Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Day 1 The Things They Carried
Remember to post twice for a B. More than that will get you the A. We've been seeing a lot of plot summary. You've all ready the book so that isn't necessary. We've also seen a lot of GREAT comments about characters and conflicts. Keep it up! Question each other and dig deeper.
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36 comments:
Mary Chambers,
I love my book so far. Its really good and I love the the writer of the book was really there. It makes the story more personal.
In the love chapter was easy to relate to. Loving someone and missing someone that you really care about is easy to feel. Missing someone is a hard thing to go through and being the the war and missing a girl who he thought didn't even like him must have been horrible. When Sergent Cross talked about how his thoughts destracted him.
Learning about everything that they carried was amazing. I knew that they carried a lot and that the things they carried weighed a lot but I didn't know that it was SOO heavy. I thought that learning about the little personal things that they carried and talked about was important. Each of them carried momentos that were important to each person. I thought that the things that they each carried was cute. Sentimental. It made them each special and it showed that even men of war still have thoughts and feelings.
I love this book and I can't wait to read more!!!
Shauna Colton, I really like this book, and find it very interesting. And I think it's going to get even more interesting.
I really like Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and how they tell us about his love for Martha. That kind of makes the story that much more personal. Hearing how they have other lives other then the war. Like we no they all have other lives from like before the war and families and everything. But hearing how he can still love her even through the war
I really like this book a lot and think it's going to get very interesting. I cant wait to keep reading!!
Will Brackley
There is bit of an obsession over a girl for a bit of the book. It lists everything they carried by onces/pound. Why onces. I thought it was weird where one of the guys got a dog and then someone straped it to a claymore, they then exploded it (very mean). I dont really have a favorite character yet. I find that shooting yourself in the foot is very dumb. It just means they dont have the courage to stay and fight. They swear a lot.
Sam Helmer:
My first impression of The Things They Carried is that it's kind of slow, yet very interesting. It doesn't read like a typical book about a war, which is cool. I like how the author repeats the line "the things they carried...blah,blah,blah." It gives a good connection and keeps you thinking. Also the author, Tim O'Brien, made himself a character in the story, which makes you think that it's a non-fiction, when in reality it's all made up.
I'm not really sure how I identify with any of the characters in the book individually. I think I identify with them more as a group. They all have feelings they don't want anyone to know about and as a result, they have a lot of bottled up emotions. I'm a lot like that.
The only conflict I can see in the book so far is the one between Lieutenant Cross and the rest of his men. They're not all on the same page, and that's bad.
Dillon Levesque
The mian charater is Jimmy Cross who is a Lieutenant during vietnam. his is in love with a girl named Martha who is a junior at Mount sebastain college in new jersy. jimmy is the leader of his platooon during the war in Than Khe vietnam. many of his men died. the first chapter is very repetitive about the things the men charried which kinda borded me.
Later in the book Jimmy visits an old platoon personal after the war is over his name in Tim which is the author of the book and is 43 years old when he writes this book.
Overall i think the book is good but i hope it talks more about the war and what happend. i relate the most to jimmy.
Jaime Vasquez
It's really difficult to pick a specific character as my favourite. Obviously, the narrator describes each person by the things that they carried on them (hence the title) but for the people that find it hard to connect a person's carried possessions to their identity as a human being. Each character is interesting for their own reasons, however. Since the narrator doesn't describe himself very much, he obviously tugs at one's imagination. What's his name, what does he carry that differs him from every other man in his platoon, what identifies him as a soldier and just an everyday civilian? Right now - the narrator has his own personal, internal conflict and their Sergeant has a conflict within himself, wanting to hold onto the love that he has for a woman that's so far away but who he has to let go, not only for his own sake but for the sake of the safety of his platoon.
