"The Things They Carried" is a contemporary classic. It is the story of a war torn country, the rebeliousness of the protagonist, and ultimately the huge journey it was for every human in America and Vietnam. It is not a factual story. But it is a "true" story. Literary realism is ignored and Fake stories are given too expemlify the effects of the true stories. You would have experienced a war story after this book.

This was a very good read. This story took place in Vietnam and was about a group of solders on the march. The things they carried were not only the gear on their backs like weaponry and food but also what they had in there heart. Emotions like love and lonliness. The characters go through some really tough times. As the book flip-flops back and forth between past and present it leaves an unfamiliar satisfaction. This book is a really good war story and I would recommend it for any one who enjoys reading.

The depth of the Things They Carried was actually very surprising to me. Instead of a superficial war hero story with a predictable plot, this particular story holds a sense of reality, honesty and truth. Not only is this book about the tragedies of war, its about friendship, unity, love and finding yourself.
In this book, the main character Tim O'Brien is drafted into the war. O'Brien initially tries to "dodge" the draft but eventually realizes that he needs to fight the war despite his fears. Later, the adventures and tragedies are described with O'Brien's close group of friends that are also his troop at the Vietnam War. Once you begin to read the suspenseful plot of the story, you find it hard to put the book down! The developments of the many characters are so diverse that one can relate themselves to each one of them in a certain way. Soon life after war is shown and the journey to finding life outside of violence and war becomes difficult for some. The atrocities of war are exemplified perfectly through each individual characters' experiences during and after the war. O'Brien's message of the book is thought provoking. It questions the integrity and courage of a man.
. Every emotion of every single character of the story is perfectly written into words and captured by the author. The best aspect about this book is that every character has something unique about each of them yet, the concept of fear and love unites them together as one.

When I bought this book I was anticipating another Vietnam War story with meaningless descriptions of blood and gore. What I gained from reading this book, however, was a newfound send of respect and empathy for the men and women that experience warfare at its worst. The book also opened my eyes, showing me the genuine devastation that results from warfare. The Things they carried is a true work of art and is an indisputable must read.
Tim O'Brien talks about the real war, the war not shown on television, the war where people carry fear, love, compassion, regret, sorrow, and each other, but more importantly Tim O'Brien talks about the people that were directly affected by the war. Each story provides an insight as to how the war truly affected every facet of American society. War was inescapable, making victims out of every citizen. Regardless of race, gender, or beliefs, the war was devastating and demoralizing. The Things They Carried illustrated how soldiers are scarred not only physically, but emotionally as well. Tim O'Brien truly showed war at its worst. Reading first hand accounts of the war helped me to understand the wave of emotions that bombarded soldiers, along with bullets and shells of course. This book served as a harsh reminder that war is much more than just guns and battles, but more about events that leaves scars for the rest people's lives.
The writing itself is excellent. The stories are accounted for with great eloquence and skill, making readers forget that this is just a memoir. Tim O'Brien has a unique style that makes this war story seem like an action thriller. His voice is serious, but sometimes even comedic. His technique almost makes it more fun to read the sentence itself rather than its content. With imagery so vivid, this novel is the closest thing I think I'll ever be to war.
Powerful, thought provoking, and reflective, The Things They Carried truly is a novel that deserves endless praise.

There is no glory in war. Each side suffers from countless deaths, fighting over a cause that most cannot recall or cannot care less about. In The Things They Carried, Tim O' Brien compiles a collection of short stories into a novel about the complications and consequences of the Vietnam War. His stories jump from one to the next, but the novel as a whole is bound together by the characters involved. Each person mentioned in the introductory story is given his or her own section in the book, told through either a detailed background or short account of a significant event. He gives life to each of his comrades, making each unique in his own way. O' Brien exposes the feelings of a soldier when he is in battle, facing life or death situations. By separating the book into shorter stories, O' Brien allows the reader to complete one story, stop, and reflect on the sufferings or victories of those who fought in Vietnam. From the depressed and suicidal Norman Bowker to O' Brien's own personal experiences, The Things They Carried encompasses the emotional aspect of war.

Being a firsthand participant in the Vietnam War, and personally knowing soldiers with whom he fought with, O' Brien details even the most trivial eccentricities of his group of soldiers, even listing the knickknacks and accessories carried by each person. Most items were necessary, including clothing, food, and ammunition. Others were more personal, from pictures to gifts. The soldiers carried other weights as well, memories of family, friends, and loved-ones. The differences are clear between the soldiers, their personalities sometimes creating problems. However, O' Brien unites his comrades with a similar item that each must carry, whether he likes it or not: the burden of fighting a war that is unnecessary, confusing, unexplainable, complicated. Each soldier finds his own way to despise the war, a war that he could not prevent, a war that he never wanted to be a part of. Through their burden, their unifying factor, the soldiers stick together, helping each other, comforting each other, and, for most, surviving with each other.

The Things They Carried is at times quite dull, including areas that are of interest only to veterans of war. At times, it was difficult to sympathize with O'Brien and his company, parts of the story being vaguely related, making the reader feel left out. Other than those flaws, The Things They Carried is great for those who want to enhance their understanding of the soldiers of war.