The Things They Carried books

[Brew]

has anyone else read this? im half way thru and lovin it

 

 

 

"Vietnam was full of strange stories, some improbable, some well beyond that, but the stories that will last forever are those that swirl back and forth across the border between trivial and bedlam." First published in 1979, Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried is an unparalleled Vietnam testament, a classic study of men at war that brilliantly -- and painfully --illuminates the capacity, and the limits, of the human heart and soul. Focusing on the members of a single platoon (one of whom happens to be a 21-year-old grunt named Tim O'Brien) the 22 interconnected stories of this collection catalogue not only the things they carried into battle -- M-16s, grenade launchers, candy, Kool-Aid, and cigarettes -- but more importantly, the things they carried inside, and the nightmares they carried home.

[farmerisme]

Is this fiction or non? If it is nonfiction I would love to read that. If it is fiction I would probably get around to it.

[Baruch]

K so i've read this for high school its a good read I dunno its kind of a toss up between fiction/non.

Im not sure which it is but definately worth reading

[farmerisme]

Soooo... historical fiction? Like based on true events but fictionalized? Is it a collections of stories told by former grunts from Vietnam? Written by a biographer? Elaborate. But I will at least put it on my list.

[Baruch]

It is Written by Tim O'brien and is based on his experience's in vietnam, and the men he was with. each man carries with them something of meaning from guilt to matches. So yeah its based on real stories, but a little fictionalized.

[Brew]

..yea he goes on to explain how every war story is part fiction so you really don't know... either way its a moving testment of the vietnam war. plus its only a couple hundred pages

 

 

 

here is a review from some dude:

 

O'Brien would be laughing at all of the reviews on here that make claims of a 'tragic novel' or that this novel represents the 'true experience of Vietnam'. O'Brien himself claims that it doesn't, that it is simply the result of his own perspective, and his own truth. He blatantly admits that half, or all, of the stories have been completely fabricated and exaggerated details have been 'added' and 'subtracted' in order to try and reveal the 'truth' behind the sitation, rather than the actual occurence. Brilliantly written, the novel constantly challenges the reader's ability to discern between what is reality and what is fiction, what is beauty and what is pain. As O'Brien himself claims, this isn't a war story, but rather, it's a 'love story'. In fact, it is a series of stories, interconnected by the characters. The characters themselves are realistic and believable, and you begin to forget that it is fake as you become submerged into the novel, which makes it all the more shocking when O'Brien reveals the truth. It is a stunny work that will challenge pre-concieved notions, keep you interested beyond belief, and have you both laughing and crying along with the characters. Highly recommended.

 

review page

[Allanon]

Baruch I had to read it for High school too. The guy came to speak and though he was highly informative I personally didn't like the book. Though that's also due to the fact that I really only read sci-fi/fantasy books with the exception of a few war novels.