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Summary: Suddenly one of my 20 favorite books
Review: That may be a bit hyperbolic, but this is an excellent read. I enjoy the author's work in general (and in fact have started Plum Island for the 2nd time after finishing Up Country), so I may be prejudiced toward him, but this is a great novel. Good dialog, interesting locale, fresh angles on Vietnam, etc. You don't have to have any ties to the country or the war (any more than having ever been to the moon to enjoy the movie "Apollo 13".
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Summary: Quagmire
Review: In contrast to the author's previous page-turners, I had to force myself to wade though Up Country. As other reviewers have noted it's part travelogue, part war memoir, sandwiched around a pitifully thin (and predictable) plot with a wholly unsatisfying ending. I'm assuming the author deliberately adopted the ambiguous ending and tedious pace as a reflection of the American experience in Vietnam. If so, this book makes its point, but is a miserable read as a consequence. If you're looking for a well-done war memoir/travelogue, pick up Manchester's Goodbye Darkness. Up Country isn't worth 50 cents at a garage sale.
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Summary: UP COUNTRY: A Novel
Review: This is a fantastic novel for we Vietnam veterans pushing past our mid-fifties. So much remains in our heads about a time that is becoming so rapidly in the past, even 35 years at this point, that we need to become wrapped up in Paul Brenner's trek back to Saigon and connecting with this young corporate tigress of Susan Weber. She represents the NOW, the reality we would experience if we were in his shoes on a clandestine operation. Imagine travelling with a woman of her age, who never, ever experienced the Vietnam war as so many did in their present 45-55 year-old age brackets.
I would not want to revisit RVN as so many veterans seem to, because I believe it is now this place just as described by the author. He is very smart creating this mystery, but it is all too real for one who has known this strange, tropical nation.
My only question is, after reading 200 pages so far, in one sitting, is what is the reason he misspells Tan Son Nhut?? (Nhat) Or Beer 33, Ba-Muoi-Ba?? (Ba ba ba)?? How come? I don't get it, when everything is so in place. But, I think all vets will feel the creeps reading this novel--it just takes you on a trip that seems so accurate, so why go back??! UP COUNTRY will serve very well instead. I will leave my flying memories of a '65 D-model Huey in my mind, and in my book, thank you. I would not want to traverse this communist country today. OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM will continue to be my memory bank; let it be so.
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Summary: Big DeMille Fan - BUT - Bigger Disappointment
Review: I've read them all and really like Nelson's writing style. I especially like the sharp witted reply's his main characters always display. I'd still recommend that any DeMille fan read this book, but it isn't his best work. Seemed very rushed to finish it and the ending is unsat. Great detail on Viet Nam. If I had to request one thing of Nelson, it would be to "have someone who cares about your plots read the book and take the time to listen and make the appropriate changes".
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Summary: Demille's best
Review: I thought this was Demille's best yet. Paul Brenner tells a wholly first person account of his mission to Vietnam. It is rich in detail and builds suspense very slowly. The Vietnamese colonel is a great character. I had the pleasure of listening to Scott Brick read the book and, as usual, he made the characters come alive. Some of the reviews before mine have found the pace too slow. As Paul Brenner might say, "It's the journey, not the destination.
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Summary: you must read this!!!!!
Review: I LOVED THIS BOOK! I must admit that the General's Daughter was not one of my favorites. I have been a fan of Mr. DeMille's for a long time, since By the Rivers of Babylon or The Cathredal, I'm not sure which one I read first. So....since the General's Daughter was lower on my list of favorites, I wasn't sure how I would like a revisit from Mr. Brenner. Well....I loved it. First of all, the reader really gets a better handle on the character here, I know we will see him again, and I can't wait. Second, well, I was a grammer school and high school student during the Vietnam War, and I have never been able to watch movies or read books about that conflict. I have so many questions and conflictiing feelings about that time in our history, but Mr. Delmille took me on a ride that I am so glad I went on. I still have questions and doubts, but I feel so much more open now to explore them. And of course, it is just a really suspensful, exciting read. I saw in some of the other reviews, that the readers were mad they were left with so many unanswered questions, I, on the other hand, can't wait to see what happens to Mr. Brenner, Susan, Karl and Cynthia. We will see them again, won't we?
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Summary: Disappointment
Review: I have read all of Nelson DeMille's books. Most I liked, with the exception of By the Rivers of Babylon. I enjoyed The General's Daughter. The subject book was a great disappointment. I agree with Maggie101 and Moscow, who wrote reviews about this book. Had I read their comments first, I would probably not have purchased the book. This was, for the most part, a travelog, without the slides, of Viet Nam. The plot was poor and I agree that the ending was quite unsatisfactory. I won't quit reading Demille, of course, but next time I'll probably wait for paperback or a used book.
Rating:
Summary: The only thing better was The Lions Game
Review: Demille is the greatest. His one liners that show up every few pages are as entertaining as the story itself. I would recommend any Nelson Demille book to friends and have suggested Up Country to everyone I meet. Paul Brenner from The Generals Daughter is back and is twice the hero he was in TGD. Read both of them....
Rating: 
Summary: Anyone know a good editor
Review: Having read all of Demilles books, I was disappointed with this one. I think he could have lost about 150 pages and that would have tightened up the book. I ended up skimming through the middle section.
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Summary: One of his best
Review: I can't understand how anyone could find this book boring. Maybe those of us who were adults during the Vietnam War can view the book as less than a travelog and more of an account of the war's great impact on those who fought in it and the country that suffered from it. I bought the book because I knew it was a mystery, but I really almost forgot about the mystery and became engrossed in the revelations about modern Vietnam as seen by a veteran of the war. Deville has an easy style and his dialogue is often very funny. A great read!
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