Rating: 
Summary: Vietnam...from the inside
Review: May I add my kudos for Up Country? I found it to be an altogether excellent book. In fact, I believe it compares favorably with the writings of James Michener, which I think is a compliment! Not only a compelling story line, but an intriguing and informative look at Vietnam, then and now.
Rating: 
Summary: Gaining new insight
Review: I have always enjoyed Mr. DeMille's works, and this book is no exception. The book is rather long, but as someone born in 1973, the insight provided in the long battle narratives helped me to gain perspective of a period I have only read about. I agree with some of the other reviews that the action/adventure part of the plot was not developed as much as it could have been. However, I think the reader will quickly realize that the book was not intended as pure fiction, but rather as venue to explain the Vietnam War from a veteran's perspective. I had the feeling that Mr. DeMille wrote this book as much for himself as for the readers. The characters have good interaction and are well developed. The witty conversation between the hero Paul Brenner and his guide Susan was fun and helped to move the plot through the longer narratives. I think this book is a must read for anyone who enjoys the action/adventure genre.
Rating:
Summary: Up Country
Review: As a surgeon in the USAF from '67 -'69 I had the honor to treat many of the young men wounded in that conflict. This book faithfully recalls the times and the emotions of those involved in the disaster of that era. An easy way to gain an insight into the history and geography of Vietnam, and enjoy a mystery as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great read!!
Review: I never thought I would like a book about Vietnam. Boy was I wrong. I loved it. The relationship between the main characters is terrific. The story is one that is very hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: DeMille does it again
Review: Every time DeMille comes out with another novel I am scared
that I will be disappointed and each time (nine so far) I
am amazed at how drawn in I am in his stories. There is a
definite "personal" feel to this story as he served in
Vietnam itself and the descriptions of both wartime and
modern Vietnam are tremendous. I envy those who enjoy his
writing and have yet to read this one.
Rating:
Summary: Insight and Understanding
Review: While I found this novel slow going, it held my attention throughout. It was not clear to me what was holding me until I reached the middle of the book. The clarity of insight and understanding that came from the narrative and dialogue concerning the protagonist's combat experiences in Viet Nam was a surprise. As a young mother in the early 70's, I was unwilling to engage emotionally in either side of the issues regarding the Viet Nam war and therefore never truly understood what happened to either our veterans or the Vietnamese. This was a conflict that could be understood on an intellectual level much more easily. Even repeated visits to the Wall in Washington, DC had not broken through that barrier in my mind that kept me from understanding. Mr. DeMille got through.The movie will be visually exciting and there is more than enough story line to keep it moving. I hope the underlying message that reached me through the slow pace of my reading will not be lost in the translation.
Rating: 
Summary: More Of A Travelogue Than A Mystery
Review: Paul Brenner (from The General's Daughter) is asked to come out of his six months of retirement from the army to investigate a murder than may have occurred 30 years ago during the Vietnam War. This is an easy book to get into. DeMille's writing style is smooth and witty. But when Brenner arrives in Vietnam, the mystery is put on the back burner and the story becomes a travelogue of 1997 Vietnam. For those with an interest in Vietnam, this book is an excellent read. I, however, have little interest in that country so the 800 plus pages were a struggle to finish. Paul Brenner is a very likable character, but I never did warm to the character of Susan Weber. I did learn a lot, but I felt I was mislead in my expectations of a mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Demille, but this one seems to drag
Review: Another decent effort from DeMille, but this pales in comparison with his previous work, The Lion's Game. This seemed more of a walk down memory lane for DeMille rather than keeping the story and the characters in the forefront.
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe I haven't read DeMille before!!! Awesome!!!
Review: Since this is the first novel I have read from Nelson DeMille, I can only comment on what I thought about it, and not how it fits into the big picture of his other novels. I saw the movie General's Daughter, and the only thing I see in Up Country that makes it a "sequel" is the character Paul Brenner is consistent. Other than that, Up Country can be read anytime, so if you get your hands on a copy... read it! Suspenseful, exciting, funny, dramatic and thought-provoking. It ranks up there with one of my favorites, which is amazing since he's new to me. I feel out of touch and as soon as the three books I have on hold at the library are read, I'm going to seek out other DeMille novels. The best part of his novel is that they are believable. I recommend this book and guarantee you'll love it.
Rating:
Summary: Vietnam soldier confronts his past in modern day Vietnam
Review: Excellently crafted and real-lifelike story line reads like a combination of a spy thriller crossed with a sarcastic comedic wit in reviewing the Vietnam War history. Author accomplishes this while thrilling the reader with an enchanting description of real life modern day Vietnam. To the younger generation, Vietnam is a country, to us over 40 it was a war. This book helps put modern day Vietnam into it's proper historical perspective and is a MUST for anyone who remains curious about a war which deserves our study. Book does little to help us understand the politics that took US to Vietnam, but does great deal to help us appreciate the experiences of our US soldiers. An unfolding romance keeps the readers attention.
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