Together

by Tom Sullivan, Betty White (Contributor)

“If this dog loves me enough to lay down his life for my survival, how can I just give up?”

One misstep on a mountain climbing trip plunged Brenden McCarthy into darkness by stealing his sight—and everything else he held dear.

But a too-independent guide dog named Nelson just might lead him back to life…if they don’t kick him out of guide dog school first.

Brenden can’t accept the fact that he’s lost his sight. And Nelson can’t accept the fact that he’s been paired with someone other than his former master.

Just as Brenden starts to live again, a devastating setback causes him to try to end it all. Brenden releases Nelson and sits down in the middle of an intersection. At that moment, everything changes when Nelson freely decides he’d rather join Brenden in death than live without him.

Now they need a leap of faith—and a love beyond words—to make it. Together.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Dogs, Book Club, Contemporary

231 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2008

About the author

Tom Sullivan is an American singer, actor, writer, and motivational speaker. Blind since infancy, he has been a public advocate for assistive services for the blind, and research into treatments for blindness.

Reviews

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story depicts such a beautiful relationship between a man who loses his sight and his loving guide dog. It truly portrays interdependence and how that is the best way to love.

Brenden is a young doctor on the cusp of an exciting life, engaged, sporty, loving the outdoors. A misstep while descending a mountain ends life the way he knows it and he has to cope with no longer being able to see. Totally in despair, he isn't sure he wants to go on as he senses the withdrawal of his fiance and is frustrated at how he can no longer do things he took for granted for so long.
Going to a guide dog school to please his mother, he takes time to adjust to Nelson, a black lab who has been returned by his owners time and again because of his energy levels and the way he expresses them.

The way Brenden and Nelson bond is of course the highlight of the book. Learning to trust and rely on the dog and believe that his life can be more than better once again is something the human struggles with. Leaving his much loved trainer again and staying with a new master who doesn't seem all that happy to have him is the test the dog has to pass.

The concept of guide dogs and the relationship they share with their blind masters is amazing to read about. The idea of such a close bond between the two and the ways in which it is achieved is portrayed so well. The way Brenden learns to use his other skills of feel, touch, hearing to gradually gain confidence and overcome the anger and depression he feels is another amazing aspect of the narrative. As an aside, how much of a boon technology is proving to be by providing awesome devices that are voice activated is also noteworthy. These really enable the blind to have a measure of true independence in their everyday lives.
The characters are written wonderfully, be it the young man desperate to learn to live again, the enthusiastic dog only wanting to be with someone who loves him or the dedicated trainer who keeps trying to get a perfect match for the dog he loves most even if he has to part with him.

There are some really touching moments in the way Nelson and Brenden become true partners and in essence save each other. Those who have pets at home will definitely love this one. I enjoyed it very much. A very emotional read and especially special because the author is himself blind and so it feels very authentic. One of those books that isn't what I usually read but am so glad I did!

Favorite lines..

"Interdependence carries with it the concept of sacrifice: one person giving to the other without reservation or hesitation and doing it out of love. People can seem to be in love, giving all the right impressions, but still be selfish. To love selflessly is a constant, quiet kind of thing. It's our greatest gift. In the end it's what brings us the most satisfaction in life."

"If an animal could love you enough to lay down his own life for your survival, then you had to love yourself enough to keep on living."

"Guide work creates a connection between man and dog unlike any other in the world. The intimacy can only be compared to a marriage that stands the true test of time and grows in love and communication."

"these animals can be adapted to share life in any way you choose if you can learn to love your dog enough and believe in the bond that can grow to be as strong as any that you'll ever share with another human being."

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, Some Pros:
-It's a dog book.
-That dog is a labrador (named Nelson).
-Some chapters are Nelson's POV.
-Very informative.
-Betty White is somehow a part of it.

Cons:
-It's kinda really short (only 230 pages!)
-There's not enough chapters in Nelson's POV.
-I barely cried.
-A lot of praying.
-The ending was kinda predictable.

