If I Die in Combat Zone
by Tim O'Brien
If I Die in Combat Zone
Tim O'Brien |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 695)
recommends it for:
those looking to find a little more despair in the world
War, what is it good for?
Requested this from my local library on Veterans Day, and just plowed through it on my daily Metro grind this week. I'm not much of a memoir-reader generally, but I thought that it would be appropriate reading in honor of Veterans Day (well, sort of). In some ways it was your typical Vietnam-dysfunctional story that we have all heard before. I think the thing that was most interesting though was the personalization of the dysfunctional war story, and the thinking o...more
Requested this from my local library on Veterans Day, and just plowed through it on my daily Metro grind this week. I'm not much of a memoir-reader generally, but I thought that it would be appropriate reading in honor of Veterans Day (well, sort of). In some ways it was your typical Vietnam-dysfunctional story that we have all heard before. I think the thing that was most interesting though was the personalization of the dysfunctional war story, and the thinking o...more
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I discovered this book durring my first year of college, when we were required to read it for English class.
Before that, I'd never heard of it.
Anyone who is thinking of going into the millitary should read this. It washes away the myth of war being about god, country, honor, and courage, and reveals a bit of the ugly reality of it. The constant state of fear, depression, and horror that soldiers are constantly subjected to, combined with a culture of machismo and peer presure from their comr...more
Before that, I'd never heard of it.
Anyone who is thinking of going into the millitary should read this. It washes away the myth of war being about god, country, honor, and courage, and reveals a bit of the ugly reality of it. The constant state of fear, depression, and horror that soldiers are constantly subjected to, combined with a culture of machismo and peer presure from their comr...more
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Read in June, 2000
recommends it for:
Military
This first book by Tim O'Brien is an instant classic to me. Although I have not placed it in my classic bookshelf, the book touched a real unique place for me. Not often do I read books where a man can touch that primal section of the heart. The book is about war and pain, understanding and sorrow. Although it isn't his greatest book on the subject, it is his first try and it shines!
If you are an intelligent reader the man writes so very eloquently. If you could care less about the subtleti...more
If you are an intelligent reader the man writes so very eloquently. If you could care less about the subtleti...more
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Read in January, 2003
Amazing amazing amazing!! The perfect companion to The Things They Carried, as they fill in each other's gaps nicely. This one is less fiction-y than TTTC, but do not think either book is a true work of non-fictional memoir writing: O'Brien considers himself a storyteller who blends different kinds of truths to form his own memory and reality, and this is another exercise in him weaving his "story-truths" with his "happening-truths." But still an excellent read, well-written ...more
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Read in May, 2003
Great book, read for Vietnam class. O'Brien's memoirs of his experiences in Vietnam, and the first book he wrote after coming home from the war, in 1973.
Fantastically poignant, gritty, moving, insightful, etc. Found it especially interesting to read war semi-fiction as an anti-war person. Only more firm in that after reading. Highly recommended.
Fantastically poignant, gritty, moving, insightful, etc. Found it especially interesting to read war semi-fiction as an anti-war person. Only more firm in that after reading. Highly recommended.
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Read in May, 2007
I liked "the things they carried" LIGHTYEARS better, but this is still readable. Maddie loved it. I know it is vivid writing because i wasnt able to finish it past the chapter where he writes about a woman being shot and bleeding out.
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Read in August, 2006
Straightforward narrative about his experiences in Vietnam. Remarkably simple in comparison to his later, more ambitious books, like "The Things They Carried." Good question which contain more truth.
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Read this in order to be contrary to everyone else reading The Things They Carried. This was a raw perspective of the war, and earlier outing for O'Brien. Students thought it was "deep".
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One of my favorite authors when it comes to my fascination with the Vietnam War. Read this and "The Things They Carried" I have yet to read "Going After Cacciato," but will eventually!
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I use this book with my 10th graders. A young man is drafted into the Vietnam War- He must choose to serve his country or flee to Canada- And then must learn to live with that decision.
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Read in April, 1999
I taught this book to seniors in high school. They really liked it. It's a philosophical view of the Vietnam War. Certainly challenges our concepts of patriotism and heroism.
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The first Vietnam personal narrative/memoir I ever read--I've read a ton of them since--and still my favorite. O'Brien is a gifted writer; he's always worth reading.
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Read in August, 1995
collection of shorts based upon author's tod during the vietnam war. an interesting insight to the everyday goings on in the grunts' life humping through the jungle
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Read in November, 2007
I like this book less than The Things They Carried, but I still think O'Brien is a talented writer, the kind of writer people should sit up and pay attention to.
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Read in June, 2007
I read Tim O'Brien's books about Vietnam to assuage my guilt about having had the good fortune to escape that experience. Nobody brings you there like he does.
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Tim O'Brien's first published book on the Vietnam War--the most straightforward autobiographical one he ever wrote--and somehow still my favorite of the bunch.
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It was shocking to read it. This true story of American soldiers in Vietnam made me cry harder with every page. You have to have strong nerves to read it.
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i saw this as a play- i believe i was with claire. it was quite moving, so i immediately grabbed the book first opportunity i had. it fell a little flat...
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
anyone
another "narratives of war" pick. based on the author's tour in the vietnam war. it's really hectic and super graphic but extremely well written.
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Read in January, 2003
O'Brien's actual non-fiction memoir, is better than any of his fiction. I probably think so because I'm a history nerd, and I want the real stuff.
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