Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried was a powerful and profound novel, one that I did not expect to enjoy. I have never liked novels about war. They are just not something I have ever been interested in and there is no way I would have read this novel on my own, but I am very glad I did read it. O'Brien begins the novel by describing the things he and the other soldiers carry with them, physically and emotionally. He tells various stories about the Vietnam War through the use of flashbacks and with different characters. His use of alternating between the men shows the wide range of people that were involved in the war, both by choice and those that were forced. O'Brien even tells the story of how he came to be involved in the war. The novel describes not only things O'Brien and his comrades encountered during the war but also how everything was different when they returned. 
 One story that I really related to was the one told in "Field Trip" when O'Brien took his daughter to Vietnam (view spoiler)[were they visited the field Kiowa died in. (hide spoiler)] My father was never involved in any war, but I was still able to relate a lot with his daughter. I can remember being ten and my father trying to show me photos or tell me stories about his youth and I wasn't really listening. I just thought they were boring stories and I probably couldn't wait to get back to my Barbie dolls. However now that I'm older, and know that he might not always be around, I try to cherish those things more and regret not really listening when I was younger. O'Brien's daughter seemed to be that same way to me. She kept asking if they could leave; she didn't really understand the significance of where they were. 
 Overall, this was an incredible novel that I think any solider or human being should experience. I think it can teach you something really precious about life. O'Brien's stories and descriptions are truly powerful and I'm sure anyone can find something to relate to in them, even if you haven't been to war. 
 (Reviewed for my World Literature class.) 
 9/1001.