Rating: 
Summary: Dark Journey Down Memory Lane
Review: It seems the only Nelson DeMille books I pick up are his Vietnam stories. I bought Word of Honor some years back in hardcover on the discount table at a local bookstore. I secured Up Country the same way.The book is entertaining, and held my interest throughout. While the relationship of Paul Brenner to his romantic interest, Susan Weber, seems contrived at times, it kept me sufficiently hooked to keep me involved to the end. Perhaps the most compelling element of the story is an old soldier's backward look at the battlefields of his youth. Possibly the greatest accolade I can give Up Country is that, after 36 years, I've got the itch to go back to Vietnam, much as Nelson DeMille did some years ago. Like him, I survived the A Shau campaign he described in the book. I swore I had no need or desire to go back there and confront old ghosts. After reading this book, I'm warming up my checkbook and calling my travel agent.
Rating: 
Summary: One of DeMille's Best!
Review: I loved Nelson DeMille's "Up Country!" I had previously enjoyed his "The Lion's Game," "Plum Island" and "The Gold Coast." I followed up "Up Country" with its prequel, "The General's Daughter" and also enjoyed that and realized how the movie killed the best parts of the book. "Up Country" has a retired Paul Brenner investigating a decades old murder in Viet Nam. DeMille's Brenner character is as delightful as John Corey, featured in Lion and Plum and as I understand, DeMille's next book. "Up Country" is exciting, charming and as always witty. I just finished "Word of Honor" and although DeMille's Ben Tyson is no Brenner or Corey, I was so taken with him, I literally cried at the conclusion. I don't think you can go wrong with any work by Nelson DeMille.
Rating:
Summary: A Journey of a Lifetime for a Vietnam Vet!
Review: Having never read or listened to any of Nelson Demille's books, I bought the audio of this story. I cannot express my thanks enough to the author for this brilliant story of a Vietnam Vet 'forced' to relive his past in Vietnam. The character development of Paul Brenner throughout the story is excellent, as is the singlemindedness of both Susan and Colonel Mang. This story is a most fitting one for the generation of both those who were sent to Vietnam and those who didn't. Having been a member of that generation who was spared from going to Vietnam by serving in Europe during the last couple years of the war, I was very moved by Paul Brenner's journey throughout Vietnam and the vivid descriptions of life in post-war Vietnam some 30 years later. His visits to past battle fields and the 'chance' meeting with Col Mang were amazing. The manipulations by Brenner's superiors are a telling indictment of how greed and power cloud decision-making. Colonel Mang, in his own way, is a better man than most of the US Government string pullers in the story. I strongly recommend this book to everyone, but especially Vietnam Vets and the journalists who cover briefings by politicians and military officers.
Rating:
Summary: So far, his best!
Review: My husband and I were in the airport, getting ready to head to Miami for our first vacation without the kids. Not used to having free time, I had not brought any reading materials. Being a fan of Nelson DeMille, I ran to the airport book store. Two books were on the shelves that I had not read as of yet, "The General's Daughter" and "Up Country". Not realizing that "Up Country" was a "sequel" to the "G.D.", I grabbed it. I was glad I did because I could not put the book down. As usual, DeMille leaves us wondering what will happen next. One could visualize what was happening. The details, the sense of smells, sounds, emotions, evoke the senses of the reader. It was also an informative book, with an appreciation for all the men from the war. Colonel Mang gave me the chills, while Susan Weber went from trustworthy to seemingly deceptive. Of course, the reader is rooting for Paul Brenner. DeMille's books are always full of sarcasm (one of the main reasons he is my favorite), and intrigue. Being from Long Island, NY, "Plum Island" was my favorite until now. "Gold Coast" actually had me laughing out loud at times. Nelson DeMille's style of writing would appease most. If you haven't read any of DeMille's books, I urge you to!
(This review refers to the PAPERBACK.)
Rating:
Summary: A Real History of Vietnam with Humor
Review: I loved this book. I think I was in Jr. High or maybe Sr. High when the war took place. One of my Brother's dearest friends died there. The amazing amount of history Demille has incorporated into this novel makes it one that should be required reading for every young adult. My sadness that it was fought incorrectly, we lost many fine young people, and it turned into a communist state was overwhelming as I read this book. I think Everyone should read this, however you felt about the war.
Rating:
Summary: Move Over Ernest Hemingway
Review: Nelson DeMille improves noticably with each new book, always experimenting, a striking feat considering that he is the greatest American writer. There is nothing more satisfying to read than a first-rate character, such as Paul Brenner, who appears in a series of gripping, fast-moving novels. I would suggest to any voracious reader who wants to add some excitement to their lives that they buy the entire series, start from the beginning, and then start over once done. I see plenty of good reviews of Up Country here, with good descriptions. As for the less positive reviews, I don't know what book they read!
Rating: 
Summary: FIVE HUNDRED PAGES TOO LONG
Review: A friend recommended this book, as I was thinking of traveling to Vietnam, and at first, I was ready for a leisurely stroll through the country, found the detail interesting, the plot tolerable, though the protagonist didn't do much for me. I finally decided I needed to read THE GENERAL DAUGHTER'S first, to maybe warm me up, but no. Never happened. I found him even more unlikable there. Worse yet, the "banter" between the characters seems forced and sexist and occasionally racist, and the guy (forget his name already) doesn't possess so much as an ounce of sexual appeal. Nothing. To me, UP COUNTRY was about two hundred pages of action and drama stretched into a Clancy-sized thriller. Much promise, little pay-off. Doubt I'll be back for more.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The first few chapters of this book will really hook you, but then it goes downhill fast. I had a hard time finishing this story. This is definitely not one of Demille's better works.
Rating:
Summary: DeMille Does It Again
Review: Fans of DeMille will be delighted with Up Country. While it may be his longest work yet, it is one which the reader will not want to end. Those readers who served in the military, particularly the Army, during the Vietnam war will find that bond forged by a common hardship and suffering carries over into DeMille's work--once an infantryman, always an infantryman. DeMille, as usual, develops his characters in sharp and complicated detail. With every twist and turn of the plot, another layer of complexity is added to the two main characters, Paul Brenner and Susan Weber. And as usual, DeMille's dialogue is dead on always, and hilarious at times. I had to leave the bedroom while I read Up Country. I kept laughing out loud at Brenner's wiseass dialogue and waking my wife. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. It's the best read you will have until the next DeMille novel is published. I haven't enjoyed myself as much since I read The Gold Coast.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST BOOK EVER
Review: This is by far the best Nelson DeMille book ever. Suspense, Comedy, Action, Mystery, Passion, and much Intrigue. I recommend this book to everyone who reads any book. It is for every audience. I could not put the book down!
|
