The Things They Carried – Tim O’Brien (1990)
A groundbreaking work of metafiction, Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried blurs the line between memoir and novel to capture the visceral, psychological weight of the Vietnam War. Through interconnected short stories, O’Brien (a Vietnam veteran himself) recounts the experiences of his fictional platoon—not just the bullets and bloodshed, but the emotional baggage of fear, guilt, and fractured humanity they carried home.
For Readers Who’d Also Connect With:
- Dispatches (1977) – Michael Herr – Gonzo-journalism from Vietnam’s front lines
- Matterhorn (2010) – Karl Marlantes – A novel of visceral combat and brotherhood
- Redeployment (2014) – Phil Klay – Iraq War stories with similar psychological depth
“Not just about war, but the weight of memory—and how stories keep us alive.”
