'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
It's very hard to articulate the things that are important about writing. Tim O'Brien articulatehardimportant Change image and share on social
After each of my books about the war has appeared, I thought it might be the last, but I've stopped saying that to myself. There are just too many stories left to tell - in fact, more all the time. Tim O'Brien appearbookfact Change image and share on social
America before the 1960s was a pretty innocent place. We were the Lone Ranger galloping off to the rescue of the needy and the oppressed of the world, and we could get things done. Tim O'Brien 1960samericagallop Change image and share on social
I did not set out to write another novel. One day I sat down with the thought of trying my hand at a piece of nonfiction, a personal memoir of youth, but over the next several weeks, without intending it, the work began evolving into what has become 'Tomcat in Love.' Tim O'Brien begindayevolve share on social
Who do you call a civilian in a guerilla war? I mean, it might be a farmer by day or a merchant, a housewife, and by night the housewife may be helping to make landmines and booby traps and who knows. Tim O'Brien boobycallcivilian Change image and share on social
The wars don't end when you sign peace treaties or when the years go by. They will echo on until I'm gone and all the widows and orphans are gone. Tim O'Brien echoendorphan Change image and share on social
Inside I feel much like a 12-year-old or a 17-year-old who knows big words. Tim O'Brien bigfeelinside Change image and share on social
The goal, I suppose, any fiction writer has, no matter what your subject, is to hit the human heart and the tear ducts and the nape of the neck and to make a person feel something about the characters are going through and to experience the moral paradoxes and struggles of being human. Tim O'Brien characterductexperience share on social
Stories can encourage us and embolden us to face ourselves and to feel. Stories can make us feel less alone. If we're reading a story that moves us, we can feel that emotion that I feel towards my father or mother or girlfriend. So they can give us late-night company. Tim O'Brien companyemboldenemotion share on social