3.96k reviews for:

The Things They Carried

Tim O'Brien

4.12 AVERAGE

prodilosso's review against another edition

5.0

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These stories are appropriately nauseating. OBrien offers them as a way to share traumatic memories. He writes that "story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth". Since I will fortunately never experience the horror of a foot soldier in the Vietnam jungle, he brings me that truth.

renee_b_74's review against another edition

3.5

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I read this one for school and rated it a 7/10 back then. I probably rated it lower than I would have today, because I didn’t like heavy topics (such as war stories) when I was younger.

bhaal_babe's review against another edition

5.0

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This book was not my usual read, but I had to read it for college, and I can honestly say that it’s the best book I’ve ever had to read for class. It will sit with me forever.

The Vietnam war isn’t my favorite thing to read about, but this book never really felt like it’s about the war. It’s about the people, and I loved that.

jams_is_rad's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

gravelrider's review against another edition

5.0

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One of the best books I've read this year.

chriskemnitzer's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional sad medium-paced

domseno's review against another edition

5.0

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On the Rainy River may be one of the greatest chapters I have ever read

_hannahbutt's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

audgepodgeroma's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

brightwatcher's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark informative reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes