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I just started reading this book and I'm not really sure what would have made you, with your attitude about war, even pick it up to read. It's clearly written for those of us who lived through the Vietnam war, who still live with the veterans of that war. I don't believe you've ever spent much time with the survivors of that atrocity or you'd understand that there were very few that healed or forgave themselves. Vietnam produced a whole generation of wounded, suffering families. Consider yourself blessed if you haven't been touched by the horrors from it yourself.

I read it because my daughter is reading it for her English class this year and I always like to read what my children are reading. As to "my attitude" towards war, I was in the USAF for 13.5 years and achieved the rank of major before separating from active duty. I served overseas during the Cold War and Desert Storm--not the same thing as Vietnam I know. My father-in-law served two tours in Vietnam. I do consider myself blessed that I haven't had to go through what Mr. O'Brien went through. I am grateful for the men and women who served and died in Vietnam and for their families. I just don't believe Mr. O'Brien's book(s) or writing will accomplish what he wants. He's already written three other books along the same lines and he freely admits that writing about his experiences doesn't help him. Reading about what he experienced, the way he wrote it, didn't help me either.

Read "Flags of Our Fathers" and see what James Bradley went through on Iwo Jima; he never even talked about what he saw or suffered the rest of his life. Check my ratings for "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Killer Angels". I gave both of them 5 stars. James Bradley didn't even consider himself a hero. My father-in-law is the same way. He saw plenty in 'Nam but he just felt he was doing his duty; he also knows that God heals and forgives.

I am very sorry for all those who suffered in Vietnam and all the other wars our country has been engaged in -- as well as the one we are currently fighting.

Thank you for responding and thank you for serving. I do overreact sometimes when I think people are trying to downplay that war. I was a hippie in Colorado Springs and saw the guys leaving and then the ones returning. I had never actually known a heroin addict until I met the vets returning and later I have worked in hospitals with vets, homecare with VN vets, divorced a VN vet. It was so bad and we should all be ashamed of the treatment they received and continue to receive as veterans. I will try the books you recommended..thanks again for serving for us..it's something I never had the courage to do. Marlene

That's okay Marlene. I appreciate your comment and I'm sorry if my review sounded like I was downplaying the war or what the G.I.s went through. I guess I need to 'remember my audience' and realize that people who don't know me and my background are reading/will read my reviews. I tend to think I am just writing for my family and friends.

You are SO right about the disgraceful way our Vets are treated! Sadly, history is repeating itself and the same thing is happening now to the soldiers returning from Iraq. Regardless of the reasons why we as a country are fighting in a war, we owe our undivided support to our armed forces.

Thank you for caring enough about the vets to comment! booklady

In some ways, I agree with your assessment, and in other ways, I find it totally wrong. This review is so odd to me because I found The Things They Carried to be a huge influence on my own writing. I read it in a 100 level class at the Catholic University I attend, and I found many of the things you said to be true. However, I think the reason you may be somewhat opposed to O'Brien's work is because you expect something that O'Brien did not attempt to put in. You are totally correct when you say that it is vaccuous and empty. But is that not the point O'Brien was attempting to convey? I found him conflicted, torn between his love for his companions and his gut feeling that their deaths were meaningless. It makes a strong statement about war in general, this war specifically. The ugliness of war is in that emptiness, the suffering, the degredation. In that sense, I feel like I have a much more realistic grasp on war than I did before. My family members who served in Vietnam, Korea, and WWII echo many of O'Brien's sentiments. After all "War is Hell."

Granted, my opinion is biased by my extreme honor at being able to meet O'Brien and question him about this book for a short period of time. Also, I wrote a killer 3,000 word essay on "Sweetheard of the Song-Tra-Bong" that got me an A+ in the class. I feel somewhat indebted to it.

Hi Greg,

Thank you for your thoughtful comment on my review. I appreciate hearing this book was a positive influence for you. And I'm sure you do feel honored to have met the author. I, too, have met and had a few authors autograph my copies of their books. It is exciting and makes the book very special. I hope that I will keep that in mind as I reply to your comment.

