The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

“The Things They Carried” is a fictional collection of short stories about a platoon in Vietnam. Even though it is technically fictional, much of the stories and characters were greatly influenced by Tim O’Brien’s own experiences in the war.

The stories are sometimes uplifting, sometimes revolting. But even the nauseating scenes I could not fault the cruel acts on the soldiers themselves but could only blame the environment which they had to survive in. Who knows how I would react to all that stress and all the hideous scenes of war? In what way would it change me? Would my true colors come out or would I have the strength to grasp on to my own morality?

Interesting questions indeed.