Tim O Brien

BOOKS Whatever idea you have about reading groups — that they're a bunch of fusty librarian-types sitting around, talking about the interior lives of Jane Austen characters — you can probably throw away when it comes to Jeff Garlin. The rotund funny man from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" leads his own group at Book Soup, which will meet Friday to discuss Tim O'Brien's "Tomcat in Love," a tale of an irascible fellow who can't decide between winning back his ex-wife and seducing every new woman he meets.

Having a conversation with Rob Roberge is like participating in a discourse about, well, everything: Tim O'Brien's “The Things They Carried,” the art of celestial writing and the invention of the Big Dipper, why the Modern Lovers' “Roadrunner” is the best two-chord song in the world. It's one of the reasons I've always liked him; we've known each other for 15 years or so, have taught and published together, and I enjoy listening to him talk. He's sharp and funny, often lacerating and deeply self-reflective, qualities that also describe his third novel, “The Cost of Living” (Other Voices: 294 pp. $16 paper)

Well, of course it's fiction, Tim O'Brien was saying. He had a big smile on his face, and he was drinking coffee and Kahlua while he talked, as little as possible, about his new book, "The Things They Carried" (Houghton Mifflin, $18.95). He was saying it was a novel, fiction, get it? None of it really happened. It all came out of the author's head. Honest. So what if the protagonist of this alleged novel happens to be named, yes, Tim O'Brien.

Late in Karl Marlantes' memoir-philosophical treatise "What It Is Like to Go to War," a follow-up to his acclaimed Vietnam novel "Matterhorn," the author makes a plea for how America should treat its returning veterans from current and future wars. "There should be parades, but they should be solemn processionals, rifles upside down, symbol of the sword sheathed once again," he writes. "They should be conducted with all the dignity of a military funeral, mourning for those lost on both sides, giving thanks for those returned.

Rainer Wulf of Trabuco Hills High School will coach the South team and Tim O'Brien of Estancia will coach the North team in the 25th Orange County All-Star basketball game April 25 at Cal State Fullerton. Wulf, 30, led Trabuco Hills to a 55-27 record in three seasons and their second consecutive Pacific Coast League title this season.

Tim O'Brien, Estancia High School's basketball coach for the past five seasons, has been named coach of the Orange Coast College men's team, OCC Athletic Director Barry Wallace said Monday. O'Brien, 37, has been one of Orange County's most successful high school coaches. At Estancia, his teams had a record of 111-42, winning a state title in 1991 and a Southern Section title in 1990. He also coached at Tustin and Santiago high schools and in Arizona, compiling a record of 207-75.

Late in Karl Marlantes' memoir-philosophical treatise "What It Is Like to Go to War," a follow-up to his acclaimed Vietnam novel "Matterhorn," the author makes a plea for how America should treat its returning veterans from current and future wars. "There should be parades, but they should be solemn processionals, rifles upside down, symbol of the sword sheathed once again," he writes. "They should be conducted with all the dignity of a military funeral, mourning for those lost on both sides, giving thanks for those returned.

As MBA students, we are taught that, when evaluating financial statements, the devil is usually found in the details ("Simon's Disclosure Raises New Doubts," July 24). Had the media and public been given only two hours to look over Enron's books, Kenneth Lay would probably still be riding in a limousine to the office. Bill Simon should give Californians a reasonable opportunity to decide whether he has the acumen and ethics to lead our state. He should make his tax records completely available and then allow us to give fair judgment.

Having a conversation with Rob Roberge is like participating in a discourse about, well, everything: Tim O'Brien's “The Things They Carried,” the art of celestial writing and the invention of the Big Dipper, why the Modern Lovers' “Roadrunner” is the best two-chord song in the world. It's one of the reasons I've always liked him; we've known each other for 15 years or so, have taught and published together, and I enjoy listening to him talk. He's sharp and funny, often lacerating and deeply self-reflective, qualities that also describe his third novel, “The Cost of Living” (Other Voices: 294 pp. $16 paper)

For the past three years, Tim O'Brien, basketball coach at Estancia High School, has made his presence felt at Christ College Irvine, a small campus with an enrollment of 500. He purchased a season pass for the past two seasons, and estimates that he attended more home games than some of the school's administrators. After Christ College Coach Dave Wild resigned, school officials called O'Brien to tell him about the opening.

