Most of my
anthologies, and the three textbooks I use for my creative writing class,
include “The Things They Carried” by Tim O'Brien. Consequently, I have read that story numerous
times. While I admired it, it never rose
anywhere near any of my favorite stories.
When I heard O'Brien was scheduled to give a talk on “Things,” at Baylor
University, I decided to attend and see if I could gain any insights into the
story. His topic was the difference
between “true” and “truth” in fiction.
His talk was enthralling, and I decided to read a later work, his 2002
novel, July, July.
William Timothy
“Tim” O’Brien was born in Minnesota in 1946.
He teaches at Texas State University at San Marcos. He was drafted upon his graduation from
college, and served in Viet Nam from 1969-1970.
His unit was part of the platoon led by Lt. Calley of the Mi Lai
massacre. O’Brien’s unit arrived at Mi
Lai a year later, bewildered at the hostility of the people. He did not know about the massacre. “The Things They Carried” explores the
boundaries between what was “true” – based on facts, and “truth” – the
verisimilitude of events. This has
become and important element of his style.
July, July relates the story of about 20 people who gather to celebrate their 31st
reunion from college. An odd number,
since the gathering was supposed to be the 30th reunion the year
before, but the planner had forgotten, and she opted for a 31st
celebration.
I was a bit daunted
by the large cast of characters, especially since some occasionally went by
nicknames, and I did not have enough information on peripheral family members
to construct a tree. That were lots of
college romances revived and lots of peculiar life styles. For example, one woman was married to two
men. Both men knew of the other, and
accepted the eccentricity of a powerful and independent woman. She alternated weeks at the two houses. She also managed to revive an old crush,
which still lingered after three decades.
But as the story unfolded, I began to have a feel for the group, almost
as if I was attending a reunion of my own.
The major characters, I had a firm grasp of their identities and
peculiarities. And, as in any reunion,
the minor characters had escaped my memory.
Early in the
reunion, O’Brien begins one of a dozen interesting descriptions of the class
members. He writes, “David tapped out a
cigarette, slipped it between her lips, struck a match, and watched her lean in
toward the flame. Lovely woman, he
thought. Steel eyes. Silver-blonde hair, cut short. Trim, No hips. No sign of any extra eight pounds. They’d remained friends over the years,
sharing lunches, sometimes sharing a bed, and David found it impossible to
believe that they would not somehow end up living together and getting old
together, and finally occupying the same patch of earth. Anything else seemed mad. Worse than mad. Plain evil” (12).
As a graduate of an all-male
high school and college, I never had this type of reunion experience catching
up with old friends. Mine are scattered
to the winds, and only an occasional query on Facebook recalls the old days.
Reading July, July in light of his lecture and
my experience with “Things,” I have come to a better understanding of this
talented and funny writer. 5 stars.
--Chiron, 2/21/16
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