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Summary: On the whole it is a light and entertaining reading.
Review: The book has everything for one of its genre: interesting dynamic plot, evil bad guys, and charming good guys. The good guys are all believers in God, as good guys always traditionally are, though they have evident problems following His commandments.
I liked that the author is not moralistic: at the end you understand that both good guys and bad guys are the same: none of them will stop before any crime for the ideas they think are right. Just don't get caught up in their crossfire. It's like in Orwell's Animal Farm when at the end it was not clear "who's a pig and who's a man".
On the whole it is a light and entertaining reading.
One last remark: to judge about Russia and Russians by this book is like to judge about the USA and Americans by the movie American Beauty.
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Summary: Soooooo relevant for today
Review: This book was AMAZING! I read it in 48 hours. I probably would have finished it sooner, but I have two toddlers. Fortunately, my husband took care of them for nearly two days while I was engrossed. The idea that there are terrorist cells in the U.S., brought to light on 9/11, makes this book more scary, as it describes how someone can melt into American society undetected. The Cold War may be over, but the story presented here is every bit as scary today.
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Summary: A great book start to finish
Review: The action doesn't stop and neither did my reading. I think I set a personal record for finishing a book so fast. DeMille really does a good job of putting us on scene in icey cold Moscow with the KBG at our backs. I really felt there with the characters.
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Summary: Should have been a Movie - Best DeMille Book Ever
Review: I just re-read Charm School, the first time being several years ago. I couldn't put it down. It had everything necessary for an incredible plot - intrigue, romance, spys, conflict between good & evil - although it's not always obvious which is which. Nelson DeMille puts it all together with obviously well researched information on the history and, at the time, current circumstances in the U.S.S.R. Dialogue is excellent, the characters are deep and their motives easily understood (although maybe not easy to agree with). I love the fact that there is no good answer for how to resolve the issue of the Soviet Union keeping American POWs for over 20 years. DeMille explores all options and left me feeling sympathy for all players involved in this drama. My only wish is that someone would have made this into a movie - it would be excellent. Unfortunately, it's too dated to make good material now. By the last 100 pages - I absolutely had to find a corner to hide in to finish. These final scenes were so nail-bitingily intense and I could clearly picture in my mind what was happening. You will NOT be disappionted in this read.
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Summary: The best book! A Must Read
Review: Nelson Demille is my favorite author and this is my all time favorite book! Very well written. After the events of 9-11 I thought of this book and how the terrorists were integrated into the US society. This is one to keep and re-read!
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Summary: A Little Tedious, But A Great Plot
Review: My wife has tried to get me to read books by Nelson DeMille for some time and stated that "The Charm School" was his best. So I decided to give it a shot. The plot of a school in Russia where former American Vietnam War POWs teach Russian spies to become Americans is one of the best plots I've ever seen in adventure/thriller novels. Definitely a plot where you could ask yourself (especially in 1988 when it was written and when US/USSR relations were still fairly cold) "could this happen".However, DeMille is a tedious author and you have to trudge through pages of mundane discussions about the Russian people, government to get to the meat of the action, which is what interests me. I would guess that DeMille did a fair amount of research on Russia and wanted to incorporate this knowledge where he could. That is fine if the information helps move the plot along. Overall, it's a good book which could have been 100-150 pages shorter. As I was reading it, I found myself wondering what a master of adventure like Clive Cussler could have done with this excellent plot. A lot more, I suspect.
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Summary: The best of DeMille
Review: I can't get this one out of my mind. A bunch of Vietnam prisoners being held by the Russians training Russian undercover types to blend in to the states. Couldn't happen, or could it. A really scary premise. I love Mr DeMilles work but this is the absolute tops. He obviouly does his research, I could see and smell the poverty in the Russian village. Mr DeMille is a descriptive writer who puts the reader in the world he describes
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Summary: Awesome Book!!
Review: The Charm School, by Nelson Demille was an outstanding book. The book was well written. Demille uses suspense repeatedly during this fiction novel. I could never put the down because of the many different character struggles that were occurring. The Charm School puts American Embassy secretary, Lisa Rhodes to the test when she goes out in the field with the adventurous Colonel Sam Hollis. Demille describes the KGB in great detail. I agree with most everything he wrote. The book gives some great intelligence information that I'm sure has already tried to be used in most countries. The book gave me a greater knowledge of how serious spys and counter intelligence can be. I plan to be a member of the CIA one day so this has informed me of all the dangerous possibilities and disasters that can go wrong among all of this
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Summary: First DeMille ... but not the Last!
Review: After years of being encouraged to read DeMille, but being turned off by the comparisons to Clancy, I decided to wade in with Charm School. The good news - an extremely well written book with an interesting story and plenty of twists and turns in the plot. The better news - this is not another Clancy book. DeMille shows his obvious admiration for Russia with the long (at times tryingly long) descriptions of places and customs. However, he as the skill to move the plot by alternating intense action and character exposition in order to keep you turning the pages. And you will turn the pages as fast as you can attack this book. While in reality the plot is nearly impossible, with DeMille's skills he brings down the barrier until you're wondering, "hmmmm ... could it be?". That's a testimony to his ability as a story teller and his skill as an author. Definitely have to find some more of his books to read.
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Summary: Excellent book!!!
Review: Like a previous reviewer, I got to a certain spot and could not put this book down. The last hundred-to two hundred pages are non-stop thrills and action that will not only leave you breathless but also wishing that you had not read this book so that you could do it now. The first few pages take a little getting into, but once done, you will be hooked. DeMille focuses on the dangers of the sudden quiet of the former Soviet Union and suggets a frightenly possible theory: An American training school. A school where Russian spies are trained to act, think, walk, talk and even look like Americans. This training facility is in the woods of Russia and resembles almost any American town, complete with a 7-11. I strongly suggest this book to anybody that enjoys thinking about what we might not know and how easily people could spy on our everyday life.
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