Title: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Authors: Marcus Luttrell, Patrick Robinson (Contributor)

Narrator: Kevin T. Collins

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Jennifer

Books like Lone Survivor are not a go to for me because I prefer fiction to non-fiction. I typically only read non-fiction if it comes HIGHLY recommended by a friend. Enter said friend. On a recommendation I decided to give the audiobook a try. Lone Survivor was not what I expected … in a good way.

In June 2005, four U.S. Navy SEALs left on a mission to capture or kill a notorious al Qaeda leader. Less than twenty-four hours later, only one of those Navy SEALs remained alive. Lone Survivor is the story of Marcus Luttrell, the only survivor of Operation Redwing, and the desperate battle in the mountains that led to the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history. I don’t know how Luttrell survived the things he did! Or how his teammates continued to fight for as long as they did! To hear how Luttrell felt when he lost his friends. To hear his experiences trying to get off that mountain and rescued. WOW! Just wow! At one point Luttrell was given shelter in an Afghan village. This surprised me. Why? I’ve let the media taint my feelings and that’s not fair. This book proved to me that there are still good people in the world and that they are willing to stand up and lend a helping hand.

The narrator, Kevin T. Collins made this book! He does a wonderful job. He captures every emotion … you could hear it plainly in his voice. When Marcus was sad, I felt sad. When Marcus was cracking a joke, I smiled. Why? Because Collins made me feel all of Marcus’ emotions. There were several points during the book that I was wiping tears from my eyes. I give credit to Collins for bringing forth the emotion I felt.

Readers are also taken on a step-by-step look at the brutal training of the Navy SEALs. I read several other reviews of this book and some did not like this detailed account. It is VERY detailed but that didn’t bother me. If not for great narration by Collins, I too might have found this detail boring. However, as someone with little military knowledge I found it interesting to learn how this one branch trains. I have much respect for what these men endure so that they may defend our country. Luttrell also spends a great deal of time expressing his opinions on various matters. While I may not have agreed with him on every point, it’s his book and I think he has every right to express his opinion.

I said earlier that Lone Survivor was not what I expected. I thought it was going to be much like reading Chris Kyle’s American Sniper. When I read American Sniper I found it hard to get through. This was one of those rare instances where I liked the movie better than the book. *gasp* I think if I had read Lone Survivor instead of listening to the audiobook I would have found it hard to get through as well. Now to decide if I should see the movie based on this book? It was hard enough listening to what Marcus and his team endured. I’m not sure I could watch it.

Bottom line … if you’re looking for your next audiobook. Give Lone Survivor a listen.