Jayson Taylor - The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried is a book of short stories about the Vietnam War, and the struggles and changes is brought to both Vietnam and the United States. The aspect of the war is emphasizes most is that the soldiers were still just young kids - they had hopes, sorrows, fantasies and guilt. Many of the soldiers did not want to be fighting at all and had no intention of killing, but they had to do what they were told. After their return to the United States they found it hard to fit in with regular society. Often times they felt isolated and depressed, many of them committing suicide as a result of them no longer being able to connect emotionally with their friends and family. Some stories are humorous, like the soldier who wore his girlfriend's stockings around his neck for comfort, while others were heartbreaking, like when a soldier writes a long, heartfelt letter to the sister of his friend who neglects to write back. The book is based on real events but has the drama and suspense of fiction, which makes it unforgettable.