The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

This novel is a story about the pain and hardships of war, written through the eyes of a Vietnam vet. Although this story is classified as fiction, O'Brien is a real veteran of war and this is shown through his vivid description of the war, Vietnam, and the conflicts and troubles that the soldiers experience. This story deals with the effects of war on a soldier during combat as well as the aftermath. O'Brien does a wonderful job of conveying the multitude of feelings that a soldier experiences on the battlefield. I would personally recommend that everyone interested in the Vietnam war or in the life of a soldier at war, read this book.

The book starts off with Lieutenant Jim Cross as he leads his squadron of soldiers across Vietnam. O'Brien explains the internal conflict Cross experiences as he is torn between focusing on the war and survival, or Martha, a girl that he knows back home and often ponders on her feeling towards him.

In the following chapters, the book focuses on O'Brien when he receives his draft notice in the mail. He is shocked, as he never though that this would happen to him. He felt above the war, as if he was too good and too smart to ever be called to fight in war. He considers his options, dodge the draft and be considered a coward, or do the noble thing and go to war. The book shows how people's opinions and pressure from society can greatly influence people's decisions as well as their thought process. O'Brien does a great job of being honest and sharing his true emotions with the reader. He gives the reader a connection to the characters and their troubles.

O'Brien does a great job of showing people how the Vietnam War greatly affected people; those who where fighting as well as those back home in the US who hoped that their loved ones would make it home safe. O'Brien uses imagery as well as vivid and vibrant descriptions to convey emotions and feeling to the reader. This novel is a wonderful testament of the Vietnam War and gives the reader the best understanding that I believe a book can, of the emotions, troubles, and experiences that these soldiers went through.