Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Sort of a Teaser

I've read a lot of books in the past week, but I haven't felt like writing and the poor old blog is languishing. Today, I finished The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. More on that in a second.

I'm not sure why I did this, but at some point this week, I ended up with my little point-and-shoot camera in hand. I took photos of some customers in Sam's, a row of strange little ceramic animals in Target, and the pizza we ate during the Super Bowl in a half-empty restaurant.

At home, I photographed of some of my favorite passages in two of the books I was reading. One of them was the second passage that moved me to tears in The Things They Carried. I'm not even sure why it made me cry -- maybe because I've experienced so much loss in my life. Maybe because and I can understand the concept of writing a story that contains an essential truth but isn't factual. Maybe because I'm just a little too much of an empath (I am; it's miserable). But, since I haven't said anything in a few days and I don't know when this inability to write coherent reviews is going to end, I thought I'd share a passage that moved me. Taken out of context, it might not mean anything, but it meant a great deal to me.

I'll review this book when I'm able. In the meantime, I can tell you only that The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien has just become a personal favorite and I'll be making space for it on the good shelves.

15 comments:

  1. You've made me hungry!

    I haven't started The Things They Carried Yet. I sounds like it's going to be an overwhelming, powerful book. I'm looking forward to your review.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  2. I'll be reading The Things They Carried soon - it sounds like I'll need a box of tissues near when I start it.

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  3. Good teaser excerpt. It gives me a feel for the book. And the pizza looks delicious.

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  4. I love that passage and that book. We at War Through the Generations are looking forward to your review.

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  5. Anna,

    The pizza was good. :)

    The Things They Carried is absolutely a powerful book and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I had to set it aside, now and then, when it began to get to me.

    Kathy,

    Definitely keep the tissues handy. You can't help but be moved. I cried several times.

    Bonnie,

    Even though that bit made me sob, so that I had to set the book aside till the next day, it's one of my favorite passages.

    The pizza was excellent -- leftovers are almost gone. We've been hacking away at the leftover pieces all week.

    Serena,

    Thanks. That's one of my favorite passages.

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  6. Wow. Looking forward to your review.

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  7. I love taking photos of food on trips.
    I really hope to read this book someday.
    :)

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  8. Mynovelreviews,

    Thanks. I hope I get to it, soon!

    Care,

    I love taking food photos, too.

    Definitely read this one. You won't regret it.

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  9. Amazing quote. I read this book a long time ago and had forgotten why I remembered liking it so much - thanks for the reminder!

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  10. I've wanted to read one of his books for a long time but I admit war books are just not at the top of my list. I can get very sad over all that but I'm sure your review will want to make me read it ASAP! :)

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  11. Dana,

    You should reread it to remind yourself why you remember liking it (apart from that page I photographed). It's not just a great book; it's an experience.

    Iliana,

    No, you're not really into war books, are you? Maybe it would be better to check the book out from your library, if you can. There are certain types of books (violence/gore, etc.) that I can't read or I'll just go to pieces. For some reason, I can handle war books, though.

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  12. I haven't read The Things They Carried in Years but this post def makes me want to revisit it. That's a really beautiful image of the page, btw!

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  13. Hey Rosemary!

    Nice to see you! Yep, you should definitely return to TTTC. It's worth revisiting, hence the spot I'm going to make on the good shelves . . . after I review it (whenever that may be).

    Thanks. My little point-and-shoot is such fun. I snapped that photo whilst lying on the futon with the book propped on a pillow. LOL

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  14. Wow. I remember that passage so vividly and I just looked back at my review and see that I read it over three years ago. I was completely blown away by this book! I gave it a perfect 5/5 (A+) rating, which is so rare for me. I really need to get some of his other books. I'm not sure why I haven't done so yet!

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  15. I'll have to dash over to read your review. If you remember that passage vividly, you've confirmed my suspicions that The Things They Carried is a book that sticks to your ribs. I can't imagine forgetting what happened to Norman or Kiowa or any of those guys -- especially those whose deaths he described. I feel a little inadequate trying to review it. I've got two more of his books, which I ordered from Paperback Swap, so I'll definitely read more O'Brien. Yep, you should, too. :)

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