“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien – War’s Close-Up Shot

There are different kinds of war novels out there, and generally I prefer to classify them into three distinct categories: works of fiction, novelized and dramatized writings based on facts, and completely dry and factual accounts of military events and operations. 

To be frank, I prefer the second type of novel, as it offers the best of both worlds; it keeps you interested in the events all while feeding you real and interesting information at the same time. I have read a fair share of these novels, and I have to say that very few of them can claim to reach the level of The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.

Tim O’Brien is a Vietnam War veteran himself, and The Things They Carried is basically a long and detailed account of the lives and fates of the men of Alpha Company, which he was a part of. The writing style in this book is a bit different from the rest of the genre; though the story is somewhat novelized, the style remains very concise, descriptive and factual, with personal notes and observations dispersed here and there. 

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien (Book cover)
Though it may sound like a bit of a boring approach, I found that it reflected the mindset of the soldiers quite well and helped to create a very cruel and unforgiving atmosphere, which is what I imagine it was like for most of them. 

All in all, The Things They Carried didn’t become a classic of American literature to be studied in most schools for nothing. Apart from giving a harrowing description of what the Vietnam War was like for the Americans, Tim O’Brien also uses the opportunity to share his reflections and meditations on war and its impact on the fate of the world.

Without a doubt, this is one of the most moving and eye-opening war novels out there, and I guarantee that regardless of what your stance on war may be, it will leave its mark on you and perhaps even force you to re-think your stance on the subject once again.

Tim O'Brien (Author)

Tim O'Brien


Tim O'Brien is an American novelist who is perhaps best-known for his work of semi-biographical work of “semi”-fiction, titled The Things They Carried, a collection of various short stories inspired by O'Brien's experiences during the Vietnam War. Amongst the many awards he received is the 1979 National Book Award for Going After Cacciato, another book on the war.



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