3,000 words?! Wow! I'd be interested in reading that!

Perhaps you are right and O'Brien just did a really good job describing the meaninglessness of war. The book does make a very strong statement about war. I would agree with the statement that 'war is hell' except that I am a Roman Catholic Christian and I believe in a real Hell, but that is another debate for another time.

I'm hardly a proponent of war. I think it should always be a last resort for any nation/people. However, where I differ from O'Brien is in the belief of the pointlessness of his friend's deaths. No one who ever died for our country died a pointless death. And if you have faith, no death is ever a pointless death. 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.' John 15:13 Think of Our Lord's death.

If you study the War Between the States -- which was a 1000 times bloodier than 'Nam -- and all the deaths from disease, lack of medical care, POW camps, incompetent generals, etc., you could say those men died for nothing. But they didn't. We don't know why they died--but their deaths served a purpose. And there have been many books written about that war which tell both the truth about the battles, the losses and include stories of comradeship, heroism, lessons learned as well as the incredible blunders. I have read such books and I was comparing TTTC to those books. That is why I rated it and reviewed it as I did.

However, if you wish to stick to the Vietnam War, at work my husband sits across from one of "the boat people", a man named Jimmy Vo (pronounced Va) who escaped from Vietnam during the Carter Administration so that is why he took the American name 'Jimmy'. He constantly fusses and fumes that we don't teach the Vietnam War in our schools; he says he is alive today because of the brave Americans who came, fought and died for him and others like him.

I don't know if that answers you, Greg or just muddies the water further. However, I do appreciate your comment very much. Thank you!

booklady

This was made by the children of Vietnam Veterans and it is something very special. I agree that the VVs served all of us and none of them died in vain. Nice that their children realize it. Someday hopefully the rest of the country will too.

I had to write a response to this review for my Lit. class... here's what I wrote.

The Things They Carried was a well received book, praised by millions. Many applauded O’Brien’s unique style of writing and appreciated the mystery behind each story. However, one critic at goodreads.com begged to differ. He stated that The Things They Carried was well-written in a grammatical sense, but that the book was nothing more than a “collection of disjointed stories.� The critic claimed to be “put off by the emptiness and moral vacuum� of O’Brien’s apparent life altering experience. He further bashes O’Brien by calling the author a liar saying that O’Brien claims to have healed himself through his writing, when it “seems clear� that O’Brien has yet to get over his tragic past. I, however, completely disagree with the critic’s review of The Things They Carried.
It is true that O’Brien’s work was a collection of various stories and memories, but they were all connected because they all related back to the war in one form or another. Many of the chapters such as; “The Things They Carried,� “The Dentist,� and “The Man I Killed� were all set during the war itself. Other chapters to include “Love,� “On the Rainy River,� and “Field Trip� were about O’Brien’s thoughts and experiences before and after the war. O’Brien cleverly used these seemingly random recollections to help the reader understand how he was feeling at various points in his life and how each experience affected him. This raw honesty allowed the reader to connect with O’Brien on a more personal level. His stories enabled the reader to imagine his life and develop their own opinions and thoughts towards his actions. Thus resulting in a deeper connection between the author and his audience, one based on pure, unembellished emotion. It is apparent that the critic’s opinion about the story’s “emptiness� was due to his inability of establishing such a connection with O’Brien.
O’Brien was also declared a liar by the critical quack. Clearly the critic feels himself superior to the author if he has the nerve to say what O’Brien is or is not feeling. Throughout the book, O’Brien expresses his beliefs about the power of storytelling. He even provides examples with personal experiences. Linda, for instance, was his first love who unfortunately passed away at an extremely young age. O’Brien describes his feelings about her death and says by keeping her memory alive through stories he was able to better cope with the loss of his dear friend. The author continues with his therapeutic ways throughout his life to help endure various disappointments, primarily the war. O’Brien ends his book by telling the audience that he still uses the power of storytelling and is happily living his life. So unless the critic is some sort of omniscient being that knows things about O’Brien that no one else does, there is no logical reason for him to make such accusations, especially considering the fact that there is no evidence to support them.
It is obvious that the critic and I do not share the same opinions about The Things They Carried or O’Brien himself. Where the critic sees vacuity in O’Brien’s writing I see an abundance of raw emotion intertwined in pure literary genius. The air-headed critic should go back and read The Things They Carried again, this time with a more open mind and a more sympathetic heart towards O’Brien and the hardships that he has faced. Maybe then he would be able to appreciate The Things They Carried for what it really is; an insight into a tragic world he or I could only imagine.

