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Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Tennessee

One of the first questions people ask about The Things They Carried is this: Is it a novel, or a collection of short stories? The title page refers to the book simply as "a work of fiction," defying the conscientious reader's need to categorize this masterpiece. It is both: a collection of interrelated short pieces which ultimately reads with the dramatic force and tension of a novel. Yet each one of the twenty-two short pieces is written with such care, emotional content, and prosaic precision that it could stand on its own. The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and of course, the character Tim O'Brien who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. They battle the enemy (or maybe more the idea of the enemy), and occasionally each other. In their relationships we see their isolation and loneliness, their rage and fear. They miss their families, their girlfriends and buddies; they miss the lives they left back home. Yet they find sympathy and kindness for strangers (the old man who leads them unscathed through the mine field, the girl who grieves while she dances), and love for each other, because in Vietnam they are the only family they have. We hear the voices of the men and build images upon their dialogue. The way they tell stories about others, we hear them telling stories about themselves. With the creative verve of the greatest fiction and the intimacy of a searing autobiography, The Things They Carried  is a testament to the men who risked their lives in America's most controversial war. It is also a mirror held up to the frailty of humanity. Ultimately The Things They Carried and its myriad protagonists call to order the courage, determination, and luck we all need to survive.

The Things They Carried

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Tim O'Brien

Virginia

"The Things They Carried" is a novel by Tim O'Brien that blurs the line between fiction and autobiography. It is a collection of interconnected short stories about a platoon of American soldiers during the Vietnam War. The book explores the physical and emotional burdens carried by the soldiers, both literal (such as weapons and gear) and metaphorical (such as fear, guilt, and memories).

The narrative is framed by O'Brien's reflection on storytelling, truth, and the malleability of memory. He describes the experiences of various soldiers, their struggles, and the moral dilemmas they face in the context of a highly divisive and morally complex war.

The book examines the impact of war on the human psyche, the surreal and often contradictory nature of combat, and the way stories are used to cope with trauma and make sense of the past. "The Things They Carried" is a powerful and emotionally resonant exploration of the Vietnam War and its lasting effects on those who served.

Category - Fiction / Historical Fiction

Format - Paperback

Condition - Good

Listed - 2 years ago

Views - 2

Ships From - Tennessee

Est. Publication Date - Dec 1998