Book 3 Review

My Review of:

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

           

 

Reviewer: Adam Rohlinger

 

           In this harrowing autobiography we are offered a rare account of life as a Navy SEAL and the war on terror, but we are given something greater still. We are given the honest truth of the life of a man who goes from Texan rodeo boy to elite sniper, who is confirmed to have the most confirmed sniper kills in U.S. military history. This account is not the story of the soldier who was forced into a war, pitied the enemy and tried to understand them and longed for peace and home. This is the non-fiction account of a top-tier specialist who did everything possible to kill the enemy in order to protect the lives of comrades and of us. It is an amazing read not because it encompasses an entire war, but the struggles of one man’s decision to join that war, and what he does after it.

            What gives this book its power and hold over its reader is the voice of Chris Kyle in the novel, which seems as if he’s recounting his life story in a classic Texas drawl in a room with you, rather than you reading his bestselling book. The idea of him sharing this very personal account of his life, considering his famous position in the military feels personal, gives the reader a sense that he is just talking to them. He has gone though many terrible and extraordinary thing and the simplistic, no-nonsense descriptions, and opinions of his in the book make every page gripping and intriguing. Chris Kyle’s motivations and drive behind his reasons and conclusions for the actions he takes throughout this account make one ponder the true nature of war and of this man. “The first time you kill someone, you get a little nervous. You think, can I really shoot this guy? Is it really okay? But after you kill your enemy you see it’s okay. You say, Great. You do it again. And again. You do it so the enemy won’t kill you or your countrymen. You do it until there’s no one left to kill. That’s what war is”(Kyle 6). Chris having gone to war may seem cold and detached through this quote, but understanding him through his experiences in this autobiography, and what it means to be a soldier to him, is what makes it nearly impossible to put down. He is a real and interesting character.

            An aspect. however that didn’t work in this book’s favor completely were the specific explanations of equipment Chris used during the war. “The gun was super easy to handle, and was virtually interchangeable with the M-4, which, though not a sniper weapon, a still a valuable combat tool. As a matter of fact, when I got back to my platoon, I took the lower receiver off of my Mk-4 and put it on the upper receiver of my Mk-12. That gave me a collapsible stock and allowed me to go full-auto” (Kyle 100). We learn that Chris grabs our attention as an expert in military weaponry, but it starts to drag on a bit and get a bit confusing. Although these details were quite interesting at times, not sure it was the best thing to include all the modifications Chris made to a United States Navy Mk-12 Special Purpose Rifle when trying to grab a reader’s attention. However often these specific bits of information would come into play latter in the most action-packed parts of the book. This made the reading of these information passages feel like a school assignment given before a holiday, you have to do it to truly enjoy your holiday. Just as you have to read these descriptions to truly understand some of the most intense moments of the book, and therefore of Chris Kyle’s life.

                        Overall the rating of this book I would consider appropriate is a solid A. This book was a uniquely written biography of one of the most honored figures in the United States military. It feels like the author sights, takes aim, and fires on your interests and emotions with this powerful book. The voice of the author, descriptions of action, and sheer force of Chris’s experiences without a doubt wins this book an A easily. The plot of this book is one man’s real trying challenges at war and home. American Sniper hits the mark when looking for a powerful read, and is a must read for autobiography lovers and military history fanatics.