* I didn't know who wrote it at the time. That's why the critic is refered to as a man.

Dear Brittany,

Thank you for posting your response to my review. You make some excellent points in it. Since writing my review on The Things They Carried I have had some time to reflect on my own negativity in it. I usually don’t write such critical reviews…if anything I tend to be more the Pollyanna type…which anyone can see from reading a sample of my reviews. Therefore I can only wonder what it was about this book which struck such a nerve with me. So you are right that I probably should go back and reread the book with a more open mind, or maybe a more open heart. Who knows, maybe someday I will. I have also thought about pulling my negative review because of the anger it engenders in some people, but then I have met and corresponded with some very nice people here on goodreads as a result of this review if you read the comment/message traffic above. If I delete the review or alter its original substance those comments will be lost or become confusing/meaningless. The review has now taken on a life of its own if you will, for better or worse.

I still know that I had a very negative response to the author and to the book at the time and it was valid. My dislike of The Things They Carried is as valid as your liking it. Just because a book is ‘well received � praised by millions � (and many have) applauded O’Brien’s unique style of writing and appreciated the mystery behind each story� doesn’t mean I have to share their opinion, does it? I’m sure you would agree that a reader is entitled to form his/her own opinion of a book regardless of what anyone else sees as the book’s merits. That is the point of living in our free country—we have the right, ne the responsibility to think for ourselves. Where I was wrong, however, was in the unkind tone of my review. My writing was sarcastic and condescending and that is never called for in a review. I apologize for that. It was wrong to be rude. I was wrong.

Regardless of what we think of another person’s views we can always be civil. We can be better than civil; we can be decent and we should be. Well, that is what I believe, what I expect of myself.

Looking over my review I am more disappointed in my own writing than in Mr. O’Brien’s, because I try to hold myself to a higher standard—usually. I still believe that Mr. O’Brien is trying to find God in the wrong place, but I also believe that I was wrong too. In any event, I’m not responsible for Mr. O’Brien, only myself. Thank you for your comments and best of luck on your paper!

Dear booklady,

I read your review of this book and a few things jumped out at me.

Firstly, I LOVE that you read what your children are reading. If only more parents were as involved in their children's education. Secondly, I wondered about what it was exactly that you disliked about the book because you described O'Brien as a "good, tight writer who knows how to weave a story", but then you admonish him for producing "a collection of disjointed stories full of nihilism, gore, G.I. trashy talk, suffering and torture". Was it the way the book was written or was it O'Brien's response to the war that made this a less than stellar book in your opinion?

Please don't delete your review. It has definitely sparked debate and interest in this book and I think the majority of people on this site welcome both. I haven't read this yet, but after reading your review I definitely will. Perhaps we could have a better discussion at that point? I'd also be curious in reading other reviews you've posted.

Sincerely,
Shannon

Shannon,

Totally agree with your comment regarding reading the books your kids are assigned. I pick and choose, but in the last couple of years have read several terrific books my highschoolers were assigned to include: Ender's Game, Huck Finn, Frankenstein, and Siddharta. I enjoyed them all and it made for some great dinner conversation.

Nostromo,

As a high school teacher, I would kill for parents that got involved and got their kids excited about reading. Kudos to you for jumping in with your kids! There are so many wonderful worlds to explore in the pages of a book that I sometimes curse technology for taking away such precious time in the lives of our kids. Part of the reason I teach is to learn along with my students (in essence I get paid to learn, 'tis a great life).

P.S. I'm now intrigued with Joseph Conrad and will have to read your "namesake"!

