Tim O’Brien has done it again in The Things They Carried. The complexity and depth of this factual/fictional memoir is astonishing. Whether O’Brien is attempting to dodge the draft on the Canadian border or waist-deep in a manure field within the heart of war-torn, rural Vietnam, he brings humanity and humility to the controversial and prolonged war far away from American hearths. It is hard to believe the war ended only 36 years ago, but this compelling read has assuredly and vividly reawakened old nightmares, opened old wounds, and enlightened many readers who were unaware or not even born at the time of the brutal conflict.
The psychological account of various stories could only come from a man who experienced them and that is what makes the memoir truly compelling. Readers are aware of the truth and sincerity from his imagery, detail, and ironically, the sporadic accounts of what happened. The devices he uses such as doubting his own depiction, admitting the mixture of fact and fiction, as well as that of others stories synthesizing with his own, create the perception of true thought process and recollecting memories; especially traumatic ones. This account is superb and a must-read when attempting to understand the psychology of war, Vietnam, soldiers, and how they cope with the men they saw die and the lives they attempt to live afterward. The things they carried weigh on their shoulders long after the war is over.
This collection of ficticious historical stories is truly believable in content and unbelievable when it comes to style, structure, and significance. Do not shy away from this compelling depiction of war. A true masterpiece.
