This is a lovely book that was sometimes very hard to read. Some chapters were graphic and laced with a sad, violent exploration of experiences in war. The book was not a narrative story in the sense that the chapters did not always flow together. Rather it was a series of experiences that were woven and interlaced. 
 In some sense that structure contributed a choppy feel that reflects memories - in this case, Tim O'Brien's. Some things were real, others were not - even within a chapter, the author (and narrator) would say it's true and then later recant, and sometimes later would go back to it being true. Whether the specific events occurred or not is not the real beauty of this book, IMO. What was so touching to me was the overall "feel" of the stories. 
 Sending young men into situations to witness and participate in the violence of war has its consequences. Although not all soldiers who go to war come back damaged, they all come back changed - some use their experiences to become better people, others view life and friendships differently, others are wounded in unseen ways. 
 Whether the stories are true or not, this book "feels" true and real. Sometimes funny and sometimes sad - sometimes both at the same time - it follows a group of young men who are sometimes sweet or silly or playful and sometimes are angry and abusive. It is a lovely book and one that people should read to understand how people cope with all-too-real situations when they are young and scared and far from home. 
 I give the book a 4.5/5