BOOKS Whatever idea you have about reading groups — that they're a bunch of fusty librarian-types sitting around, talking about the interior lives of Jane Austen characters — you can probably throw away when it comes to Jeff Garlin. The rotund funny man from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" leads his own group at Book Soup, which will meet Friday to discuss Tim O'Brien's "Tomcat in Love," a tale of an irascible fellow who can't decide between winning back his ex-wife and seducing every new woman he meets.

For nearly 30 years, Tim O'Brien has been the bard of the baby boomers, chronicling the nightmares and anxieties of the generation that came of age during the 1960s. "I grew out of one war and into another," he wrote in his harrowing 1973 memoir of the Vietnam War, "If I Die in a Combat Zone." "Can a foot soldier teach anything important about war, merely having been there?" he asked then. "I think not. He can tell war stories."

Long ago, Tim O'Brien dreamed he would live on a golf course. And here he is now, in a home perched beside the 18th green of the Onion Creek Club, sitting pretty. His subdivision on the far outskirts of Austin has streets named after golf courses like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst. Swans ply the waters of a fairway pond just down the street.

As MBA students, we are taught that, when evaluating financial statements, the devil is usually found in the details ("Simon's Disclosure Raises New Doubts," July 24). Had the media and public been given only two hours to look over Enron's books, Kenneth Lay would probably still be riding in a limousine to the office. Bill Simon should give Californians a reasonable opportunity to decide whether he has the acumen and ethics to lead our state. He should make his tax records completely available and then allow us to give fair judgment.

Tim O'Brien isn't feeling well. He's been like this all day, he explains to a bookstore full of fans who have gathered to hear him read from his latest novel, "Tomcat in Love" (Broadway Books). A small, almost slight man with intense dark eyes, a large nose and a baseball cap perpetually affixed to the top of his head, the acclaimed author apologetically says he'll just read for a little bit and then answer questions. Flipping open the green-sleeved novel, he introduces the fans to Thomas H.

Singer-mandolinist O'Brien has pulled off something magnificent: a full album of Bob Dylan songs that's well more than the sum of its estimable parts. His inspired acoustic bluegrass and folk settings expose new facets of songs familiar and obscure while subtly, powerfully and inextricably linking them to the rich body of American folk music. * Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).

Long ago, Tim O'Brien dreamed he would live on a golf course. And here he is now, in a home perched beside the 18th green of the Onion Creek Club, sitting pretty. His subdivision on the far outskirts of Austin has streets named after golf courses like Pebble Beach and Pinehurst. Swans ply the waters of a fairway pond just down the street.

Tim O'Brien has left Tustin High School, where he was the basketball coach, to take the same job at Estancia, O'Brien said Thursday. O'Brien had a 35-16 record at Tustin in two seasons, including a 21-6 record last season. He replaces Joe Reid, who last month resigned for personal reasons after three seasons as coach. Estancia, which is in the Sea View League with Tustin, was 11-13 last season and 49-29 in three seasons under Reid.

The German writer Theodore Adorno questioned whether art could survive the Holocaust. The new novel by Tim O'Brien, author of "Going After Cacciato" and "The Things They Carried," raises a similar question.

Tim O'Brien, Estancia High School's basketball coach for the past five seasons, has been named coach of the Orange Coast College men's team, OCC Athletic Director Barry Wallace said Monday. O'Brien, 37, has been one of Orange County's most successful high school coaches. At Estancia, his teams had a record of 111-42, winning a state title in 1991 and a Southern Section title in 1990. He also coached at Tustin and Santiago high schools and in Arizona, compiling a record of 207-75.