Shannon,

Reading with my kids has been great fun and a learning experience. One thing I love about sharing thier assigned books, is getting feedback on thier classroom discussions. I feel like I am auditing the class and getting a free-education. I would have never selected Frankenstein to read, but I loved it.

I really enjoyed Conrad's Nostromo. I read a Foriegn Affairs article ten years ago and it said that Nostromo is still the best treatise on Imperialism and its effects indiginous peoples. The book is named after the hero, an Italian Sailor called Nostromo.

Thanks for your noble profession. I am passionate about reading and am encouraged by teachers who pass on that passion to the next generation of readers.

Shannon,

To answer your question a few posts back, it wasn't so much O'Brien's writing I took issue with, although my own way of saying/writing what I meant obviously left a lot to be desired, i.e., I was not clear. What I was trying to point out was something I admire so much in others and struggle so much to achieve myself and that is, not to let the circumstances of my life, however bad they may be, turn me negative, bitter, angry or resentful. The people I admire the most, and they are almost universally acknowledged by the world to be heroes, are those who rise above the most dire events, whether they be seemingly pointless wars, seemingly senseless suffering, seemingly brutal slavery, or any other type of torture known to mankind. It isn't what happens to us in this life, it's what we do with it. Do we use the pain as a lesson to help us grow stronger so that we may in turn help others face their struggles, or do we call it a waste and become negative? I'm not naive. I know there are things which do seem beyond hopeful explanation and look seemingly pointless, but I still hang on to the beliefs 'that which does not kill me, makes me stronger' and, 'tomorrow is another day.'

The long answer to your question is that it's been so many years since the war, I would have hoped Mr. O'Brien would have been able to move on, to take what the war taught him and also what Life has taught him since that time. It's been awhile now since I read the book but as I recall he seemed caught in that timeperiod. My response to the book at the time was anger, because my children were being forced to read the book, when I thought there were better books they could read, books with positive messages, books which inspire young people and instill values and moral behavior, reinforcing what parents are trying to teach at home. But ... tomorrow is another day and there's always hope ... until there's no hope.

Booklady,

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I realized, after I had posted, that your review was some time ago. I went out and bought the book yesterday and I intend on reading it as soon as I can. I agree with you that it takes a much stronger individual to rise above the raw deal life may have dealt them, than to wallow in the mire (I may have assumed a bit in that statement, but that's how I interpreted your comments). It's interesting to know that perhaps the book isn't exactly what it has been touted to be- I will read it with a different perspective now.

Hmm, what grade level was this book assigned to and what was the purpose or end result of the assignment? I find it odd that this would be a required reading. I do agree that there are probably countless other books out there that kids would benefit more from reading.

Interestingly my fears were for naught ... as they usually are. My older daughter thought the book was, 'okay', but she's read better. Her class read In Cold Blood and thought it was all around a better book, both writing-wise and as a story. When I discussed my objections to the book with her she thought the book should still be taught but as a part of a comparison study with another book such as Flags of Our Fathers or maybe Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir, without necessarily saying how the two books contrast, leaving that up to the students to see for themselves.

My younger daughter, also read the book as a part of her English III class, her sophomore year. She had students in her class ranging in ages from 15 to 17. I had never discussed the book with her, as I had with my older daughter, but as soon as I mentioned it, she made a face and said she didn't like it at all. She said she thought the author was whiney and needed to 'get over it'. She said the consensus of her entire class had been one of impatience and irritation with the book and author. So there you go ... I'm always learning as mom!

I think you missed the point.

"I won't say it but I'll think it. ...she wasn't listening.
It wasn't a war story. It was a love story."
-- TIM O'BRIEN, The Things They Carried,
New York 1990, pp.91

Perhaps I did miss the point. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last either I expect. Thank you W!

