In the summer of 1954, after several years in Austin, Minnesota, our family moved across the state to the small, rural town of Worthington, where my dad became regional manager for a life insurance company. To me, at age 7, Worthington seemed a perfectly splendid spot on the earth. Tim O'Brien ageaustincompany share on social
I think I'm a pretty moral guy, a very moral guy, but I'm not perfect. Tim O'Brien guymoralperfect 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
'The Things They Carried' is labeled right inside the book as a work of fiction, but I did set out when I wrote the book to make it feel real... I use my own name, and I dedicated the book to characters in the book to give it the form of a war memoir. Tim O'Brien bookcarrycharacter share on social
In fiction workshops, we tend to focus on matters of verisimilitude largely because such issues are so much easier to talk about than the failure of imagination. Tim O'Brien easyfailurefiction Change image and share on social
Stories are not explanations of the world we live in. Science does that, and math does that. Our obligation as fiction writers is to enhance the mysteries. Tim O'Brien enhanceexplanationfiction Change image and share on social
I could feel my moral compass as a soldier, in danger of - I could feel the squeeze, the pressure of frustration and anger and fear combining on me... I felt the danger; I felt the squeeze of it. Tim O'Brien angercombinecompass Change image and share on social
The people in 'July, July' do find themselves looking backward, talking to others and to themselves about those over-the-cliff, fork-in-the-road moments in their lives. I imagine this is what must happen at a 30th college reunion. Tim O'Brien 30thbackwardcliff share on social
My life is storytelling. I believe in stories, in their incredible power to keep people alive, to keep the living alive, and the dead. Tim O'Brien alivedeadincredible 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
