Module 15 | The Things They Carried

PLOT SUMMARY
In this semi-autobiographical work, author Tim O'Brien once again navigates the complex and often perplexing terrain of the Vietnam War. Some of the stories are fewer than two pages while others are much longer treatises on the conflict. The opener, which details the tangible objects the men carry as they make their way through the jungles of Vietnam, is a beautifully written introduction to the book's primary themes and characters. O'Brien often shifts perspective throughout the book, as the same story is sometimes told from the viewpoint of two different characters, expertly conveying the confusion that erupts from each episode's events. Although the construction of the book could seem somewhat disjointed in less capable hands, O'Brien weaves an unforgettable story of the Vietnam War and the young men who served.

MY IMPRESSIONS
This is an outstanding book about the human side of the Vietnam War, as it shies away from trying to understand the political implications of the conflict and instead focuses on the impact the war had on the men who served. Not only does the book discuss its characters' lives during the war, but also revisits them directly after they return home, as well as decades later. There is nothing extraneous about O'Brien's writing, as he makes every detail count; even an object as seemingly insignificant as a pebble takes on deeper meaning in the opening story. The Things They Carried is likely to inspire increased understanding of the the Vietnam War among teens, deepening their emotional connection to a very confusing and complex period in American history.

REVIEWS
"Not since Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five has the American soldier been portrayed with such poignance and sincerity."
Mark Annichiarico, Library Journal, Feb. 1990, Vol. 115, No. 3

"In addition to leisure reading, this collection offers potential for history classes studying war, for English classes doing units on short stories, and perhaps for sociology or psychology assignments."
Barbara Hawkins, School Library Journal, Feb. 1991, Vol. 37, No. 2

"Only a handful of novels and short stories have managed to clarify, in any lasting way, the meaning of the war in Vietnam for America and for the soldiers who served there. With The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien adds his second title to the short list of essential fiction about Vietnam."
Robert R. Harris, The New York Times Book Review, March 11, 1990

USES IN THE LIBRARY
The book could inspire an event (perhaps taking place on Veterans Day) in which those who served in Vietnam could be asked to speak to, and answer questions from, teens regarding their experiences. In addition, the book could also be part of a display of the best fictional books about war for teens or be added to an in-house and online book list of the best short stories for teens.

CITATION
O'Brien, T. (1990). The things they carried. New York: Houghton Mifflin.