“he wanted to sleep inside her lungs and breathe her blood and be smothered. He wanted her to be a virgin and not a virgin all at once. He wanted to know her. Intimate secrets: Why poetry? Why so sad? Why that grayness in her eyes? Why so alone? Not lonely, just alone - riding her bike across campus or sitting off by herself in the cafeteria - even dancing, she danced alone - and it was the aloneness that filled him with love. He remembered telling her that one evening. How she nodded and looked away. And how, later, when he kissed her, she received the kiss without returning it, her eyes wide open, not afraid, not a virgin’s eyes, just flat and uninvolved.”
Quote by Tim O'Brien
Work
The Things They Carried
This poignant collection of short stories explores the lives of soldiers during the Vietnam War, highlighting the physical and emotional toll of their experiences. The characters grapple with the weight of memories, fear, and the enduring impact of their time in combat. more
Author
Tim O'Brien
Tim O'Brien is an American novelist born on October 1, 1946. His works, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, explore themes of war and memory through personal experiences and fictional narratives. O'Brien's writing style is unique, utilizing nonlinear storytelling and metafictional techniques. more
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