Dillon Levesque
pg33-86
the author continues to talk about the good times they had during the war. he tells that the average age of the men in the platoon was 19 years old. which i find interesting, thats young, obviously due to the draft. this book is still really repeative, now the author keeps repeating his age. 43 years old.
he tells a story about how he didnt belive in the war when he got drafted in 1968. he was scared and thought about fleeing to Canada. he quit his job and drove amilessly towards canada. he stayed at a cabin and ment an old man who he claimed to have saved him. the only reason tim did not flee to canada because he was ashamed of what people would think of him. the old man knew he was going to war and gave him 200 $ marked Emergancy $.
the author continues to repeat about true war stories.
I found the buffalo story very cruel and sad.
so far i still like the book i just dont like how it is so repeative. the obsession of the girl was only in the beging of the book. i havent heard anything about her latley.
Jody Ferris,
This book so far is pretty interesting. I knew that soldiers that fought in Vietnam carries some pretty odd things but after just reading the first few pages i found out that they were things that were very important to them. It is their way of getting through the day.I also knew that what they carried was pretty heavy but after reading this i found out that it was very heavy. Average wait for equipment and other objects they had weighed around 20 lbs. That is heavy.
I relate Jimmy Cross to myself. If i were fighting in a war and i had a picture of a girl that i loved i would constantly look at it and think of her. It would be hard to focus on the war. Thats what he's going through. I cant wait to read more and see how Jimmy gets through his ordeal with war and love.
Jody Ferris,
This book so far is pretty interesting. I knew that soldiers that fought in Vietnam carries some pretty odd things but after just reading the first few pages i found out that they were things that were very important to them. It is their way of getting through the day.I also knew that what they carried was pretty heavy but after reading this i found out that it was very heavy. Average wait for equipment and other objects they had weighed around 20 lbs. That is heavy.
I relate Jimmy Cross to myself. If i were fighting in a war and i had a picture of a girl that i loved i would constantly look at it and think of her. It would be hard to focus on the war. Thats what he's going through. I cant wait to read more and see how Jimmy gets through his ordeal with war and love.
Jody Ferris,
This book so far is pretty interesting. I knew that soldiers that fought in Vietnam carries some pretty odd things but after just reading the first few pages i found out that they were things that were very important to them. It is their way of getting through the day.I also knew that what they carried was pretty heavy but after reading this i found out that it was very heavy. Average wait for equipment and other objects they had weighed around 20 lbs. That is heavy.
I relate Jimmy Cross to myself. If i were fighting in a war and i had a picture of a girl that i loved i would constantly look at it and think of her. It would be hard to focus on the war. Thats what he's going through. I cant wait to read more and see how Jimmy gets through his ordeal with war and love.
Sam Helmer,
So I'm not sure if we're supposed to just randomly leave a comment about the pages we were supposed to read or if Ms. T is going to ask another question, but since it's Friday and we're supposed to do a few of these before Sunday night, I figure I'll just randomly leave a comment.
I'm not to page 86 yet, but the more I read this book, the more I like it. I love the part/chapter I'm in about the six days O'Brien spent in Minnesota, for some reason I can really relate to that part.
Why do you guys think he includes this part?
Aaron Moore, pages 33-86
I agree with Dillon about the men being so young because of the draft. I found that interesting to read about the men and everything they carried. The book is starting to get more in depth with what real men during this time had to go through by describing what tim was feeling and the obstacles he had to over come. It talks about how tim was ashamed that he was running away from the draft and fleeing to Canada and how he thought peoples thoughts about his would change because he was acting like a "coward". The old man that he stayed with did help him by giving him $200 for "emergency money" because he knew what tim was doing and he tired to help as much as he could. I also agree that the book is repetitive but I think that it is starting to get better the farther I read into it. I don't hear much about the girl he was obsessed with anymore but it's probably because he is beginning to tell the first part of his life during the war and he has not gotten to meeting her yet. The buffalo story was cruel.
Mary Chambers, Day:1 Block:1:
I never made the connection that the author of the book was one of the men until I read the chapter about how he almost left the country!! That chapter was amazing. It showed how scared some of the men were during the time of Vietnam. Not all men that were fighting the war at the time wanted to be there, hardly any of the men wanted to be there! I never really knew that before. I mean I knew that no one wanted to be fighting the war but I didn't realize that a lot of men thought about fleeing the country. If I were in that situation (which I wouldn't have been considering I am a girl) I would have been scared and wanted to run away too!! War is scary and dangrous. I wouldn't want to leave my family knowing that I might not come back!! That would be so hard to do.
