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American Sniper vs. The Operator
Posted on 2/19/22 at 6:42 pm
Posted on 2/19/22 at 6:42 pm
I just finished these books back to back. Has anyone else read/listened to both? What were your thoughts?
The audiobook version of American Sniper is read by a guy that attempts a drawl way too hard. His higher-pitched fast talk for Kyle's wife was even worse. It almost took me out of the book a few times. Overall, it seemed like Kyle tried hard to justify his shots when so many were questioning whether or not they were good. The guy was a hero, no doubt, that was just the tone and vibe I got, like he wrote the book as a defense. One thing I didn't like about it was how short most of his stories were. Before starting this, I listened to "About Face" which was a 40 hour marathon on audible, and packed full of detailed accounts of battles and conversations. American Sniper felt like it fell short after About Face.
Rob O'Neil read the audiobook himself, and he's a much better storyteller. It's also a far more entertaining and funny book, IMO. While both authors gave a lot of credit to their teammates and luck, O'Neil comes off as more genuine.
The audiobook version of American Sniper is read by a guy that attempts a drawl way too hard. His higher-pitched fast talk for Kyle's wife was even worse. It almost took me out of the book a few times. Overall, it seemed like Kyle tried hard to justify his shots when so many were questioning whether or not they were good. The guy was a hero, no doubt, that was just the tone and vibe I got, like he wrote the book as a defense. One thing I didn't like about it was how short most of his stories were. Before starting this, I listened to "About Face" which was a 40 hour marathon on audible, and packed full of detailed accounts of battles and conversations. American Sniper felt like it fell short after About Face.
Rob O'Neil read the audiobook himself, and he's a much better storyteller. It's also a far more entertaining and funny book, IMO. While both authors gave a lot of credit to their teammates and luck, O'Neil comes off as more genuine.
1
Posted on 2/21/22 at 11:01 am to stuckintexas
I've read both. I enjoyed American Sniper more.
The Esquire article ( LINK) on Rob O'Neil - before he publically outed himself as the shooter - was better than the book. In the book, it felt like he tried to tone down a lot of the language and soften the stories for a more general audience. The Esquire article was grittier, more interesting, and in ways funnier.
I enjoyed Mark Owen's book No Easy Day more than The Operator.
Speaking of, have they ever come out and said who actually killed bin Laden? Was it O'Neil or Owen? Both have laid claim to it.
The Esquire article ( LINK) on Rob O'Neil - before he publically outed himself as the shooter - was better than the book. In the book, it felt like he tried to tone down a lot of the language and soften the stories for a more general audience. The Esquire article was grittier, more interesting, and in ways funnier.
I enjoyed Mark Owen's book No Easy Day more than The Operator.
Speaking of, have they ever come out and said who actually killed bin Laden? Was it O'Neil or Owen? Both have laid claim to it.
Posted on 2/22/22 at 3:01 pm to boxcarbarney
No easy day is on my list. I'm doing The Mission, The Men, and Me right now. The guy reading it sounds like a digital tik tok version of Louie Anderson.
I'm unaware of any official credit, but O'Neill does mention one of the other guys taking a shot through a window at a tall shadow and that guy coming up to him afterwards asking if OBL was already hit.
What did you like better about American Sniper? I felt like Kyle's stories, for the most part, were lacking enough detail to get me involved or attached to what was going on. Even if O'Neill's book is somewhat watered down, I still felt more drawn in by his storytelling.
I'm unaware of any official credit, but O'Neill does mention one of the other guys taking a shot through a window at a tall shadow and that guy coming up to him afterwards asking if OBL was already hit.
What did you like better about American Sniper? I felt like Kyle's stories, for the most part, were lacking enough detail to get me involved or attached to what was going on. Even if O'Neill's book is somewhat watered down, I still felt more drawn in by his storytelling.
Posted on 2/23/22 at 10:00 am to stuckintexas
quote:
What did you like better about American Sniper?
Its been a while, but I just remember American Sniper to be more engaging. As I said, I was a little let down by the tone of The Operator, because I was expecting something just as gritty (or more so) as the Esquire article I posted earlier. Small things, like one of the SEALs telling O'Neill during their initial mission briefing that "if this mission is for Osama bin Laden, I'll suck your dick" and after bin Laden was shot O'Neill tells him "well, now's as good a time as any." Stuff like that - that added humor to a horrible situation - was either watered down for the masses or completely left out.
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