If I Die in a Combat Zone


Book Description

A classic from the New York Times bestselling author of The Things They Carried "One of the best, most disturbing, and most powerful books about the shame that was / is Vietnam." —Minneapolis Star and Tribune Before writing his award-winning Going After Cacciato, Tim O'Brien gave us this intensely personal account of his year as a foot soldier in Vietnam. The author takes us with him to experience combat from behind an infantryman's rifle, to walk the minefields of My Lai, to crawl into the ghostly tunnels, and to explore the ambiguities of manhood and morality in a war gone terribly wrong. Beautifully written and searingly heartfelt, If I Die in a Combat Zone is a masterwork of its genre. Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content.




Fear and Courage in Tim O'Brien's If I Die in a Combat Zone, Going After Cacciato, and the Things They Carried


Book Description

After serving a tour as an infantryman in Vietnam (1969-1970), Tim O'Brien returned to the United States and began a career as a writer. He has since published six books and numerous short stories and has distinguished himself as an accomplished author in the process. Three of his books, If I Die in a Combat Zone (1973), Going After Cacciato (1978), and The Things They Carried (1990), deal specifically with the Vietnam war. In these works O'Brien clearly establishes fear as both a dominant aspect of the experience and an essential component necessary for the display of courage, one of his most significant considerations. He portrays bravery as an individual's ability to perform acts and make decisions despite apprehension, and he reveals the difficulty of demonstrating fortitude in the morally ambiguous environment of Vietnam where the horror of death was often secondary to that of cowardice. Ultimately, however, although the arena of armed combat provides a unique setting in which to display human conduct and consciousness, the link between courage and fear that O'Brien illustrates is not a war issue but rather a universal one. The strength of his writing lies in his ability to depict this intricate relationship in a manner that is relevant to humanity as a whole. furthermore, his vivid presentation of the Vietnam conflict, without anti-war protest or political agenda, makes its own case for the prevention of a similar sacrifice of human lives and innocence in the future.




The Things They Carried


Book Description

A classic work of American literature that has not stopped changing minds and lives since it burst onto the literary scene, The Things They Carried is a ground-breaking meditation on war, memory, imagination, and the redemptive power of storytelling. The Things They Carried depicts the men of Alpha Company: Jimmy Cross, Henry Dobbins, Rat Kiley, Mitchell Sanders, Norman Bowker, Kiowa, and the character Tim O’Brien, who has survived his tour in Vietnam to become a father and writer at the age of forty-three. Taught everywhere—from high school classrooms to graduate seminars in creative writing—it has become required reading for any American and continues to challenge readers in their perceptions of fact and fiction, war and peace, courage and fear and longing. The Things They Carried won France's prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger and the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize; it was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.




Dad's Maybe Book


Book Description

A bestselling author shares wisdom from a life in letters, lessons learned inwartime, and the challenges, humor, and rewards of raising two sons.




Vietnam War Stories


Book Description

Dealing with ten key narratives, including novels and personal accounts, Herzog locates them in the tradition of war literature as well as recent cinema, and charts the transformations of the American nation in its experience of modern war.




The Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature


Book Description

More than ten years in the making, this comprehensive single-volume literary survey is for the student, scholar, and general reader. The Continuum Encyclopedia of American Literature represents a collaborative effort, involving 300 contributors from across the US and Canada. Composed of more than 1,100 signed biographical-critical entries, this Encyclopedia serves as both guide and companion to the study and appreciation of American literature. A special feature is the topical article, of which there are 70.




The Rough Guide to Vietnam


Book Description

The Rough Guide to Vietnam is the essential guide to one of Southeast Asia's most enticing destinations. Roam the markets, temples and shops of thousand-year-old Hanoi, and then slow the pace down with a trip to national parks or the remote highlands. From the rugged mountains of Ha Giang in the north to the pancake-flat Mekong Delta in the south, the Rough Guide's honest and up-to-date appraisals will steer you to the best places to stay, eat and party across every price range. Reviews take in hill-tribe homestays, quirky hostels, boutique hotels, sophisticated restaurants and delicious street food, while informed and accessible writing covers everything from Buddhism to battlefields. This fully revised edition is full-colour throughout, helping the country's tremendous food, impressive colonial architecture and colourful ethnic minorities leap from the page, and detailed maps offer clear guidance.




