Jamie, a twelve-year-old girl, grew up in an Army family and has always felt proud and amazed when talking about the Army. Her brother, TJ, goes to Vietnam and she is really excited on his behalf and she tells him to send letters about all his adventures. However, instead TJ sends her pictures that need to be developed, most of them are of the moon while the others show experiences that are different than what she imagined. When her brother’s letters stop coming, Jamie’s beliefs are questioned.
Considering the rough and difficult aspects of being involved in the war, the fictional work The Things They Carried. The main character is pulled into the Vietnam War and reflects on the war journey and life before it in a unique writing by Tim O’Brien. The Things They Carried was written by Tim O'Brien to indicate how running away from problems does not solve them.
In the Lake of the Woods is a novel that takes the reader through a series of flashbacks to tell the story of John Wade, a wannabe American politician who served in the Vietnam War. His story includes the disappearance of his wife Kathy Wade, and throughout the story the reader is given information about her disappearance to indicate whether or not John played a part in it. John wants a fulfilling life for him and his wife, which he believes can be achieved through getting elected into the US Senate.
The story of the men of the Alpha Company during the Vietnam War. During this story, we learn the stories of these men, and their lives before, during, and after the war. It is not told through one specific person, but instead takes turns in telling the stories of each member through their perspectives, or their fellow soldiers’.
The Things They Carried is a work of fiction; however, it was based on actual events from the author, Tim O’Brien’s time in Vietnam. In a collection of short stories about soldiers in the Vietnam War, O’Brien tells a story that reveals Vietnam’s effects. The best thing about this novel is the author’s writing style; he writes like he’s sharing memories. There are time jumps and events that take place out of order to convey this unique type of storytelling.