I also read this book because it was required reading for my son's English class. I really appreciate your review, and I had many of the same feelings about the book. It takes courage to disagree with a book that is so critically acclaimed. I hope you will resist the temptation to delete your review. The book is crafted in a fascinating way--almost artwork. But it is not a piece of art that I personally care for. I certainly don't think it is appropriate to require fifteen-year-old kids to read it. I don't think you missed the point, I think you just didn't agree with it. O'Brien's world view obviously does not include God, patriotism, or a duty to anything bigger than himself. That is why the book feels so totally empty and hopeless. If your world view includes any of those things, it would be difficult to embrace the "morals" (or lack thereof) portrayed in this book. One of the most troubling messages of this book to me was that any behavior, no matter how cruel and abhorent, can be justified as understandable if you have had bad enough experiences. This is an attitude that is all too prevalent among teenagers without us handing it to them as "great literature." I, too, am angry that my child is being required to read this book. I think part of my dislike of the book, and maybe yours too, was that I was reading it knowing that my child, and many other children, were about to read it.
Thank you again for your review. It was an encouragement to me.

Booklady,

Agree with comments above. Your review has generated a lot of interesting discussion. I urge you to keep it posted. Thanks for your insights.

Thank you Another and Nostromo. I appreciate your posts; they were an encouragement to me!

I have a quote on my wall from Tim O'Brien that starts with "Forty-three years old, and the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now." Seeing how it has impacted you, Booklady, a veteran officer, I find that quote to be more telling.

I certainly can't say what O'Brien was trying to do in this book other than to tell stories. You are probably not off that he is looking to heal something within himself at the same time. For those of us who were not there, who have not served, it conveys some of that knowledge so that it can be "remembered" and not forgotten. Philip Caputo does the same. Not that I am super interested in reading GI trash talk or real life horror, but if that is what happened then we need to know.

You cite "Flags of Our Fathers" as a good war read. I agree in the sense that I was exposed to a part of WWII that had been for whatever reason, glazed over during any of my WWII history courses. Now I want to learn more about the Pacific War. But that book drove me crazy because I thought the writing was so poor. It was too bad that Bradley didn't have the writing skills of O'Brien and Caputo because that story was simply amazing. What his father and fellow soldiers had to go through. I cannot imagine.

Jeremy, recommend E.B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed." Superb book about author's experience with First Marine Division, including Gudalcanal, Pellilu and Okinawa. The "good war" is bunk. All war is brutal, senseless and mercilessly violent for those on the tip of the spear.

Thanks for the rec.

Do you have a recommendation of a Viet Nam war book that would be more appropriate for 14-16 year old readers?

Dear Another Mom,

I don't have a good recommendation for a book from that era for your son; but I am going to check out the book, The Best and the Brightest, as an intriguing adult read. Will still keep my eyes and ears open for something for younger readers as the school year progresses and I meet with teachers and librarians.

If you find something, please let me know. Our teachers seem open to replacing this book if they find a "suitable" alternative. I've been looking, but haven't found anything so far. Thank you!

isn't a book nor is it specifically about Vietnam but it says everything about why American service men and women fought and died in every war regardless of political objective. The vets I've known would agree that patriotism, i.e., love of country, and devotion to family and friends were motives enough. My husband has given me a suggestion for what he claims is a very positive book about Vietnam, insofar as values are concerned. We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. It's a true and inspiring story of heroism, bravery, comraderie and esprit de corps. Read the write-up here on goodreads and some of the reviews other readers have written; they are better than anything I could say. However, as my husband read it a long time ago, he doesn't remember how much violence or profanity are in the book but believes what there was inherent to the story. The movie of it made by Mel Gibson is rated "R" but then his movies always are. Anyway, it's worth checking out.

Another Mom,

Here is a book which was specifically written for young adults from the critically acclaimed series, , for young men: The Journal of Patrick Seamus Flaherty: United States Marine Corps, Khe Sanh, Vietnam, 1968 with a for you and your teachers. There is a companion series, , for young woman, which actually came first and is also excellent. They are fictional characters but based on solid historical research and I think most responsible parents would agree these are more suitable for young people. My school librarian tells me there are several more books for young boys about Vietnam and she'll get me a list when school gets underway. Hope this helps!

booklady wrote: "as soon as I mentioned it, she made a face and said she didn't like it at all. She said she thought the author was whiney and needed to 'get over it'..."

