* One of the last Cold War novels of the Cold War period. Published in 1988, the book, with its POW/MIA theme--and its setting in a mighty USSR--is situated more comfortably in the decade of Rambo than in the political reality of the late eighties/early nineties. In '89, the Berlin Wall came down and in '91, the Soviet Union was officially dissolved. In this context, it's amusing, in a way, and quite impossible to take seriously. Fortunately, this is fiction and none of that really matters. Except for some of the technology, this could just as easily have been written two or three decades earlier. Spiritually, it stands alongside The Manchurian Candidate, and evokes memories of an earlier time and a different, in some ways more frightening, world.* Sure, it's too long, but that's less a criticism than an observation of style. The hero, Sam Hollis, may be a man of few words, but pithiness isn't really part of DeMille's literary toolbox. For one thing, I enjoyed many of the book's lengthy dialogues, which reminded me of all the times, in other books, I've wondered just when it was that the characters actually communicated to each other something besides plot points.* Speaking of plot, though...What had to happen was simple: the Charm School itself had to live up to the opening of the novel, which is when we first hear of it. The opening is a wonderful grabber, both spooky and full of impending doom. But a lot of books start out well--because there's still a sense of mystery. The real test is what happens when the veils start to fall. Here, DeMille seems to have started with the Charm School, his central mystery, and then worked backward to that terrific opening. True, when all is revealed, it's no longer spooky, exactly, but it's just as dreadful.* Don't expect complex characters or deep political philosophy, of course: this is a thriller, after all. But there's enough ambiguity so that if you take the time to think about it (not required), you can come up with some pretty interesting questions.
This book is one of those that you wish could be made into a good movie. Oh wait a second… have you see a new TV series The Americans? I bet the idea for The Americans came from The Charm School. You know… the idea of Russian spies infiltrating the US, pretending to be Americans? Scared already? By the way, The Americans is one clever TV show that is such a rarity in our modern TV world.If you like spy novels, you might love The Charm School. I am not a big fan of anything spies related. Unless it is Daniel Craig as James Bond. Unless it is a clever TV show. Unless it is a well-written book.The Charm School is just that – a very well written spy novel. We have a hero. We have a cold blooded son-of-a-bitch anti-hero. We have brutal Russian KGB agents. We have a smart ass American spy. We have a psychotic Russian spy. We have a love triangle. We have car chases, torture chambers, spy equipment, and Russian essential elements such as vodka and borsch. We have it all in this book.It was not a wild ride as you might think, but it was an intense one. The ending was not as impressive as the book itself. It seemed rushed. It seemed that DeMille got tired with his own story and decided to wrap it up on a whim. It did take a little bit away from the book but not much.One final thought – curiosity is a root of all espionage. If you are curious, go ahead and read The Charm School. You won’t regret it.
What do You think about The Charm School (2015)?
A spy-mystery from Demille, when Demille was a younger writer still developing his sarcastic wit. Even then, he could make a seemingly improbable story believable and highly entertaining. For anyone over 40 who remembers the tail-end of the long and mistrust-filled Cold War, this book will resonate.As usual, DeMille weaves an imaginative story involving characters you love, spies in the late 1980's, the American Embassy in Moscow, a bit of Russian history, Vietnam MIAs, a training school for Soviet Spies and a rescue mission that will have you on the edge of your seat. The Charm School is riveting and one his best finishes, reminiscent of Night Fall and Plum Island. Could the Charm School have ever existed?
—Chipper
After finishing the book, I've decided I liked it... It's another one of those "takes forever to get somewhere" kind of reads. Overall it's good but s l o w. There is a lot of superfluous text that made me skim through paragraphs (and pages) just to get to a pertinent part. It left me wishing it were condensed, moved faster and focused on the plot rather than adding so much needless information. I felt it was about 100 pages too long. The first 200 pages were painfully slow...but once the plot really got rolling I was absorbed in the exciting conclusion. The main character's humor was enjoyable and the last 100+ were so exciting I stayed up waaaaay too late finishing the book. All in all...3 stars because 1/3 of the book was 1 star and the last 100 pages were 5 stars... So we'll split the difference!
—Laura
When a young American tourist (Gregory Fisher) picks up a U.S. POW on the run while touring Russia, (in his Pontiac Grand Am) the excitement begins and doesn't stop.This intense and fast-moving spy thriller brings the evil of the Soviet Union to life during the Cold War with well-defined characters, loads of KGB treachery and a horror of a secret deep in the woods.Perhaps a little wordy at times, and I did not care much for the female protagonist, but the brave Colonel Hollis and his sarcastic wit more than made up for her weaknesses in spades. Unputdownable.....despite the near 800 pages and one of my favorites by DeMille. 4.5 Stars. Update: March 24, 2015Oops! Forgot to mention.......Erik Larson even makes an appearance!
—Carol