The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Travel Guide with Free eBook)


Book Description

This practical travel guide to Vietnam features detailed factual travel tips and points-of-interest structured lists of all iconic must-see sights as well as some off-the-beaten-track treasures. Our itinerary suggestions and expert author picks of things to see and do will make it a perfect companion both, ahead of your trip and on the ground. This Vietnam guide book is packed full of details on how to get there and around, pre-departure information and top time-saving tips, including a visual list of things not to miss. Our colour-coded maps make Vietnam easier to navigate while you're there. This guide book to Vietnam has been fully updated post-COVID-19 and it comes with a free eBook. The Rough Guide to VIETNAM covers: Ho Chi Minh City and around, the Mekong Delta, the central highlands, the southern coast, central Vietnam, the northern coast, Hanoi and around and the far north. Inside this Vietnam travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Vietnam, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Ca Mau Peninsula to family activities in child-friendly places, like Tra Su Bird Sanctuary or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Ha Long Bay. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including Vietnam entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Includes carefully planned routes covering the best of Vietnam, which give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter of this Vietnam travel guide includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for water puppetry, boat trips, cycling, kayaking or exploring markets. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Kon Tum and Son My's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to Vietnam, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, this Vietnam guide book will help you find the best places, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter of this travel guide to Vietnam features fascinating insights into Vietnam, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass and the spectacular Khai Dinh Mausoleum. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Hoi An, Hue and many more locations in Vietnam, reduce the need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.




The Rough Guide to Vietnam (Travel Guide eBook)


Book Description

Discover this exciting destination with the most incisive and entertaining guidebook on the market. Whether you plan to take a boat trip through stunning Ha Long Bay, trek in the mountains around Sa Pa or browse Ho Chi Minh's markets, this new edition of The Rough Guide to Vietnam will show you the ideal places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and visit along the way. Inside The Rough Guide to Vietnam - Independent, trusted reviews written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and insight, to help you get the most out of your visit, with options to suit every budget. - Full-colour maps throughout - navigate the tangle of streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter or Ho Chi Minh's Cho Lon district without needing to get online. - Stunning images - a rich collection of inspiring colour photography. - Itineraries - carefully planned routes to help you organize your trip. - Detailed regional coverage - whether off the beaten track or in more mainstream tourist destinations, this travel guide has in-depth practical advice for every step of the way. Areas covered include: Mekong Delta; Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An; Da Lat; Nha Trang; My Son; Mui Ne; Da Nang; Hue; Cat Ba Island; Sa Pa. Attractions include: Ha Long Bay; Cu Chi Tunnels; Lak Lake; Tam Coc; Po Klong Garai; Cao Dai Great Temple; Bahnar villages; Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark; The Citadel, Hue and Tet. - Basics - essential pre-departure practical information including getting there, local transport, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, crime and personal safety, festivals and religious events, sports and outdoor activities, shopping, travelling with children and more. - Background information - a Contexts chapter devoted to history, religion and beliefs, Vietnam's ethnic minorities, environmental issues, music and theatre, books, movies and film, plus a handy language section and glossary. About Rough Guides: Escape the everyday with Rough Guides. We are a leading travel publisher known for our "tell it like it is" attitude, up-to-date content and great writing. Since 1982, we've published books covering more than 120 destinations around the globe, with an ever-growing series of ebooks, a range of beautiful, inspirational reference titles, and an award-winning website. We pride ourselves on our accurate, honest and informed travel guides.




Tomcat in Love


Book Description

A CLASSIC FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THINGS THEY CARRIED In this wildly funny, brilliantly inventive novel, Tim O'Brien has created the ultimate character for our times. Thomas Chippering, a 6'6" professor of linguistics, is a man torn between two obsessions: the desperate need to win back his former wife, the faithless Lorna Sue, and a craving to test his erotic charms on every woman he meets. But there are complications, including Lorna Sue's brother, Herbie, with whom she has an all-too-close relationship, and the considerable charms of Chippering's new love, the attractive, and of course already married, Mrs. Robert Kooshof, who may at last satisfy Chippering's longing for intimacy. In Tomcat in Love, Tim O'Brien takes on the battle of the sexes with astonishing results. By turns hilarious, outrageous, romantic, and deeply moving, this is one of the most talked about novels in years: a novel for this and every age.