Summary?
Summary:
The book wasn't bad, but I just didn't fall in love with it like past dog books I've read. A good dog book usually connects with me, there's tears, there's joy, there's more tears and then there's four or plus stars. If I had to put in amongst other dogs books it's above Marley and Me (cause boo) but also far below A Dog's Purpose (love). I think I'm going to hold onto Together for a bit, if only because I think my Grandma would like it.

[Reanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the Dollar General book section tucked away alongside the cheap coloring books and assorted bibles. As a long time fan of Betty White I had to buy it and read it. I'm so glad I did. This was the perfect heartwarming tale for a winter spent next to the fireplace bundled in my pink robe and fluffy blankets with my dog at my feet. There is no way that you can read this story and not become attached to the characters. You will cry with them and you will laugh with them. Generally a horror, sci-fi, and fantasy reader this book was my introduction into 'pet stories' and I'm now hooked. Especially on those cold days when loved ones are out of town, the fire is roaring, and I've got a cup of coffee beside me.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really an amazing story. I can't imagine losing my sight and going through all this man went through. It really has some good life lessons for those of us that are whole in our senses. The relationship of the dog and the blind is made to where you get that up close and personal look and it's truly amazing. I think it changes your outlook on life.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very easy and enjoyable read. The main character loses his sight in a mountain climbing accident. His journey in learning how to deal with his blindness and how to love his seeing eye dog is heartwarming. The author is blind himself so his insight as to how perceptive you become when blind is very interesting.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful story of hope, love, and friendship... it made me laugh and cry... Tom and Betty take you on a rollercoaster journey, your rooting for Nelson and his master from the beginning. Highly recommend!

[Libby Caldwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok quick read. Didn't like the fact that he ended up going climbing again in such bad weather. A little common sense would have been better. I did like the fact that animal and human had such an amazing bond and trust in each other.

[Pattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gift a seeing-eye dog gives to his master is an amazing gift and to "hear" both sides of this story was sweet and very enjoyable. Very quick read, would highly recommend to animal lovers as well as those who love to hear a story of victory in the midst of tragedy.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarming story with NO death scenes.

[Denice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A VERY, VERY GOOD BOOK. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. IT IS A HEART WARMER

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for stories involving animals - particularly dogs. This was not a terribly well-written novel, but it WAS a beautiful story of the bond between a guide dog and his handler. My favorite parts of the book were the parts about the relationship between Nelson and Brenden; this was the thing that earned the book 3 stars.

Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have rated it terribly highly - way too much vagueness; lacking in emotional development of the characters' relationships with one another, and tightly focused on only the bond between Brenden and Nelson. That last bit would have been FINE if the author hadn't attempted to flesh out some of the relationships here and there, thus highlighting the lack of depth to them.

Still, though...teary-eyed again. To be honest, with the two books I've read today, I can totally see the weepy feelings. I mean really; I read a book about a kid abandoned by his mother, followed shortly thereafter about a man who tragically goes blind and then gets a blind dogs and develops an amazing love for and bond with him. What else did I expect?

[Vaux Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2024: Prompt Eight - "A book by a blind or visually impaired author"

I’m quite surprised that the Hallmark Channel hasn’t scooped up this novel for a movie adaptation. It would fit perfectly into the dog-themed slop that they throw on Hulu for your Sunday afternoon nap noise.

The writing in this novel is poor, and with that, the story is even worse. It's poor enough that Betty White, who read part of the audiobook and apparently contributed to the writing, couldn’t save it. Overall, it felt rushed; the story jumps fast from points in time, resulting in strange dialogue and unrealistic events. Fortunately, this was a short novel with a predictable story, so there wasn’t much of an issue finishing it. I refuse to DNF, especially with this challenge.

[Kristen Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried, I laughed, I loved it. Especially if you love labs, this book is for you ❤️

[Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the book dedication:

“To all the dogs who make it possible for disabled people to become able through their love and intelligence and unwavering commitment”.