I'm obviously quite late to this discussion and haven't even read the book, so I'm not in best place to offer insight. But this quote from your daughter makes me want to cry. The sad fact is that no one who wasn't there will ever understand it. The ones who were there never understood it. But even if it's a complete load of codswallop, your daughter should understand (or be helped to understand) that calling the author "whiney" is terribly disrespectful and insensitive. There are some things that some people simply cannot "get over" (ask my grandfather, who at 87 has never in his adult life had a week's sleep where he did not wake up screaming). There is no reason to encourage others - even implicitly - in ignorance or callousness.

I personally thought this was a great book. I am a veteran myself and I served 10 years and completed 5 tours overseas. I would be interested in your viewpoint on Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo, booklady.

Waven and Jason, I apologize for not replying to comments sooner. Young people do not understand what their elders have been through. They never have and they never will—because they can’t, until they become that age themselves. They respond to things as they see them. My daughter was not ‘encouraged� in her opinion. I only asked for her thoughts, as I will continue to do. I value it. She knows her grandfather was a two tour Vietnam Vet. He never complains about his time over there, although he rescued injured, brought back the dead and dying, and risked his life time and again. He could tell plenty of stories if he chose to; enough said.
Jason, I have not read that book. Right now it's not on my horizon but I'll recommend it to my hubby who loves to read good military/war reads. I can ask him to get back with you if you like.
For those who love our Vietnam vets, I recommend you check out the virtual wall at:
One of my favorite entries was this one: Army SFC James H. Zumbrun of Manchester, Maryland, was killed on January 10, 1970, when his observation plane was shot down in Vietnam.
"He was over there by choice," said his father Champ Zumbrun of his son, a former Carroll County soccer star. "He didn't have to be there. He said we have to do it. This is the place we have to be".
James was a Silver Star recipient and member of the elite Green Berets and was on his third voluntary tour of duty in Vietnam at the time of his death at the age of 26.
He had joined the Special Forces shortly after graduation from North Carroll High School in 1961. He was decorated more than a dozen times, receiving in addition to the Silver Star and Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters with "V" device, the Purple Heart with two oak clusters, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation medal with oak leaf cluster, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm, the Master Parachutist medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Ranger School badge and the Good Conduct Medal. His Silver Star citation read that the sergeant had
“Distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions March 13, 1968, as Special Forces adviser to a Vietnamese reconnaissance team. When moving through dense jungle, his patrol came in contact with an enemy platoon. He quickly placed fire on the enemy force. Outnumbered and drawing fire from three sides, he directed the withdrawal of the patrol, remaining behind to cover his comrades. Joining the other patrol members, he directed them to an extraction landing zone. With the enemy within 20 meters, he braved fire to protect the recovery helicopter and to direct gunships and airstrikes on enemy positions. As the last three patrol members were being hoisted into the recovery aircraft, the landing zone began receiving intense enemy fire. Zumbrun, realizing the aircraft and remaining patrol members were in grave danger, dropped 30 feet to the ground, enabling the aircraft to withdraw undamaged. A second recovery helicopter arrived and he was successfully extracted.�
Thank you and God bless you James! May Our Heavenly Father reward you—and all your fallen comrades—as only He knows how to do!

I think everything that upset you about this book was intended: the feelings of meaninglessness, the lack of morality, the inability to move on. This was the point, and therefore the fact that you were unsettled means that the book was successful and deserves more credit than you gave it. O'Brien made you feel, and even making you feel discomfort has value as art.

The book transcends this historical time period by focusing on the emotions and experiences of the soldier. He does not preach about whether Vietnam was right or wrong, but rather relates the everyday experiences of soldiers at war and the ways they have to cope with hardship and the emotional toll it takes on their lives. He retells a story, and readers are allowed to make up their own minds. By reading their stories, I could imagine men serving in more recent conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan having the same kind of burdens and I felt a renewed sense of gratitude for those who serve our country.

Andrew wrote: "The book transcends this historical time period by focusing on the emotions and experiences of the soldier. He does not preach about whether Vietnam was right or wrong, but rather relates the every..."

