One does not need to read the stories in the order in which they appear in the novel since the book is unified by the common bond shared by the soldiers. O'Brien cleverly writes a novel that makes you question war stories and their affect on the soldiers. Although we see these men in many fragments throughout the novel, they are united by their common feelings or fear, guilt, shame, and desire to survive. O'Brien, at times, speaks directly to the audience, making us a part of this unified group of characters by questioning and feeling the emotions and weight of the baggage they all carry.
War is often depicted as brutal, action-packed, bloody, and a simple win or lose. In the novel, O' Brien has readers look beyond the Hollywood label and see the real essence of war: men ashamed of killing, men trying to be brave and not weak, keeping emotions off the battlefield, the difficulties of death and going back to civilian life, how strongly war changes people. Since each character has their own story to tell, it is not really about the stories told but the emotions we gain from them. So, overall this novel provides a more humble and realistic depiction of a controversial time in American history.
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