Robin (USA: TX) (2007/09/03): My 16 y/o son had to read this for AP English and he thought it was a really good book.
Diane P (USA: NC) (2009/01/13): I did not care for this book. I had to read it for a class, and I would not recommend it to anyone who isn't a fan of depressing war stories. It was pretty graphic and disturbing (I couldn't eat my lunch while I read it). I really think that this is a book that Tim O'Brien wrote for himself, to get some of his demons out. It's partially based on his war experience, so some parts are true and some parts aren't (I think...he's pretty vague about that). In my opinion it's more of his scattered thoughts on his war experiences than a cohesive story meant to be read by an audience. I didn't see any overall 'point' to the book, like a lesson or a moral or even just a truth about life in general. I had trouble relating to it, but maybe someone else will appreciate it more.