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The Things They Carried Paperback – December 29, 1998

by Tim O'Brien (Author)

4.4 15,078 ratings

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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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I've got to make you read this book.... In a world filled too often with numbness, or shifting values, these stories shine in a strange and opposite direction, moving against the flow, illuminating life's wonder."
--Rick Bass, The Dallas Morning News

"The Things They Carried is more than 'another' book about Vietnam.... It is a master stroke of form and imagery.... The Things They Carried is about life, about men who [fight] and die, about buddies, and about a lost innocence that might be recaptured through the memory of stories. O'Brien tells us these stories because he must. He tells them as they have never been told before."
--Richmond Times-Dispatch

From the Inside Flap

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.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Broadway (December 29, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0767902890
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0767902892
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 880L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.7 x 7.91 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #300,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,887 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #3,707 in War Fiction (Books)
- #17,411 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 15,078 ratings

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Tim O'Brien

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TIM O'BRIEN received the 1979 National Book Award in fiction for Going After Cacciato. His other works include the acclaimed novels The Things They Carried and July, July. In the Lake of the Woods received the James Fenimore Cooper Prize from the Society of American Historians and was named the best novel of 1994 by Time. O'Brien lives in Austin, Texas.

Customer reviews

15,078 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and eye-opening. They praise the writing quality as excellent and expressive, describing it as a collection of short stories. The war stories are described as relevant and a valid look at a brutal war. Readers find the book thought-provoking and insightful, revealing much about man's strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. They describe the emotional portrayal as poignant and touching, giving meaning to the experiences. Overall, customers appreciate the realistic portrayal of the war and its impact on the psyche.

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Story telling Writing quality War story Thought provoking Heartfelt Realistic portrayal Pacing Readability

1,037 customers mention "Story telling"1,022 positive15 negative

Customers find the storytelling engaging and eye-opening. They describe the book as powerful, masterful, and a cohesive collection of stories with different tones.

"...Tim O'Brien's ability to weave together fact and fiction, past and present, creates a narrative that is as enlightening as it is heart-wrenching...." Read more

"Thank you Tim O'Brien for a wonderfully open, honest and brave work. "..." Read more

"...to do so, if only because the writing and structure are elegant and majestic. But also, read it when you can stomach the violence and sorrow...." Read more

"...There is a wonderful chapter about his stay in a cabin near the Canadian border where, along with the aged proprietor, he contemplates his decision...." Read more

490 customers mention "Writing quality"381 positive109 negative

Customers praise the writing quality as excellent and expressive. They find the words grab them immediately and find the book engaging. The author's words are used for a powerful literary effect, which is the mark of a serious writer. Readers feel the pain, excitement, horror, and reality of a tour in Vietnam. They describe the writing as easy to read and the author has a unique, beautiful way of writing.

"..."The Things They Carried" is a masterpiece of contemporary literature, offering a profound and deeply moving look at the Vietnam War and its..." Read more

"...The author’s thoughts are timelessly pertinent: That you don’t make war without knowing why...." Read more

"...Not just for those looking for books of war or combat but of excellent writing and storytelling...." Read more

"The book came with no damages whatsoever and the writing is not small as other paperbacks that i have purchased." Read more

332 customers mention "War story"263 positive69 negative

Customers find the book insightful and relatable about war. They describe it as a thoughtful, honest, and valid look at a brutal war. The dissociative style helps clarify the surreal experience of combat. Readers consider it one of the best books on the Vietnam War and a human side of the conflict. It has been praised as one of the best works of American fiction in the past 25 years.

"...His prose is both lyrical and raw, capturing the brutal realities of war while also finding moments of beauty and humanity...." Read more

"...First published in 1990, 25 years ago, it is still a valid look at a brutal war...." Read more

"...He writes in a straight-forward way and there's no extraneous melodrama, which for a topic as dramatic as the Vietnam War is tough to do...." Read more

"...resonate more with the reader than others, but it's a poignant and timeless book. I highly recommend it!" Read more

273 customers mention "Thought provoking"267 positive6 negative

Customers find the book insightful and relatable. They say it reveals much about man's strengths, weaknesses, and emotions during a time of conflict. The symbolism is enlightening, and the descriptive language and thoughts of the soldiers are unique.