One of the most touching things was how he told the story. He admitting to have never told it to any one else. He was admitting that he was vunerable. I think that was couragous!! I find that as I read the book I relate a lot to Tim O'Brien! I think that in his situation I would have done the same things that he did. Some times you just need to get away from it all to realize what you really need to do. And thats just what he did!!
Shauna Colton, Pg. 33-86
This book just keeps getting better & better. But I do agree with Dillion about them being so young, becuase of the draft. It's kind of weird to think about kids were getting drafted at our age. We could be drafted in 3 months and thats what happened to some of these kids. The part about how he thought about going to Canada to get away from the draft & telling about how much he had going for him really made it real for me.
Also he stopped talking about the girl & I was wondering what happened with that?
I really really like this book though. It's good for so many different people. Kind of one that everyone will like.
David Ashworth
So far I like the book it dosnt read like a typical war book which I like. The people seem to be very real and intresting.
So far my favorite charitor is Jimmy Cross becuase of his love story with martha. I think its really cool to see what they all carried I never thought that each one of them had so much stuff that was needed for everyday in the war. And all the things that are sentimental to each one of them.
So far I like it and it should be fun to see what happens
David Ashworth
So I was looking at my tax returns and did anyone know that you can get more money on it if you enlist in the army or what not.
And a qustion to throw out to people, what would you do if you drafted and what would bring
Jaime Vasquez Day 1 Block 2
I found myself wanting to continue reading when I hit page 86. It's becoming increasingly difficult to stop myself and realize that reading ahead threatens to ruin it for anyone who might be reading my post. After hitting that part when Tim headed north and found himself at the lodge with that older gentleman, I seriously began to contemplate whether or not I could even think about doing that. He says he couldn't go to Canada because of the embarassment of desertion. I honestly believe that I would succumb to the same exact thought. "Christ, what are my parents going to think? What are my friends going to do when they realize they know such a coward?" I personally crave the life of the military since I had that taste of ROTC but those are both my choices, being drafted - well that completely negates my freedom to choose. So, what do ya'll think? Would something like embarassment keep you from heading north to avoid the draft?
Sam Helmer,
I agree with Mary. O'Brien is very easy to relate to. Maybe it's because of the way he wrights or maybe it's because he's written one of the only war books that isn't even a war book at all. It's a book of compiled stories about life, and things that almost every person at one time or another faces.
David has a really good question. If I was drafted (which isn't possible) I'd probably freak out at first. The thought alone disgusts me. It's not the leaving my family and friends behind that's hard to handle. It's the fact that I'd probably, most likely have to kill someone. I could never live with that guilt. I don't care how evil a person is...
As for what I would carry, I'd most definitaely bring music of some kind. Music is like the single most important thing to me. Without it, I'd be a goner. Other then that...I don't know what I'd carry. It would probably depend on how old I was, and who's in my life at that point in time.
Looking at Sam's post, I realized that I hadn't even contemplated what I would carry. It's really difficult to decide, I guess. Photos of my family would be close at all times, more than likely a small version of the Catechism in virtually invisible print, the rosary I received from Father Dubois. Stationary, even if it's just to doodle on or write letters I'd probably never send since they'd more than likely be me complaining and no one really wants to read that. Personally, I'm fine with the military lifestyle and I do a lot based on "If it needs to be done, it needs to be done." It's really the way I get through life. What's necessary must be done and if I'm gonna get shot you best bet I'm going to shoot the *Fill in the blank* before he/she gets me. It might not be the most moral of choices but - So be it. Me or them. And I'm a lot more stubborn.
will brackley D1B1 I think this book is very choppy in spots like when Mary Anne comes over. She is never seen again. That is lame. He talks to much about if war stories are true or not. He tries to define it in his own words and makes the book sound fake. Some of the chapters are like a page long. What is with that. I thought it was a bit disturbing when they shot at the bull. I also thought it was very weird that the animal can take so much damage and still live.
