The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

[Amanda]

I really liked this book. But, I am still a little bit confused if this book is fiction or it is a compilation of short stories of Tim O'Brien's time in the Vietnam War. If anyone know,s let me know. For purposes of reviewing this book, I'll look at it as a collection of short stories from his time in the war. Soldiers carry wars with them their entire lives and I couldn't imagine what they go through. In every war movie or book there is always this frustration that comes about when a very green soldier is sent to the front and the veterans don't think he is doing his duty correctly. That happens at every job, but for soldiers, that is the different between life and death. He describes real guilt and some of the conflicting thoughts a soldier has when they have to kill someone, whether that person is exhibiting a clear and present danger for the soldier, or just minding their own business.