"...The title itself is a powerful metaphor for the physical and emotional burdens the soldiers bear...." Read more

"...The book is a self healing in which O'Brien digs down deep into himself and brings up emotions buried by a kid in Vietnam...." Read more

"...American soldiers during the Vietnam War and the literal and emotional burdens each soldier carries, if only to remember they are human...." Read more

"...The book tells a difficult and instructive story...." Read more

246 customers mention "Heartfelt"215 positive31 negative

Customers find the book poignant and touching. It delves into the author's psyche and depicts his struggles of going off to war. The stories help people cope, give meaning to their experiences, and preserve memory. Readers describe the collection as gorgeous, haunting, and funny.

"...They Carried" is a masterpiece of contemporary literature, offering a profound and deeply moving look at the Vietnam War and its enduring impact on..." Read more

"...themes is storytelling — how stories help people cope, give meaning to their experiences, and preserve memory...." Read more

"...draft for a war the author didn't believe in, was as touching as the stories of the fighting, the death, the despair in Vietnam. "..." Read more

"...herein by the author Tim O'Brien, and found them to be haunting in many respects, funny in many respects and a close introspective psychoanalytical..." Read more

141 customers mention "Realistic portrayal"133 positive8 negative

Customers find the book's portrayal realistic and vivid. They describe it as convincingly raw and believable, expertly illustrating human extremes and emotions during the Vietnam War. The story is described as moving and profound, offering a profound look at the Vietnam War.

"...masterpiece of contemporary literature, offering a profound and deeply moving look at the Vietnam War and its enduring impact on those who fought it...." Read more

"...Finally, a note about the writing. It is masterful. Beautiful. Real without being trite. O'Brien's style here is as much poetry as prose...." Read more

"...The book was so raw, so filled with reality while acknowledging that some stories cannot be told correctly, no matter how many times the author..." Read more

"...So well written and beautifully executed...." Read more

67 customers mention "Pacing"31 positive36 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it thoughtful, honest, and relevant about war and Viet Nam. They appreciate the discussion of humanity and stories. Others find the story brutal, unsettling, intense, and gut-wrenching.

"...fiction, real characters, whatever this book is, it is brutal and unsettling...." Read more

"...It's not the sturdiest cover but it held up." Read more

"...will probably disappoint although many details that are gory and unpleasant it doesn’t dwell on the bloodshed or heroics...." Read more

"...1. His technique. First person all the way through, but unless he makes a point of reminding you that the narrator is talking, you forget...." Read more

66 customers mention "Readability"11 positive55 negative

Customers find the book repetitive and uninteresting. They feel it's not worth reading and a series of good but not particularly memorable magazine articles rather than a really good solid novel. The book is considered cliched and a meaningless effort by some readers.

"...Them for class, me for connection. This is not a book one reads for pleasure, but it is a reminder that sometimes a great book stops being a story..." Read more

"...The reader would find no lesson in this story because there was no coherent purpose in the whole disaster of Vietnam...." Read more

"...Pathetic in content and morale fiber. This was not the young army soldier I saw during my tour...." Read more

"...It is far too repetitive, in my opinion to be read the way it has been put together here, but that is where the audio version makes it above average..." Read more

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Madz
Great read! Heart wrenching journey through Vietnam war
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" is more than just a collection of war stories; it's an intricate exploration of the burdens borne by soldiers during the Vietnam War. The book masterfully blurs the lines between fiction and memoir, creating a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

O'Brien's narrative structure is unconventional yet effective. The book is composed of interconnected stories that revolve around the experiences of a platoon of American soldiers. This fragmented style mirrors the chaotic and disjointed nature of war itself, immersing readers in the soldiers' reality. Each chapter can stand alone, yet together, they form a cohesive and compelling portrait of war and its aftermath.

The characters in "The Things They Carried" are richly developed and achingly human. O'Brien delves into their inner lives, exposing their fears, hopes, and regrets. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, for instance, is haunted by his love for a girl back home and the death of a comrade, illustrating the personal costs of leadership and responsibility. Through these intimate portrayals, O'Brien brings to life the emotional weight that each soldier carries, both literally and metaphorically.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its exploration of themes such as fear, courage, guilt, and the search for meaning. The title itself is a powerful metaphor for the physical and emotional burdens the soldiers bear. O'Brien skillfully uses symbolism to enhance these themes, such as the weight of the physical items each soldier carries representing their psychological burdens.

