Estrogen discussion

So, what do you guys think of Tim O'Brien's book so far? Do you think it accurately reflects his experiences in Vietnam? It's a work of fiction -- do you think it would be better if it was non-fiction. How does an author write about something that may or may not be based in truth considering he actually served in the Vietnam War?

I really liked the book and while reading it thought it was non fiction the entire time. So when I found out it wasn't I was somewhat disappointed to find out but I still enjoyed the book

Hannah wrote: "I really liked the book and while reading it thought it was non fiction the entire time. So when I found out it wasn't I was somewhat disappointed to find out but I still enjoyed the book"

Well, it's a good thing you have his memoir now so you can figure out what really happened. :)

Not knowing what was true and what was not made the book more enjoyable for me. It created this sense of endless possibility by preventing it from being limited by the restrictions of reality. For that reason I'm quite glad we're reading O'Brien's memoir after and not before 'The Things they Carried'

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking when I assigned the books in that order. Last year, it was reversed, and it didn't go over quite as well . . . I love when things work out like that. :) I think maybe O'Brien had to get at the "story" truth as well as the "happening" truth in order to have the writing process be therapeutic for him.

Deirdre wrote: "Not knowing what was true and what was not made the book more enjoyable for me. It created this sense of endless possibility by preventing it from being limited by the restrictions of reality. For ..."
I agree.. I didn't think of it this way at first and I'm happy we are reading the memoir second because if it was reversed, 'The Things They Carried' wouldn't have been as enjoyable because we would have already known what was true/false.

The title of O'Brien's memoir reminds me of a children's nursery rhyme. It sounds very upbeat, innocent, the words have a kind of light or joy to their rythm, but the words themselves are very dark, like ring around the rosy.
If I die in a Combat Zone, Box me up and ship me home.
it has that same light feeling with a much darker meaning.

I agree completely. It's from something the soldiers said when they marched in unison -- remind me and I'll demonstrate for you in class :) Believe me, they said that and much, much worse . . . by worse, I mean darker . . . so it goes.

I started the book soon after posting that, and I have stumbled upon what you mentioned. I'll be sure to remind you to provide us with a demonstration in class!