Rating: 
Summary: Each story plot gets better
Review: Having a chance to "catch-up" with Paul Brenner again was a real treat. The General's Daughter was so spell-binding I can't believe that Up Country actually is more spell-binding. I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the Viet Nam war from someone who has been there, rather than a newsperson with a specific slant on the issue. Thanks for keeping the great stories coming!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I love this book. The information about Vietnam and how it was like to be there doing the war from the perspective of someone who was there is fascinating and well-written. Yes, this is not a heartclenching nonstop action book, because of the memories and the other information, but it has so much to contribute about Vietnam. The plot itself is interesting, unfolding slowly, perhaps, because of the other information, but I found every part interesting. I have nothing critical to say about this book; I really enjoyed reading it and will remember it.
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Summary: Just Paul Brenner and Me
Review: Paul Brenner took me with him through the country of Viet Nam as he attempted to solve a problem for his government, and I appreciated the ride. The reader will think he took only Susan Weber, but I was there as well. I am old enough to know the fear of having loved ones die in Viet Nam, and so my perception of that country in the late sixties and early seventies was distorted by that fear. Now I know there were people and customs and governments and history, and I was surprised to find that part of the story extremely interesting from a personal standpoint. The description of the Viet Nam countryside made for satisfying reading as I put faces on places I had only read about in the newspaper long ago. The references to major battles offered a more factual rendition of the circumstances than the inflamed headlines from the last five years of the Vieit Nam conflict. Seeing the people and their customs through the eyes of the characters gave me a more human picture than I had before reading the book. Setting the story in the Tet holiday week was brilliant because local customs more easily related to the story line.
It didn't hurt that there was a thriller of a mystery attached to the trip as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from both standpoints. The plot admittedly had a few flaws. The romantic encounters between Paul and Susan was stilted. Paul murdered a few of the locals and then became righteous about revealing the true facts behind the murder of a second lieutenant. But the action will be swift and surprising when you read this story if you don't turn to the back and read the end first as I did.
I can't wait for the movie. I hope it is actually filmed in Viet Nam. I intend to read more Nelson DeMille books. This novel was the first one I have read by DeMille and, frankly, I only read it because I had seen the movie The General's Daughter.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth the time
Review: I chose to read Up Country because of an affinity for historical novels that have Vietnam and the Vietnam War as the backdrop rather than an affection for DeMille's work. In fact, this is the first and only novel by DeMille that I have read. So, unlike many of the reviewers who were disappointed with the book relative to other books by DeMille, I am left to judge Up Country on its own merits against my own expectations. Against that criteria, I found Up Country to be entertaining, enjoyable and worth my time. The novel follows Paul Brenner, retired military investigator, as he investigates the alleged murder of an American Lieutenant by another American officer in 1968 during the height of US involvement in Vietnam. As the story unfolds, Brenner must confront the memories--and perhaps demons--of his past, which include two tours of duty in Vietnam, while using his intellect, inquisitiveness, and decisiveness to outwit the forces--both American and Vietnamese--lined up against him. In the process, the reader is provided an in-depth look at present-day, post-war Vietnam, along with compare-and-contrast looks at wartime Vietnam. All-in-all, I am very glad that I read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it.
Review: this book was hard to put down, I didn't want to finish it, I didn't want the story to end. It is classic Demille! Smart-[aleck] character on an adventure. I know nothing about the vietnam war but this book has stirred up my curiosty to read more about that horrible time. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: 695 Great Pages
Review: As I stated in the title above the first 695 pages were enthralling however, the ending was a disappointment. Demille did an excellent job describing the scenery of Vietnam today and Vietnam in 68 and 72. I enjoyed the dialogue between Mang and Brenner, however, I was truly disappointed with the ending. Demille gets his reading audience ready for a climatic ending and instead delivers an open ended finish that leaves the reader with more questions then answers.A better finshed would have earned a 5th star. ...
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Summary: Welcome back Paul Brenner
Review: I have been an advid reader for over 30 years. I can't even begin to count the number of books that I have read, in all different catagories. Up Country Is the best book I have read by far. In Up Country Nelson Demille draws you in from the very beginning and doesn't let go. He brings back the distinguished character Paul Brenner from General's Daughter. For those of us who were not in the Vietnam War, he tells a story so captivating that my heart goes out to every person who did serve. Be prepared for late nights, it is a very hard book to put down once you've started reading it. Excellent!
Rating:
Summary: Hey, I liked it !
Review: It is true that the main character, Brenner had a few problems and the "anybody's" girlfriend was a bit of a turn off, but I can look past that. The discussion of the terrain appealed to me. He made me see Vietnam in a whole different light than we had in the past. My one wish is that DeMille could work with his female lead characters and give them a little integrity or whatever it would take for them to give them a little substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Up Country
Review: I was extremely disappointed in the book. I felt like I needed to pull something out the pages to get the book moving. The story sounds very interesting but never seems to get you where you want to go. I have read almost all of DeMille's book and this definitly falls to the bottom.
Rating:
Summary: Another Demille classic!
Review: Up Country in another terrific story by Demille. I just could not put the book down. When I finished reading it, all I could think of was, when will the next Demille book be released. The story is much more than a travelogue of Viet Nam...It is a non-stop roller coaster of excitement. I especially liked the witty repetoire between Paul and Susan as well as Paul's introspective thoughts on war, peace, women, society, the army and Viet Nam. Colonel Mang also adds a different perspective (from the North Vietnam point of view) to the story.
All in all, this is another great book by Demille!
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