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The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne #1)

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 211,813 ratings · 2,413 reviews

JASON BOURNE.
HE HAS NO PAST.
AND HE MAY HAVE NO FUTURE.

His memory is a blank. He only knows he was fished out of the Mediterranean Sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues. A frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the flesh of his hop. Evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face. Strange things that he says in his delirium -- maybe code word...more

Mass Market Paperback, 536 pages

Published June 26th 2007 by Bantam (first published 1980)

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Dec 21, 2012 woody rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sorry if you loved this book, I HATED it. Maybe it was above my reading level. There were just too many "alpha, bravo,cain, delta...Cain is for Charlie, Delta is for Cain!" This book put me to sleep so many nights it is surprising that I finished it. I just kept hoping that jason bourne would die...Good thing I shop at Goodwill and it only cost me 50 cents! Everyone tells me that I should give the movie a chance and that it is better than the book, but I ask, won't it remind me of the book and b...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Duckie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: daoban, biblio-bile

I don't remember how this ended because I had to buy myself a Jack-and-Coke to get through the last chapter. Ludlum belongs in a very small, elite group of authors who don't know what words mean. To illustrate this, here are some passages from the book followed by the first image that came to mind when I read them:

"'If I scream, Monsieur?' The powdered mask was cracked with lines of venom now, the bright red lipstick defining the snarl of an aging, cornered rodent."

"Himself. The chameleon. The c...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First of all let me say...the recent movie with Matt Damon, I hated it. They butchered the story. I understand shortening for time (as in The Lord of the Rings) I understand combining characters...but why take a book's title then completely rewrite the story?

I like this book and its sequels. I hate the movie and its sequels.

Please try reading the books and finding out what the plot actually is. The book is well plotted, thought out, with complex characters. I believe you'll like it.

A man wakes...more

34 likes · like · see review

Sep 17, 2009 Seth Hahne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: someone who likes thriller-y stuff

I loved the movie and heard that I the book was comparatively awesome. And it was.

The thing is: I haven't the faintest idea how the movie came out of the book. Beyond the premise of a man fished from the sea with no memory but incredible ingrained abilities and talents that make it look like he's really probably and assassin with no amnesia, and the fact that the first act after the prologue occurs in Zürich and deals with a Swiss bank, nothing is the same.

Sure, there's a girl named Marie, but s...more I loved the movie and heard that I the book was comparatively awesome. And it was.

The thing is: I haven't the faintest idea how the movie came out of the book. Beyond the premise of a man fished from the sea with no memory but incredible ingrained abilities and talents that make it look like he's really probably and assassin with no amnesia, and the fact that the first act after the prologue occurs in Zürich and deals with a Swiss bank, nothing is the same.

Sure, there's a girl named Marie, but she's an entirely different character. Sure, there are people trying to kill the man named Jason Bourne, but they're entirely different men. Sure, there's an American government-run company called Treadstone Seventy-One that is looking for Bourne, but for entirely different reasons. But are all these differences a bad thing?

No. They are not.

I really think the first Bourne movie is among the best action films ever created. That said, for most of its running time, Ludlum's 1980 novel is better than the movie. The premise is so much more intriguing and Bourne's turmoil better perceived. Instead of an enemy as doughy and effeminate as cloak and dagger U.S. senators and secret servicemen, the novel pits Bourne against the unbeatable assassin, Carlos the Jackal (though Ludlum refrains from the colourful animamorphism), and his vast array of human resources. The book is action-packed, one of those thrillaminnut rides that refuses, for the most part, to let up. I don't read cheap thrillers often, but The Bourne Identity was worth my time.

And I like to think that my time is valuable.

This is not to say that Ludlum's thriller is not without fault. The book's requisite romance is rushed and artificial. We know that Bourne and his interest are in love solely because Ludlum tells us that this is the case, not because we see any evidence that this should be the case. And, actually, there is a far greater problem. The climax is poorly wrought and much more difficult to follow than anything previous encountered in the book. The ending is not satisfying in that by the time it comes, emotional resonance has long-since evaporated.