Andrew, I'm glad this book -- and the stories of these men -- helped you imagine men serving in more recent conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan and their burdens and the sense of gratitude this brought you. God bless you and all who serve our country! bl

"All who serve our country"? Perhaps you mean "all who serve the interests of the corporate-military complex that profit wonderfully from the sales of weapons, vehicles, and all the other accouterments of otherwise demented war efforts cleverly labelled as missions to liberate, save, or rescue a population that most Americans couldn't care less about.

O'Brien saw through this and subtly criticizes the American population back home who are mostly apathetic about the American soldiers' fates let alone pause to consider the Vietnamese casualties.
The decency of the Vietnamese people is also suggested by O'Brien's depictions of characters such as the Buddhist monks or the old man who led them through the minefield.

It's funny, I agree with much of what you said in your review, and yet still I find this book beautiful, lyrical, and real. Perhaps you are projecting demands on to the book that he can't meet -- perhaps there is no sense to be made, after watching our country get sucked into this conflict. My father was drafted, was never in country, spent years on an air craft carrier and then in Gitmo, and yet those experiences profoundly changes his views of America, of the world, and I'd say he never fully recovered. Perhaps O'Brien had it easy compared to some (but sadly, that's true of all of us -- there's always someone who has it worse), but that doesn't mean we should expect answers from him.

Thank you Norman and Emily for your comments. Also, special thanks to your father, Emily, for his service to our country. I am truly sorry for his suffering. That is the service I was speaking about in the earlier comment Norman, the service of those who are in our armed forces and have given years of their lives and/or their lives. God bless all who have served, especially those who have given all. Also bless their families and our country.

It isn’t about ‘the things they carried� it’s about WHO carried them, the brave men and women who gave so much for you and you and me. They fought for us and our country and the ideals it stand for, whether or not we know or remember them. says it so much better than I ever could. Thank you God for watching over our country, the only country ever in the history of the world founded on a principal, the principal of freedom for all, a principal worth fighting and dying for. Many have tried—and still try—to corrupt, distort and destroy that ideal. Maybe someday they will succeed. I pray they never do. In the meantime, I thank and bless those who join the armed forces of this country and do their best to defend the United States of America. God bless America!

Booklady I read your original review, I am in total agreement with you. There are times when we write as an Eagle flying so high above, with an Eagles viewpoint. Or as I may say it like this everyone reports in from a different position in the race.

You were a Major! I was a mere Private who was afraid of guns, ha! - Anyway, very interesting review, have nothing to add to all the above, other than if you continue writing on such subjects, you'll never have time to read anything else due to your habit of answering each and every comment - and your replies are so pertinent and thoughtful.

You're something of a treasure. Don't mean to embarrass you, or to imply you are singular in some manner (even if I think you are).

Sorry, I can't say anything without qualifying it.

Dear Angela and Penny,

Thank you for your kind words dear friends. Have closed off my comments now to all but GR friends because I don't have time as you say. Still, I did think it was important in the beginning to reply to those who made thoughtful and serious comments. Read this book and wrote the review back when my younger daughter was still in high school ... so many years ago I can hardly remember it. Probably wouldn’t have read it if it hadn’t been required reading for her English class. After I read it, I gave it to my husband, Bear—also an AF vet and a retired Colonel, to get his perspective. His father, Julius (Jude) served two tours in Vietnam when Bear was growing up. When he was just a boy, my husband used to get teased by kids (“Where’s your dad?�) because his father was away fighting in an unpopular war. Bear rated this book 1 also and wouldn’t give it to his father to read because he knew Dad wouldn’t read it. My Dad, Jude, happens to believe he served his country, whatever else anyone says to the contrary. So do we.

Not a treasure. Just love my family and country like most folks.

Such a moving review Booklady. I think the answer probably is that we can never find a sufficient reason for such an horrific war. Jo

Josephine wrote: "Such a moving review Booklady. I think the answer probably is that we can never find a sufficient reason for such an horrific war. Jo"

Concur!