I hated the draft, but at the same time, it's something that made every American take war seriously. Tim O'Brien americandrafthate Change image and share on social
I know what it is to feel unloved, to want revenge, to make mistakes, to suffer disappointment, yet also to find the courage to go forward in life. Tim O'Brien couragedisappointmentfeel Change image and share on social
Love, as wonderful and horrible as it is, has at its center a kind of pitiful humor. Tim O'Brien centerhorriblehumor Change image and share on social
A small, seemingly inconsequential event can determine a life. Tim O'Brien determineeventinconsequential Change image and share on social
Fiction is a lie that is told in the service of truth. Tim O'Brien fictionlieservice Change image and share on social
For me, the way to approach a subject such as Vietnam is through storytelling. Tim O'Brien approachstorytellingsubject Change image and share on social
By telling stories, you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself. You pin down certain truths. Tim O'Brien experienceobjectifypin Change image and share on social
What do you do when you get a draft notice and you think a war is wrong? And I struggled with that for months prior to my being inducted into the army, and I'm still struggling with it, 40 years later. Tim O'Brien armydraftinduct share on social
To provide background and physical description and all the rest is of course vital to fiction, but vital only insofar as such detail is in the service of a richly imagined story, rather than in the service of good botany or good philosophy or good geography. Tim O'Brien backgroundbotanydescription share on social
I carry the memories of the ghosts of a place called Vietnam - the people of Vietnam, my fellow soldiers. Tim O'Brien callcarryfellow Change image and share on social