Rating: Summary: A Great Read - military contradictions aside... Review: I read the book several years ago, and was glad to see that it had made to it to the movies..haven't seen the movie yet. The military "critics" seem to be divided as to the military accuracy of the book, however, aside from that, I couldn't put the book down in 1993, and re-read it again with the new forward. I was disappointed that the ring and the bayonet's role in the book was not finished, but overall, I have always enjoyed DeMille's work, and enjoyed this one as much. I have on order the Plum Island book which the "critics" have raved over...perhaps I'll leave a "critique" myself on that one. The General's Daughter is worth buying if you have the time to sit and do nothing at all for two days because you won't be able to put it down! Margaret Comninel
Rating: Summary: A Comeback for DeMille Review: DeMille is one of my favorite authors but his protaganists were getting a little too wise-cracky in his recent books - seeming almost as if DeMille was trying to write comedies. He tones it down a bit with The General's Daughter and delivers an excellent plot and a mystery that isn't too predictable. Overall a great read.
Rating: Summary: Formula writing Review: Is there a formula going on here? I mean, this stuff was pretty predictable if you have ever read a "who dunnit" or seen a murder mystery movie. Loved the wise cracks, though, they really saved the book. Read it, but don't expect a "OHHH" at the end, just don't expect it.
Rating: Summary: An excellent read if you ignore the military blunders Review: This is the second Nelson DeMille I've read and I believe I must now add him to my favorite author list. A great read for those who have no military experience. I have 8 years so far and so I pick up on the details that Mr. DeMille gets wrong. He does make it sound right though and I found them easy to overlook based on the pure plot. My only real problem was with the clues that he leaves hanging, (the West Point ring, the bayonet, and others). All in all, I found the novel fast paced, very clever, and an enjoyable read. It will definitely compete at the genre-level Goochie Awards and perhaps for the big prize itself.
Rating: Summary: Excellent fiction Review: Excellent-- book, plot and characters As a retired military officer-- Infantry and Special Forces-- and West Point graduate I found this book excellent in its accuracy unlike the previous reviewer who said the author should check his facts. Wish he would have called the post Ft Benning though, as that's where it was obviously set. Truscott's book about West Point was good but the plot was nothing compared to this. If you want harder edged stuff, try some of Bob Mayer's Special Forces books. Not as well written as DeMille's but a lot more action and also very realistic. Check out the book CUT OUT-- a domestic thriller set at Ft Bragg.
Rating: Summary: GREAT BOOK Review: I find this book to be "EXCELLENT" I was not able to put it down from the begining to the end. This was the first book I have ever read by Mr.DeMILLE, but I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rating: Summary: Concept 9, characters 6, verisimilitude 3 Review: This is mediocre DeMille, far below the level of his fine "Word of Honor."The general concept of the book is excellent, although the reaction of CPT Ann Campbell to her "betrayal" while a cadet is more than a little over the top. So is the supposed venality and corruptibility of virtually every single field grade officer at Fort Hadley, save one. It really doesn't work, not least in the goldfish-bowl environment of a small post, where a senior officer can't look crosswise at a pretty girl without setting the tongues to wagging. The author has let shock value get in the way of sound execution. As a retired Army officer I was disappointed at the very large number of technical errors. DeMille, a combat veteran as a junior officer, has the junior-officer-and-below bit down quite well, but stumbles at the more senior level with which this story deals. Colonel Fowler was General Campbell's executive officer, not his "adjutant." (Generals don't have adjutants.) Aides-de-camp wear special insignia, not branch insignia such as infantry. Many ranks are wrong for the person's assigned job. Staff duty officers do not, under any circumstances, go out to inspect the guard. Military police officers wear helmets only on parade and they're not armed with .38s. And so on. My point is not to nitpick. My point is that when your plot relies on willing suspension of disbelief, you had better not put very many feet wrong on the milieu. OK, yeah, a mistake here and there -- but this book is studded with them. Characterization is also a problem. Cynical antihero Paul Brenner exceeds his authority so often in so many ways that it's hard to picture him as effective in a service that values (overvalues) consensus. The two facets of the victim's character are unreconciled and probably irreconcilable. The victim's boss -- even as a specialist -- would have had a helluva time making captain, let alone full colonel. Brenner's partner/sidekick/ex-lover is probably the book's most believable character, even though she is the least clearly drawn of the major players. Finally, without giving anything away, the identity of the perp is evident many, many, many pages before the climax. Mr. DeMille, in sum, this is just another potboiler, far below your abilities. You are way too good for the airplane-read genre.
Rating: Summary: Pretty good plot, not the best writing Review: I read the book, and enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say Demille is the best writer I ever read, by any means. His jokes are pretty predictable and old.
Rating: Summary: DeMille is BACK! Review: I read a lot of fiction relating to military topics, especially war novels like "The War of the Rats" and "The Triumph and the Glory", or Clancy stuff, so "The General's Daughter" caught my attention right away. It's a suspense thriller that has brought all of the tools to the job. I am pretty hard to please but DeMille has done a great job with his latest. Order a copy and you'll see what I mean.
Rating: Summary: Not impressed Review: This book is supposed to be a thriller but lacks the punch finish that makes reading it worthwhile. It is compelling most of the way through, but lacks excitement or surprise in its grand finale. There are also some things that don't tie together like (don't read this if you want the surprise) why the bayonet left no hole in the ground, and what was the whole point of it anyway?
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