O'Brien's writing is poignant and evocative, often leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and sorrow. His prose is both lyrical and raw, capturing the brutal realities of war while also finding moments of beauty and humanity. The book's emotional impact is heightened by O'Brien's willingness to confront the complexities of memory and truth, challenging readers to consider the nature of storytelling and the ways we process trauma.

What sets "The Things They Carried" apart is its authenticity. O'Brien, a Vietnam veteran himself, infuses the book with an honesty that is both brutal and tender. He does not shy away from the horrors of war, but he also acknowledges the moments of camaraderie and love that sustain the soldiers. This balance makes the book not just a war story, but a universal exploration of the human condition.

"The Things They Carried" is a masterpiece of contemporary literature, offering a profound and deeply moving look at the Vietnam War and its enduring impact on those who fought it. Tim O'Brien's ability to weave together fact and fiction, past and present, creates a narrative that is as enlightening as it is heart-wrenching. For anyone seeking to understand the true cost of war, this book is an essential read.

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9 people found this helpful

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Bob Hoskins
Healing through writing. No blood and guts here.
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2011
Verified Purchase
Thank you Tim O'Brien for a wonderfully open, honest and brave work. "The things they carried" opens with a narrative of what grunts in Vietnam physically carried based on the mission, the terrain and their personal preferences. Everything carried added weight to the burden carried through the hostile country of Vietnam.

"The things they carried" talks about the emotions the men carried with them. Emotions about the war, back home, their buddies, their officers and the Vietnamese. "The things they carried" includes each soldiers story.

The book is a self healing in which O'Brien digs down deep into himself and brings up emotions buried by a kid in Vietnam. What he saw and how he translated it then is reanalyzed as an adult and laid out on paper for us to read and absorb. It's fascinating in so much as 20 years after the initial event, as he now recounts for us, the clarity and emotion is so obviously vivid in his mind.

There are no long, drawn out and confusing battle recollections but more frozen moments in time that are now locked in a steel trap of memory. The angle of the dead man's head, the color of the medic's boots, the vibration of light at a particularly defining moment. O`Brien talks about the truth in recollection of the same story by different men. Each man adds his own spin but, to that man, it's the truth. The embellishment is not to distort the truth but serves only as a way to make the truth more truthy somehow? This isn't a story it's a healing. O'Brien has allowed us to be witnesses to his attempt to heal or, more aptly, recover his youth lost in S.E. Asia.

As far as "Vietnam, none fiction" goes, this book is not the usual narrative of 13 months in the 'Nam. This one has a different slant as it's more a "20 years after the event". I thoroughly enjoyed it and got through it in 2 days, a fast read that holds you. The chapters are natural in length and there's no guess work involved.

Give this one a try, you won't be disappointed.

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5 people found this helpful

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Verónica Spíndola
Excelente novela
Reviewed in Mexico on August 18, 2024
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Excelente novela! Y llegó muy rápido y bien empacada

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Dogrib
One of the finest books ever written
Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2024
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I mean it. I go back to it frequently, read passages aloud to those I love. It sings hypnotic songs of sadness and yet keeps it all alive.

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Leonardo
Capolavoro di letteratura americana contemporanea
Reviewed in Italy on June 26, 2023
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Un libro dove forma e contenuto raggiungono una simbiosi davvero straordinaria; metamoderno, nella sua decostruzione del medium del "racconto di guerra," e al contempo nel suo utilizzo cosciente e puro.
Lo stile è diretto, sommario, nell'asprezza distaccata della narrazione; la certezza espressiva nel racconto rende evidente più che mai l'ambiguità di tutto ciò che è la guerra, quella guerra, il coraggio, la paura, la fraternità dei soldati.

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E.H. d.
Boek moet ik nog lezen, maar dit is hoe het werd geleverd.
Reviewed in the Netherlands on April 11, 2023
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E.H. d.

Boek moet ik nog lezen, maar dit is hoe het werd geleverd.
Reviewed in the Netherlands on April 11, 2023

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Jorge Henrique Guimaraes
Pure gold!
Reviewed in Brazil on July 31, 2017
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The best book about people under the circunstances of killing or beeing killed.
The ever remainder of war isannity.
Pure Gold.

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