Jody Ferris,
Im learning alot about the characters so far. Im begining to understand their feelings for things that they had to leave back home after the draft. Some things they miss are just certain objects. Alot of it though is the love they have that certain someone or just missing family.
Alot of these soldiers have the feeling of just quiting, lying down and sleeping for ever yet they still get up and march to their duty. I think that takes alot of heart and courage to do that considering they are fighting for someone else.
SO far im really getting strong feelings about who these characters are and i like that so later in the book i will understand why they make certain decisions or just being able to say "yeah, he wouuld do that". It's nice to know who your characters are before the book kicks off.
Sam
I also think this book can be kinda choppy at points. But, if you read between the lines, and really think about it, it makes sense. Maybe it's just me. I tend to over think a lot of things, which is probably why I like the part about how to tell a good war story. He thinks about it so much that it becomes complicated, when really all you need to tell a good war story is beleif (<-- yeah I spelled that wrong). It doesn't matter if you're telling a story about shooting a baby buffalo or one about a girl that got so caught up in the war, she changed into something almost unhuman. I liked that story. I mean, the one about Mary Ann. I've never been a girly girl and I've always believed that I can do anything a guy can. I just find it interesting that she ended up that far gone. I'm sorry, but if you threw me in a war, no matter how brutal it was, or what I saw. I'm going to have some compassion left in me. So yeah, pretty much my whole post was me rambling...but maybe you got something out of it.
Dillon Levesque D1B1
I am also liking the book very much, it keeps getting more interesting. Although i found the part about one of the men flying his girlfriend into Nam very confusing. How did he manage to get her there i didn't think that was allowed. Then she went on an ambush and after that i got kind of confused. They found her with human toungs around her neck somwhere, was she captured. I am not really sure if someone would clarify i would appriciate it.
So far this book has been very repeative and it still is, i dont like that very much but overall i like the book.
Mary Chambers, Day:1 Block:1,
The war stories keep getting more and more intense. The book just keeps getting better and better. I never really knew before that most war stories that sound true are really fake and all the ones that sound fake are really real. I thought that was interesting.
If your boyfriend was in Vietnam would you get on a plane and fly over there just to see him?? I would be to scared out of my mind to go over there. While I love guns and guys I would never be caught dead over there. War is something that I personally never want to see/witness. I know that people do it every day but there is no way that I would be able to do it.
Huge Props to the MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN IRAQ!
Mary Chambers, Day: 1 Block: 1,
Can you imagine seeing your friend get killed right before your eyes?? Thats what happened to Rat and he was never the same after that. I can't imagine hanging out and talking to my friend one minute and the next minute see them dead.
Another question: Why was it that we actually went into Vietnam? I know they had communists and such but why was it that we went? That information is a little fuzzy for me.
The book is doing an amazing job with what was real and what was fake. The author has a good sense of what people said, weather or not it was true or fake. And I love how he tells the reader.
Come on guys how about some more linking to other peoples blogs. That way we can have a oonversation!!
Aaron Moore,
I agree with everyone else when they say the book is choppy and I agree with dillon on how the guy flew his girlfreind into nam. That was very confusing because I was left wondering how he could pull that off. Then when his girlfreind gets lost. Overall the book is still getting interesting as I keep reading. The way it is written it feels like you can picture the characters in the book and see what each one of them is carrying only by the descriptions in the book. I found that I can relate to the book much easier if I picture myself in the soldiers shoes and I could relate to how they were feeling about the war and about them selfs. I found that the part where the soldier shot the guy on the trail to be the most disturbing part so far. Just the way they went into detail with how he looked as he was lying there on the trail. The book is getting better though.
David Ashworth d1b1 To what jamie asked "Would something like embarassment keep you from heading north to avoid the draft?' I know that for me my uncle , grandfather ,and great grandfather Were all in the millitery and I would feel embarassed by running to the north. and seeing as I enjoy the rights and feeling of safty that they have fought for, then I should be will to put my life on the line for the same reasons they did.