This story has an element that I have come to like in a doggy book (and I read a lot of them) that I have rarely seen done. I’ve only seen it done by two other authors: Spencer Quinn who writes the Chet & Bernie series and Amy Shojai who writes the September & Shadow series. This story includes the voice of Bart/Nelson, the dog.

This is a story about a young man (25), Brandon, who has to find another purpose and passion in his life and learn to live again after losing his sight in a mountain hiking accident. The story covers the daily trials, tribulations of his recovery from the accident, his education and training for newly blind people and onto his education and training through seeing eye dog school.

The ending got a little hairy but was a tremendous learning experience and growth opportunity for both Brandon and Nelson. The epilogue was a tear-jerker, at least for me it was. Loved reading this book, especially after the last doggy book I read that was terrible.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for this kind of book: Brenden is a young man finishing med school, out climbing the Maroon Bells in Colorado. When a climbing accident blinds him, he is in despair and even contemplates ending his life.

All that ends (but not before some drama) when he is paired with his guide dog, Nelson. Nelson has been paired unsuccessfully with 2 prior masters, and so he's ready for a good relationship as well. Brenden and Nelson bond, and by the book's end, Brenden has gotten over his pre-accident girlfriend leaving him, finding a new girlfriend, learning to ski (yes), and even climbing the Bells again (I thought that was pretty foolish, but he didn't ask me).

So, as I reached the end of the story I got online, hoping to learn more about Brenden and Nelson today. There I discovered that this book was in fact fiction. That really disappointed me -- for some reason, I felt that this really needed to be a true story. It's a quick read, but I'm still trying to get over the fact that it didn't really happen.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fiction book for summer reading. A real treat for the brain. This one reads a bit like a Hallmark movie, but I like that kind of thing. I also found the lack of searing refreshing. It would probably be rated pg if it were a movie. A good book to focus on what is most important in life and overcoming obstacles. It is about a young man who "has it all" but loses his sight in a mountain climbing accident. It is also about a black lab who has been returned to the guide dog school too many times because of some behavior problems.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a real tear-jerker, but in a good way. It's the story of a blind man and his guide dog. It's fiction, but since the author is blind, it's very authentic. I learned a lot about the guide-dog program, and about the experience of being blind. But mostly, it's just an unbelievably touching story about how much a relationship with a four-legged friend can change a life... or two lives - the man's and the dog's.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read, but enjoyable subject matter. This story gives insight to the life of someone who is blind.

I read this book because Betty White's name was on the cover (and who doesn't love Betty White?), but it was a pleasant surprise and a good read for anyone interested in Guide Dogs for the Blind, who loves dogs, or who wants to read about the opportunities and challenges for someone who is blind.

[Julie Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brenden is at the top of his world. He's just finished med school and started his residency. He has dreams of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He's athletic and loves the outdoors. He's mountain climbing one beautiful day when everything he thought he had was gone in a flash.
Now he's blind, his fiancé is distant, and he believes his life is no longer worth living. To that end, even before he goes home from the hospital, he's made up his mind that, at the first opportunity, he's going to commit suicide. He has nothing to leave behind anyway; his life is worth nothing anymore.
As a side story, we meet Nelson, a black lab guide dog who's been out in the field twice, and twice things didn't work out. Smitty, his trainer, believes this is the best dog he's ever trained though, so he can't give up on the dog. This is Nelson's last chance. Smitty has already broken as many rules as he could to give him this last chance, so with Brenden, both the dog and the young man are on the edge of something neither of whom knows what the outcome might be.
Can Brenden work through his grief and anger at losing his sight? Does Nelson have what it takes to become not just a good worker, but a true companion? In the end, is Brenden's life worth living? That's what it comes down to, and when Smitty doesn't give up on Nelson, I know dogs don't think this way, but it was sort of a dog's way of paying it forward, not giving up on Brenden.
This was a good book that emotionally drew me in and made me want to know more. The joys Brenden felt as he learned to do things he thought were forever lost to him were shared by me as I read. I was emotionally involved in the book, and to me, that's at least one thing that makes a book good.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished a beautiful book by Tom Sullivan and Betty White. The title is Together.

