Afflictions & Snipers

My poor daughter has a terrible condition.
For some reason, her arms, that can wrap around each side to touch her shoulder blades, aren't quite long enough to scratch her own arm "pips".
It's quite sad really, but she's fortunate to have so many in her family willing to drop everything when she needs those "pips" itched.

Surely this is from her Dad's side...


My side of the family is afflicted with the inability to read just one book at a time.  One of the books taking over my bedside table is AMERICAN SNIPER by NAVY SEAL Chris Kyle.

I don't usually read war/guy-type books because I like to live with my head in the sand but I am really glad I was offered a chance to review this one.

This book and I got off to a rough start. I was having a hard time discerning the "voice" that I was reading. But after I set aside the literary snobbery I must have gained from my four years of university level English and just began reading the book for the value of the story telling, I started to enjoy the experiences shared by Kyle.
Chris Kyle is an incredibly focused, committed Navy Seal. Readers should go into this book remembering that and not expecting Twain, Hemingway or Shakespeare.
One reviewer best described his writing style as though the reader is sitting in the room with him while he tells his stories. Once I looked at it that way, it was hard to put it down. I could envision myself gathering around the kitchen table while Chris told his stories about being in Iraq.

AMERICAN SNIPER has also opened my eyes to things our troops deal with both away and home. I found myself looking at my husband differently since in all honesty, I sometimes see his time of deployment a holiday of sorts...
Even so, I know that Kyle has probably had to "water down" some of his stories for various reasons.

Kyle doesn't go into a lot of detail-except when describing weapons. The weapon sections alone would appeal to the testosterone holder in the family, while the broad overview of life as a SEAL manages to keep readers like myself still engaged.
It's a quick and easy read, perfect for anyone with an ounce of patriotism flowing through their veins.

I feel so lucky that I had a chance to read this!

SO,

let's share the love!

I am excited to connect the nice people over at William Morrow with one LUCKY reader to win his or her own free copy of AMERICAN SNIPER by Chris Kyle!!
Read a free excerpt of the book here at Scribd (if you want to see what I'm going on about).


Nothing crazy, nothing elaborate, just leave a comment and tell me what you're reading, or why you think American Sniper would look good in your home.

WAIT! Did I say ONE lucky reader? Make that two. Comment and clear off the bedside table...

I have to go scratch someone's arm pips.