The Gist:
Step into the mind of the retired Navy SEAL sniper, Chris Kyle, and his dramatic autobiography that is American Sniper; recorded with the most career sniper kills in United States military history, a Texan who learned as a child how to shoot on hunting trips with his father, a saddle-bronc champion rider to become a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad, braved heavy fire in Fallujah, saving Marines trapped on a street and his close combat in Ramadi.
The Review:
And even before I could turn the pages I was retold that this guy is an American Hero, and I for one have no problem with that title. However, I can stress one singular point that I, much like all of us, am not a heavy believer in war and such. So I did have to take this encounter with a pinch of salt and with all due respect to Chris Kyle, we are not entering the mind of an average joe working 9-5 in an office, this is the mind of a militant on a mission with only one way of thinking; to protect, to kill, to succeed, and throughout the book Chris shows no remorse in detailing his endeavours, presenting us with a honest depiction of life in the warzone.
I respect the sacrifices that the members of our military have made over the course of our relatively short history, and the trials that they face when they return back home, and this is why I had to take this telling with a pinch of salt because within the first pages, Kyle shows no remorse in what he does, nor does he make any mention of what he felt and whether this was the right thing; I remind myself that one of the unfortunate problems they don’t mention in the media about war, is the destruction the soldiers face too; Kyle discusses his love for the marines, a group of people who ‘love to kill’ in his words, pretty self explanatory.
Nevertheless, it is a impeccable and exciting read, you can’t help but appreciate Kyle’s tactics, his precision and alertness – yes, I am aware I made a statement that I’m anti-war, but there’s a difference between me and Kyle, a greater difference – anyway, it’s quite a spectacular read, sticking in mind the writing is bearable and readable, he is a trained sniper not a trained writer.
Whatever side you’d be on, it’s surreal to someone like me to step into a mind of a man who lived and dreamed of being a militant, and for that I give my hats off to him.
The Verdict:
Imagine, you’re sitting in a coffee shop minding your own business, when a sudden thud from the door makes you spill your hot beverage on the floor, you look up to see a hulk of a man towering over you. He sits down and starts to speak about how many men he shot, where, how, and with such grace, this is what American Sniper felt like to me. A shock to the system and a bloody one at that.
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