We tend to regard history as true and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' as untrue. That's always puzzled me. Tim O'Brien adventurefinnhistory Change image and share on social
For me, at least, Vietnam was partly love. With each step, each light-year of a second, a foot soldier is always almost dead, or so it feels, and in such circumstances, you can't help but love. Tim O'Brien circumstancedeadfelt Change image and share on social
Fiction, maybe art in general, is a tentative, uncertain enterprise; it's not science, it's an exploration, but you never find much in the way of answers. Tim O'Brien answerartenterprise Change image and share on social
The world comes at me that way - comes at me in clumps of stuff, sometimes little vignettes and sometimes whole stories. And then the rest is erased by the internal filter that erases things for the same reason you'd forget swatting a mosquito. Tim O'Brien clumperasefilter share on social
Laughter does not deny pain. Laughter - like a wail - acknowledges and replies to pain. Tim O'Brien acknowledgedenylaughter Change image and share on social
I live in my head all day long and the world is a little dreamy. Tim O'Brien daydreamyhead Change image and share on social
There's something about being amid the chaos and the horror of a war that makes you appreciate all you don't have - and all you may lose forever. Tim O'Brien amidchaosforever Change image and share on social
A bullet can kill the enemy, but a bullet can also produce an enemy, depending on whom that bullet strikes. Tim O'Brien bulletdependenemy Change image and share on social
I don't think I'd call myself a war writer, but I would probably say I'm a writer who has written about war. Tim O'Brien callwarwrite Change image and share on social
I didn't get into writing to make money or get famous or any of that. I got into it to hit hearts, and man, when I get letters not just from the soldiers but from their kids, especially their kids, it makes it all worthwhile. Tim O'Brien famoushearthit share on social