Who do you call a civilian in a guerilla war? I mean, it might be a farmer by day or a merchant, a housewife, and by night the housewife may be helping to make landmines and booby traps and who knows. Tim O'Brien More Quotes by Tim O'Brien More Quotes From Tim O'Brien No matter how wonderful the story, it has to move on something, and that is language. The words that I use, the pace, the rhythm and cadences all need to be there. If they're not there, the story is like a boat that just sits there and doesn't move on the ocean. Tim O'Brien words ocean language matter In February 1969, 25 years ago, I arrived as a young, terrified PFC on this lonely little hill in Quang Ngai Province. Back then, the place seemed huge and imposing and permanent. Tim O'Brien place back hill lonely Most of the things in 'The Things They Carried' didn't happen to me. Ninety-five percent of it's invented. It's not what occurred. Tim O'Brien happen things me percent Love, as wonderful and horrible as it is, has at its center a kind of pitiful humor. Tim O'Brien humor kind wonderful love