The main character, Brendon, loses his sight in a climbing accident. The authors do a wonderful job of describing Brendon’s adjustment process. I found it very accurate and not sensationalized at all.

The subplot that starts near the beginning of the book is the story of his guide dog, Nelson. I loved how at different points, th3 chapter was written from Nelson’s point of view. I won’t get into details, but we learn that Nelson is a reissue.

This is the third book I’ve read by Tom Sullivan, and I have to say, this is the best of the three. His writing is much more realistic than the first book I read. I feel as though he did more research and had a good editor. There was just something off about the first book of his I read.

The character development was well done in this work. It’s obvious that these characters were flushed out and developed on a deeper level. I loved Brendon’s counselor and guide dog trainer, Smitty. If this wasn’t fiction, I might like to have lunch or dinner with Smitty and learn more about his 30 years of dog training.

The book is on BARD and narrated by Kevin Collins. Kevin is a perfect narrator for this story. He reads with such inflection that you feel like you’re right there with the characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes animals and a good story of someone overcoming great odds,

[Abbie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my work with older adults who recently lost their eyesight, I learned that adjusting to vision loss can be more difficult than being born with impaired or no vision. For this reason, I think the authors gloss over Brenden’s initial rehabilitation process. I would like to have read more about his struggles to learn to cook, use a computer, and organize his clothes, not to mention dressing, shaving, eating, and other personal care tasks. Granted, we see him in a daily living class at the rehabilitation center, pouring milk into a glass, then realizing the cup is upside down, thus spilling milk all over the table and into the other students’ laps. But how does everyone, including Brenden, react to this? We don’t know, and we should.

That having been said, I was right there with Brenden and Nelson during guide dog training, feeling all the emotions associated with the process. I’ve never used such an animal, but Tom Sullivan has had a few of them. Compared to true stories I’ve read on the subject, I think this is realistic. I was moved by the way Nelson saves Brenden from himself.

I like the way this story is told from the third-person point of view of the main characters. The list of resources and author’s note after the amazing ending add a nice touch. I recommend this book especially to those who had sight and lost it in the hope they may be inspired.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Together is an inspiring story of a young doctor who was just beginning his internship who when hiking one of the fourteen highest mountains in Colorado fell causing brain damage which resulted in permanent blindness. He felt that his life was over and contemplated suicide. To assuage his mother, he entered a program for blind to work with dogs. After successfully graduating from the program, Brenden and his dog, Nelson, forged a new life in partnership. Brenden became independent, able to return to his medical internship and even to be able to ski again. This is an easy to read good feel story. Not great writing but enjoyable. My only problem with this book is that the author took it a bit too far. Brenden, Nelson and Brenden's best friend Charlie decide to climb the same mountain and path where Brenden had fallen. What does not make sense to me is that they would do this on one of the highest mountains in Colorado in the Fall and not bother to check on the weather forecast. It is not believable to me that two experienced mountain climbers would not check the weather, even if one of them was not blind. Of course, they find themselves in blizzard with heavy snow and 60 mile an hour winds on top of the mountain. I will end here so not to ruin the end.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brendan McCarthy has everything. He's handsome, successful, about to become a doctor. He's a stellar athlete, loves God, and thinks he's in love with a gorgeous, intelligent girl. But then he becomes blind. Believing he has nothing left to live for, he gives up, until a twice-rejected guide dog changes his life.
This book would make a great melodramatic movie. It's sweet, uplifting, everybody loves God, learns important lessons, and lives pretty much happily ever after. And of crourse, the dog is amazing and heroic.
The author does a good job showing that blind people are highly capable and as diverse as any other group, with some more active than others. He also writes persuasively about the way partnerships between blind people and their guide dogs can develop. Readers looking for plenty of sugar and sunshine will gobble this book up, while those preferring a bit more nuance may want to look elsewhere.

