support for returning veterans and those who suffer from PTSD. Until Tuesday is an absorbing, accessible story of a war veteran’s struggles upon returning home and the therapeutic benefits of companionship from man’s best friend. —Suzanne Day

Publisher's summary

"We aren't just service dog and master; Tuesday and I are also best friends. Kindred souls. Brothers. Whatever you want to call it. We weren't made for each other, but we turned out to be exactly what the other needed."

A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalvan never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, the pressures of his physical wounds, traumatic brain injury, and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. Haunted by the war and in constant physical pain, he soon found himself unable to climb a simple flight of stairs or face a bus ride to the VA hospital. He drank; he argued; ultimately, he cut himself off from those he loved. Alienated and alone, unable to sleep or bend over without pain, he began to wonder if he would ever recover.

Then Luis met Tuesday, a beautiful and sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. Tuesday had lived amongst prisoners and at a home for troubled boys, blessing many lives; he could turn on lights, open doors, and sense the onset of anxiety and flashbacks. But because of a unique training situation and sensitive nature, he found it difficult to trust in or connect with a human being until Luis.

Until Tuesday is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other. It is a story about war and peace, injury and recovery, psychological wounds and spiritual restoration. But more than that, it is a story about the love between a man and dog, and how together they healed each other's souls.

©2011 Luis Carlos Montalvan (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Luis and Tuesday were one of the original sources of inspiration for my very first piece of legislation. Luis' story of military service, his struggles with visible and invisible wounds of war, and the dog who helped save his life is as compelling on the page as when you hear it in person." (Senator Al Franken)
“Montalvan’s first-person account of their journey together offers rare insight into the issues facing returning veterans and the lifesaving bond between a service dog and human. Listeners hear the despair, fear, frustration, and, ultimately, the love and hope of the pair. Montalvan doesn’t refrain from discussing his most painful and embarrassing experiences. Hearing the story in his own voice adds to its power and vibrancy.” ( AudioFile)

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What listeners say about Until Tuesday

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nicely read by the author, Tuesday is a great dog.

Montalvan writes very compassionately about his bonding with service dog "Tuesday" and how they come to learn about and understand each other.

A dog lovers dream of a novel, I recommend it to anyone who has a friend who relative who has been thru the Middle East wars or even Viet Nam.

Of course I had a few tears towards the end of the book, but I do love animals and have a friend who uses a service dog herself.

Well worth a credit and your time

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful, Terrible, Heartbreaking, Heartwarming

From my blog: What amazes me most about the audio version is that Montalván had the courage to read the book himself.

Montalván has an excellent speaking voice, not too deep, not too soft, but not loud either. Soft as if he were petting Tuesday while doing the narration. A little gravelly like some of the desert sand had come home with him in his voice. Listening to Montalván tell the most painful part of his story, I almost wanted to say, “Stop, stop! You don’t have to relive it again just to narrate this book. Get someone else to do this part.” But I’m glad Montalván was the sole voice in the book; he creates a real connection with his listener. I know I will listen to the book again; maybe several times.

But the best part, maybe, maybe the best part… Should I tell you? There’s kind of an “Easter egg” at the end. You find out again that Tuesday is a real dog. Listen to the book, and be prepared to giggle, yes giggle, with the unexpected punctuation, the audio paw-print that says, I hope, “And they lived happily ever after.”

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Story, Great Writing, and Good Narration

What a wonderful surprise! As a dog lover, I was hoping for an uplifting story about the bond between a special dog and his human. What I got was so much more. First, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional writing of Luis Montalvan. He is a very talented writer.

Also, the content of the book went far beyond how Tuesday enabled Montalvan to regain a significant amount of function after his broken body and soul returned from Iraq. Montalvan adds insight to other compelling topics including how service dogs are trained, how Tuesday's early life was also riddled with loss, the insensitivities of people who do not understand the need of a service dog for people with disabilities other than blindness, and the tragic inadequacies of the Verteran's Affairs medical services provided to our soldiers when they return from war.

All of these issues are, of course, bound together with the warmth of the tale of how Tuesday and Montalvan helped each other to heal, and how they now function together as a loving unit, Tuesday guiding Montalvan to progress in his healing, or, at least deal with his disabilities because he has Tuesday for support, love, and physical help.

This story is much more than about a service dog doing his job in a placement to help a disabled man. It addresses political issues, sociological issues, and deeply personal issues of how war breaks down the men and women subjected to it.

I was a bit worried when I saw that Montalvan acted as his own narrator, but he has a wonderful voice, and he tells his story with such heart... no one else could have done it the same justice. I strongly recommend this book.

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A Great Dog Story and Then Some

I originally picked this book up because I???ve always been crazy about dogs. I learned a lot more about service dogs as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and brain injuries. I was fascinated by Luis and Tuesday???s story. The things dogs can learn to do still amaze me. I was appalled at finding out the amount and kind of discrimination that disabled people and their service animals face. This is something our country needs to change. I'm not sure yet what I'll do with all of that information. For now, I'll keep my eyes open for opportunities to make a difference.

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Should Have ended 100 pages sooner

Would you try another book from Luis Carlos Montalvan and/or Luis Carlos Montalvan?

No

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It was disjointed and hard to follow. Jumped around in terms of time frames. I kept waiting for it to end. Never finished it. It became too tedious and repetitious.

Have you listened to any of Luis Carlos Montalvan???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Any additional comments?

The premise of the story is nice. It just went on and on and on saying basically the same thing. I stopped listening a couple hours before it was finished and I never do that.

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WONDERFUL STORY!

One of the best stories ever! Heartwarming. Uplifting. I recommend it to all my friends & everyone else too.

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Fall in love with Tuesday...

Writing skills aren't perfect... but the story of Tuesday is delightful. Included is the breeding and handling and training... and events affecting Tuesday becoming a service dog. Then covers the military service of author and how he came to have PTSD. It is a warm, enlightening story that helps you understand how a service dog can change a life. Great listen.

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Not enough Tuesday

A long, disjointed rant. Jumbled and confusing, I found myself skipping back countless times to try and figure where the author was going only to find out it was no where. The author says he would drink everyday, he would drink every night so that he could sleep but that he was not an alcoholic. He says that any smell of middle eastern food sends him back to the horrors of Iraq yet takes his new girlfriend to a Lebanese restaurant on their first date. Post traumatic stress disorder is all this book is about because in the author's eyes it is the root of every problem that he has faced in his adult life. I have anxiety, I have stress so where is my disability money? Where is my Ambien, Xanax? I made the mistake of only having this book downloaded onto my phone and was therefore held hostage to this rant during my long car ride. Never again will I only have 1 book on my phone.

Save your money if you think you will be reading a book about a dog. This book is only about a disgruntled soldier that enlisted long before the Iraq war thinking that he would never see combat.

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Just Wonderful!!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes I have already. I just loved the story and the dog

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tuesday- I have a golden retriever also. altho he is not trained like Tuesday I could see some similar traits that he does by his inate nature.

Have you listened to any of Luis Carlos Montalvan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard any of LC Montalvan;s other narrations if there are any

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

the dog that was more than possible

Any additional comments?

I just loved this book. I laughed, I cried, and I was astounded at what I learned about the Iraq war. I can;t recommend this more highly. expecially if you are a dog lover.

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Totally inspiring

This book was inspiring and a real tear jerker at the same time. If you do anything help contribute to the cause of service dogs for the disabled

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