This book is throwing some serious twists and turns at me that I just - Really couldn't have expected. Since I thought I knew about the vast majority of military protocol, flying in a non-combatant into a combat zone (whether or not it was really being bombed at the Medic unit or not) is just simply not done. There must have been some trading of R&R and some other bribery going on to have the girl so easily helied in. I really hate having to put the book down, I'll admit. Finding out that the girl wasn't really captured by was there with the Greenies by will was insane. Being a Greenie is one of the most physically exhausting and dangerous jobs in the military, obviously, like all other spec.ops. I kind of think that putting the girl into the story was intricate to show that even the most bubbly, air-headed, sunshine-female could be molded by the atrocities and lifestyle suffered in Vietnam.
Shauna Colton, Day 1 Blk 1
I agree with Dillon about the part with the guy flying his girlfriend into Nam. It's pretty confuseing & weird. I relaly like this book a lot though. I like how it's become so kind of...personal.
Another kind of confusing part was the monk cleaning the machine guns. I didnt really follow that?
The quote i really liked was "You come over clean and you get dirty and then afterward it's never the same." I really like that quote because it makes so much sence with everthing else in this book. It really sums up the men & there stories in this book. I really like it a lot.
i hope this works because ive tried posting like 489320489320 times and .. ya... noting.. but anyway I am just finishing up the book 1000 splendid suns by the same author of the kite runner and i started reading this book and it was a total bummer. Its starting to get better but the style of writing is so different. Ive never been a big fan war stories but this one is starting to grow on me.
whitney poulin
Sam
The more I read, the more I feel like I'm sitting with O'Brien, listening to stories he has to tell. I agree with Shauna, this book is wicked personal. It's almost like reading a personal journal. As for flying Mary-Ann into Nam, well...who knows, it could happen, but maybe not. I persoanlly think it did, but, the way O'Brien presented it, was like an example of a bad war story. He kept mentioning how Saunders (I think) would tell the guy, you're ruining it, just tell it like it is. Either way, the book is getting weird, and I'm having a love hate relationship with it.
Will Brackley D1B1
The ending of the book cought me off guard when he talks about when he was nine years old. I figured if that ever happened to me i would fall apart. I don't get why he would talk about war then when he was nine.
Aaron Moore,
The book is getting more into the postwar effects he was feeling. It talked about one of his old friends hanging himself in a locker room. I don't know what the significance of that was but before that he was talking about how that same friend sent him a letter through the mail requesting him to write a book about him but he asked not for his name to be published. I didn't understand that part.
Then he keeps going back to how he could have saved Kiowa i think it was in the field that day that he was being "sucked" under by the muck. It does not seem real because he said he didn't save him because of the smell of the field. It just sounds like a bad war story. But the book so far has been interesting and it keeps getting better the more he gets into detail with what he went through during his post war feelings.
Dillon Levesque
Day 1 Blk 1
I like this book but it is still very repeative. also i am starting to get confused becuase Tim is saying that these are true war stories then he says that they are made up. i am all confused. i think they are true war stories but exagerated a little bit to make them more exciting.
i agree with Shauna, the book has become very personal. tim lets you into his life.
dillon levesque
D1B1
I liked the book but it is still really repeative and i dont like that. the war stories are good but i dont feel the same affect from the authors war stories as i would if i was talking to an acutal person. there interesting but not that interesting and i dont know wether to believe him or not becuase he said that most war stories are not true, so are his?
I read about him driveing by that girl he liked so much after he got back form the war, she was mowing the lawn and he didnt stop and say hi. I dont know if i would have eighter but i would have been curious to talk to her and let her know i was okay. she probably would have been okay with that.
David Ashworth d1b1 I agree with dillon This book is really starting to confuse me, I dont really know whos talking to who. The book is geting really personal which I'm geting a little board with, I would rather hear about war and the stuff that they did. I really dont like the book at all actually I started likeing it but now I hate it.
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