But still. I was in love with the book until the last forty pages or so.(less)

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Feb 10, 2008 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first book of the Bourne trilogy series, The Bourne Identity begins the tale of Jason Bourne, one of the US government's greatest assassin creations, rescued by fishermen off the French coast. The only problem is that the incident that put him adrift in the water, bullet-ridden and unconscious, had resulted in amnesia. He does not know his name nor his profession. He only knows what his body has been trained to do. The adventure starts, and can only start, with the only piece of information...more

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Jun 09, 2008 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of the movie, 16 and up

Shelves: mystery, adventure

This book was so different from the movie ! ( But then again when are they ever the same ? ) I really enjoyed the story , I now wish the movie had kept a few more things in it. I thought marie was a much better character. I love the way it ended.
HOWEVER : There is a TON of swearing ! And I do mean a TON !
That was very disapointing . :( but, I now have a fully edited book if someone wants to swap/sell with me. :)
I just got a black pin coverd the words. I would have given this story a 5 if it wer...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-challenge, popularity-contest, books-with-films

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
I decided to finally jump on the Robert Ludlum train and read this. I'd recently also jumped on the Mat Damon train and watched the film trilogy. Yes, where had I been the past few years? Well being a teenager of course and living in places where these trains didn't run. Humour aside I'm going to use the next few paragraphs to convince you of why I enjoyed this novel so much and to assure you why you should read this book (or re-read or re-re-read it or re-re-re-read it... or re-re-re-re-re-read...more
I decided to finally jump on the Robert Ludlum train and read this. I'd recently also jumped on the Mat Damon train and watched the film trilogy. Yes, where had I been the past few years? Well being a teenager of course and living in places where these trains didn't run. Humour aside I'm going to use the next few paragraphs to convince you of why I enjoyed this novel so much and to assure you why you should read this book (or re-read or re-re-read it or re-re-re-read it... or re-re-re-re-re-read...or...).

Many people know the premise of this story but for those who don't spoiler alert right about........now. The Bourne Identity begins with the discovery of a man shot and left floating in the water. He gets rescued and nursed back to health. But he's lost his memory. (collective gasp from the audience) Well head trauma is not meant to be good for your memories. The only thing he knows is that he has had facial surgery, he has deadly fighting skills and...oh yeah there's a bank account number for a bank in Zurich.

That's the basic plot synopsis. What happens next is much more complicated. It involves a man discovering his identity, losing his identity and getting caught up in the hunt for a terrorist which happens to coincide with his past. The plot is clever - brilliant in fact - and worthy of its renown. I found myself drawn into a shadowy world with multiple twists and turns. In fact I would go so far as to label this a psychologically laced thriller of epic proportions. Yes that is what The Bourne Identity is. It is a smart, thriller, a kind of entertaining book that is intelligent at the same time.

I must however sadly announce that the end of this book was unfulfilling. It tasted sour, as if the author was simply setting me up to go and read the second book. Which I cannot obtain with ease from my library. So I'm simply left thinking to myself: what happens next? I hate cliff-hangers of this kind which force me to read on. In fact I think I can hear Ludlum laughing at me from the grave.

However I do recommend this as a fine example of thriller writing. Amongst the best I've read. Although for classic thrilling writing I still cannot go past Edgar Allan Poe the man who really started it all off with his tales... Well they were thrillers in some aspects. But yes compared to some of the very few other 'thriller' thrillers I've read this is a very fine example (much better than the few snippets I've seen of Lee Child and plot-wise better than Matthew Reilly - although he has good plots nonetheless and his writing style is more accessible). Still read this if you like clever plots, quality writing (well apart from some coarse language I considered inappropriate - with religious connotations) and are gritty. This may be your train to jump on.(less)

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Mar 04, 2008 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Usually it makes sense to compare books to other books, and even then it can be a case of comparing apples to oranges. But given the popularity of the movie trilogy, it makes better sense to compare this novel with the films that likely introduced Jason Bourne to readers well before they get to the book's opening sentence. Apples to pomegranates? Maybe.

Anyway, on to the source material.

The book isn't nearly as fast-paced as the movie, and that's a bad thing. Though Ludlom perfected the process t...more

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Feb 03, 2008 Martine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: film, modern-fiction, thriller, north-american

As spy novels come, this one is pretty good. It has an intriguing premise, interesting characters and enough creepy details, action and plot twists to make you want to find out what happens next. In short, it's a definite page turner, and that, I believe, is the main prerequisite in this genre, with which I'm not terribly familiar.

