The Things They Carried (Paperback) ~ Tim O'Brien (Author) Cover Art

The Things They Carried (Paperback)

By: Tim O'Brien (Author)

More About this Product
List Price: $14.95
Tower Price: $9.98
You Save: $4.97 (34%)
Add to BagAdd to Bag Click to go directly to the checkout.
This item qualifies for FREE Shop N' Save Shipping for orders over $25. Check individual shipping price. *Some Restrictions Apply.
Availability: In Stock
Share This:
Add To KaboodleAdd To Kaboodle  Submit To Digg!Submit To Digg!  Share On FacebookShare On Facebook  Add to FavoritesAdd to Favorites  TwitterTwitter 

Product Description

Run a Quick Search on "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien to Browse Related Products:

Browse more products related to "The Things They Carried"

Browse more products related to "Tim O'Brien"

Publisher's note

One of the first questions people ask about The Things They Carried is this: Is it a novel, or a collection of short stories? The title page refers to the book simply as "a work of fiction," defying the conscientious reader's need to categorize this masterpiece. It is both: a collection of interrelated short pieces which ultimately reads with the dramatic force and tension of a novel. Yet each one of the twenty-two short pieces is written with such care, emotional content, and prosaic precision that it could stand on its own.
The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and of course, the character Tim O'Brien who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. They battle the enemy (or maybe more the idea of the enemy), and occasionally each other. In their relationships we see their isolation and loneliness, their rage and fear. They miss their families, their girlfriends and buddies; they miss the lives they left back home. Yet they find sympathy and kindness for strangers (the old man who leads them unscathed through the mine field, the girl who grieves while she dances), and love for each other, because in Vietnam they are the only family they have. We hear the voices of the men and build images upon their dialogue. The way they tell stories about others, we hear them telling stories about themselves.
With the creative verve of the greatest fiction and the intimacy of a searing autobiography, The Things They Carried is a testament to the men who risked their lives in America's most controversial war. It is also a mirror held up to the frailty of humanity. Ultimately The Things They Carried and its myriad protagonists call to order the courage, determination, and luck we all need to survive.

Customer Reviews for "The Things They Carried (Paperback)" by Tim O'Brien (Author)

Average Customer Review
5 out of 5 stars ( [1 customer review] ) 

Share your thoughts with other customers:
 [Submit your ReviewSubmit your Review] 

Most Recent Customer Reviews
5 out of 5 stars War? What is it good for?, May 7, 2008
By TeamLocke
Inspiration for outstanding short story collections, apparently. This is one of those treasures Ive had to purchase a few times now, so heartily recommending it and lending it to my friends that theyve managed to carry it to the far corners of the world. This collection is a series of stories framed by Tim OBriens service in the Vietnam war. His prose is deft and precise, conjuring images of a contemporary Hemingway. Its a gritty portrayal of one mans war and one mans demons. Nothing is sure as he guides you through the shadows and trenches of the jungle and the excruciating confusion that is war. Masterful.

Explore More Great Tower Sales & Specials

Tower.com BOOK Sales, Promotions & Special Features

Tower.com Popular Book Wiki Articles

  • The Paperback
    Learn more information on the paperback format before choosing which type of book to purchase.
  • The E-Book
    What exactly is an "electronic book?" Learn before you buy with Tower Wiki!
  • The Audio Book
    Do you prefer to read or be read to? Learn more about this increasingly popular book format.

Interact with Tower.com