The Long Road Home Audiobook By Martha Raddatz cover art

The Long Road Home

A Story of War and Family

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The Long Road Home

By: Martha Raddatz
Narrated by: Joyce Bean
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From ABC White House correspondent Martha Raddatz comes the story of a brutal 48-hour firefight that conveys in harrowing detail the effects of war, not just on the soldiers but also on the families waiting back home.

In April 2004, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division were on a routine patrol in Sadr City, Iraq, when they came under surprise attack. Over the course of the next 48 hours, eight Americans would be killed and more than 70 wounded. Back home, as news of the attack began filtering in, the families of these same men - neighbors in Fort Hood, Texas - feared the worst. In time, some of the women in their circle would receive "the call": the notification that a husband or brother had been killed in action. So the families banded together in anticipation of the heartbreak that was certain to come.

The firefight in Sadr City marked the beginning of the Iraqi insurgency, and Martha Raddatz has written perhaps the most riveting account of hand-to-hand combat to emerge from the war in Iraq. This intimate portrait of the close-knit community of families Stateside, the unsung heroes of the military, distinguishes The Long Road Home from other stories of modern warfare, showing the horror, terror, bravery, and fortitude not just of the soldiers who were wounded and killed but also of the wives and children whose lives are now forever changed.

©2007 Martha Raddatz (P)2007 Tantor Media Inc. Americas Iraq War Military Military & War United States Wars & Conflicts Heartfelt Middle East

Editorial reviews

The war, both in Iraq and at home, is ably painted by news correspondent Raddatz. The specific incident depicted is the Sadr City ambush of a platoon from "A" Troop, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division. In the ensuing fight and rescue of the platoon, 8 Americans were killed and close to 60 wounded while hundreds of Iraqis were killed. One of the Americans who perished was Specialist Casey Sheehan, son of antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan. Raddatz does well in portraying the sacrifices of the soldiers and those who are left at home. Joyce Bean's delivery of the narrative sections of this work is expressive and easy to understand. When performing dialogue, however, her renditions of men in combat can feel somewhat flat.

Critic reviews

"A masterpiece of literary nonfiction that rivals any war-related classic that has preceded it." ( Washington Post)
Captivating Plot • Detailed Account • Engaging Story • Insightful Storytelling • Gripping Narrative
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I feel weird cheerleading a book about what we did in the Iraq War after all that has come out years after the fact. But this was a good mix of human perspective from those on the ground to military speak. I would highly suggest READING it rather then LISTENING. I do not enjoy writing negative reviews but I was aggravated through the whole book performance. Most narrations I actually very much enjoy their voice. This was not one of those cases. For the love of God NEVER AGAIN do imitations of what you think the dialect or accent should be. You do not need to intimate a southern speaking male, child, or whomever is supposed to be speaking for the audience to understand. That was hands down the most irritating narration I have ever listened to. I sucked it up and stuck it out because the content of the story was interesting. Her normal voice was fine and that would have been a pleasant story telling experience. Every single character imitation was absurdly fake and distracting. Listen at your own peril..

Story is good, but I would suggest reading it rather then listening..

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I liked the book a lot but hated the narrator. I agree with the last reviewer than a male reader would have been better. But in addition, this reader dragged on--I wished I had a control to speed her up. I will not choose this reader again.

Narrator spoils this one

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The story was well written, the is a page turner type of book. I started with the free sample and kept going after I purchased the book. Unfortunately, I purchased the Audio portion for this book and the narrator was a disaster. This book was not meant for a female, instead a male with husky type voice would have filled the bill brilliantly. The Long Road Home is a 5 Star book, the narrator is a 1 Star.

The Long Road Home

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I have a personal relationship to this story... my son was there. He was in Charlie Company until just prior to deployment, when he transferred to the HHC as a sniper. In Sadr City, he was in the group responding to assist Hines. Both Hines and Reynolds (Big Country) attended my son's Ranger graduation, after which we spent an evening together. Their character is adequately described in the book.

Personally, the story helped me put into context the chaos described in my son’s phone call that night after he returned to Camp War Eagle.

It is a non-judgmental story, providing only the facts. You will sense the emotional turmoil for everyone involved and be amazed that so much could be written about so little passage of time.

It’s only downfall… the narrator. Her attempts to provide a male voice were very ineffective. A male narrator should have been strongly considered.

Well Done Martha!

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The carnage that took place when the insurgents of Sadr, Iraq took up their weapons of war and ambushed the US soldier's who were patrolling the designated streets mapped out by their commander, proved a devastating blow to the men of the 1st Calvary Division. The casualties were high on both sides. The Iraqi's out numbered the American's.

The US places a high value on the lives of men, women and children who are the bystanders in this attack but the Iraqi's have no such concerns. This makes it doubly hard for the US soldiers because women shoot AK47's at the American's, Iraqi men have their weapons held at their sides ready to shoot and young Iraqi boys and girls toss handmade bombs made in coke cans into the humvee's driven by American soldiers. These men aren't able to distinguish who to aim and fire at. What to do? The US soldier's are given a command from their leader to shoot.

The vehicles the soldiers are driving are not the kind built to fight the insurgents. The roofs of some are made of canvas. There are no doors on others. There are truck loads of men who have no shielding at all. They sit on benches with no roofs or siding. This is an open invitation for the insurgents to kill easy targets, which thrills them mightily.

The true account is written in this book, The Long Road Home. Purchase this book, listen and become aware of what kind of war our soldier's are fighting. This account of the 48 hour battle that took place in Sadr, Iraq is written with clarity and truth.

War at its Worst

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I think I would have enjoyed the book that's primarily about men, to be narrated by a man

needs male narrated

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narrator did a good job but when doing a soldiers voice they seemed like little kids, not grown men

good story

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Black Nights Shootum in The Face! #NeverForget amazing story of courage and patriotism for America

Black Nights!!

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The reading was not as professional as most I have purchased and listened. It should have had more military bearing.

Review

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gives one insight into the personal stories of not just soldiers and leaders but their families as well

takes you there

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