[Wayne Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any blind person can write a book, and some may even write a good or great book. Often, blind people write books that seem to portray their own adjustment processes, emotions and feelings. While there's nothing wrong with this, the resulting books are often filled with stereotypes of blind people and their emotions. This book had some of these stereotypes, but it also comes from an author who has lived the life and had the experiences. While I can't speak for the accuracy of the medical adjustment, I have read similar accounts from other blind people. And, Betty White's perspective is felt in these pages as well. I very much enjoyed this book, and that in itself was a little surprising to me.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog on the cover and in the story, had to read it. Now I have to read the second book that continues the Story with Brenden and troubled Marine.

I shed tears multiple times in reading this. No doggos die in this, at least not at the end cause well there's a second book. The Author Tom Sullivan, who from what I gathered in the Author's Note at the end is also blind, gives insight into what the struggles are to be without sight.

Also, apparently Nelson (the dog character) was one of Sullivan's guide dogs in real life. 😳

The writing was a bit basic but the story line made up for it. If you need a dog book recommendation, read this one.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the premise of this story was good, but I was a bit disappointed with how it played out. I found this story to be a little too cheesy and a bit childish. The characteristics of the characters were extreme. For example, the girlfriend, Lindsey was self-absorbed, which was portrayed by her being the most self-absorbed and vapid person possible. These characters had very singular traits. This book felt almost like a book for 9-11 year olds because it seemed to be trying basic life lessons.

[Jay Arseneault · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this via audible. Betty White’s voice is an easy listen but I sometimes struggles with Tom Sullivan’s as his pauses sometimes came in awkward places mid sentence. The storyline was somewhat predictable but I appreciated the struggle the main character had. It was more a book about an emotional challenge and would be good for someone dealing with a new health challenge. This book is not about a dog as the main character but more as a co-Star in the story. The primary point of view is through the eyes of Brendan who is newly blind.

[Julie Cave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming true story that revolves around a skilled 22-year old man who loses his sight while mountain climbing. It's also about Nelson, a big-hearted black lab, who is given one last chance to become a Seeing Eye Dog. Though considered the "best" by his trainer, Nelson's two previous assignments ended up in failure. Both are beyond hope, but eventually, as they work together it results in a close bond. Betty White has a small part in the story that adds a sweet touch.

[Dorothy Caimano · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story of disaster, compassion, encouragement, and overcoming the impossible. Plus, you can't get better than ... Betty White is one of the narrators of the audio book! The book itself is amazing and inspiring, all that, plus Betty White.

Warning, spoiler alert. I'm always fearful of starting a book about a dog, because dogs' lives are short and so many dog books end with the end of the dog's life. So, thank you Tom Sullivan for ending with happiness. Ahhh.

[Leigh-Anne Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading so many heavy books recently, I chose "Together: A Shared Vision" by Tom Sullivan and Betty White for a somewhat lighter read as Book 22 of my #2022readingchallenge. I say "somewhat" because it is still filled with emotions that touch the soul. 

I thought perhaps I had made a mistake when I started it, since the book begins with a big, energetic, and loyal black Labrador being abandoned by his family in a park. It is told initially from the dogs perspective with his thoughts being shared along with his dedication to returning to the spot of his dumping every day to wait for hours for his people to come back. 

Similarly emotional is the story an athletic young outdoorsman, currently in his medical residency on the road to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, who experiences a life-altering accident that will necessitate him learning to live and love again. 

Sullivan and White's writing style is also lighter and less complex while still well researched as well as educational, if you've ever wondered about how guide dogs are trained and how they are paired with their people and learn to work with their blind partners. Definitely a quick and enjoyable read to lift the spirit after so many books pertaining to war and tragedies.