The story, for those of you who haven't seen the rather loose film adaptation, is as follows. A youngish, bullet-riddled man is found more dead than alive on a beach i...more As spy novels come, this one is pretty good. It has an intriguing premise, interesting characters and enough creepy details, action and plot twists to make you want to find out what happens next. In short, it's a definite page turner, and that, I believe, is the main prerequisite in this genre, with which I'm not terribly familiar.

The story, for those of you who haven't seen the rather loose film adaptation, is as follows. A youngish, bullet-riddled man is found more dead than alive on a beach in southern France. When he has finally been nursed back to physical health, it turns out he has lost his memory and has no idea who he is or what has happened to him. With the very few clues he does possess, he tries to uncover his identity, only to find there are people on the loose who are trying to kill him -- possibly several groups of people. What ensues is a dangerous journey through Europe and America on which the young man tries to piece together clues about his past while dodging bullets left, right and centre -- bullets fired by Carlos the Jackal as well as a top-secret American military organisation of which he may or may not be part. Will he stay alive long enough to get the answers he craves?

The Bourne Identity is an exciting story with an interesting protagonist. Jason Bourne is a well-drawn amnesiac, a conflicted, morally ambiguous man who may have more on his conscience than he can bear. His descent into doubt and psychosis is presented in a reasonably believable and compelling way. His obsessive hunt for answers makes for an exciting journey, full of spectacular action pieces and plot twists; it stays interesting right until the rather abrupt ending.

Sadly, though, some parts of the book are rather too unlikely for my taste. Take, for instance, Bourne's relationship with Marie, who falls in love with him after having been kidnapped at gunpoint by him. Stockholm Syndrome? Possibly, but I don't buy it. And how awfully convenient that Marie should be a financial whizz just when Bourne needs some help with his bank affairs! Worst of all, though, is the patness of some of the dialogues. There are quite a few conversations in the book where, in order to help the plot along, characters draw unlikely conclusions about Bourne from scant evidence. When these conclusions were being drawn, I frequently found myself thinking, 'How does THIS follow from THAT?' which rather ruined the momentum for me. Add to this the fact that the book (which was written in the late seventies) seems very dated now, and you have a somewhat flawed reading experience -- a fine, compelling thriller, but not much more than that. (less)

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Aug 07, 2010 Danaja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was my introduction to spy novels and its still the best I've read in that area. Incredibly detailed and full of suspense. My favorite spy and one of my favorite villains rolled in to one in to exhilarating package with fast pace action.If you like authentic tooch in what you read you'll love this! Must note that the movie is completely different from the book. In my opinion the book is a much better experience.

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Jan 18, 2009 Dan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book because I thoroughly enjoyed the movies and wanted to see how the author had originally tailored his tale. I think that Mat Damon has done a good job in following the gist of the plot. However, Damon has definitely changed the details.

The story is about a man with extraordinary talents who loses his memory. Although he loses hi identity, he finds that he has an uncanny ability to recognize and react to dangerous situations. He finds that he has knowledge of martial arts and kno...more

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Nov 30, 2007 Christian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not like the movie -- well, maybe a LITTLE like the movie. But it was set in a different time with different politics and different technology. I still recommend it. I've never been much of a thriller reader, but I loved the Bourne movies, so I decided to give the books a try. Very good story, with lots of action and some nice twists. I do think Ludlum could do a better job with dialogue, though. Some things the characters say (or even think) just don't feel natural. Yeah, I know. It's just a bo...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Janet Dickson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

love this book and so much better then the movie.

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Nov 12, 2011 Diannemason rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Man, the movie was SO MUCH BETTER than the book. Of course, I want the first movie to be my life (I'm Marie) and then I want the second and third movie to not happen, so I'm a bit biased. But the story was kind of rambling and he kept chanting these half-memories to himself and there was all this buildup but no real conclusion*. It was kind of frustrating, as the book had been suspenseful and thrilling and exciting up until the confusing non-end.
*Perhaps these stories need to be read as a serie...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars

7/30/2004 - 7/10

The Bourne Identity is a decent spy thriller about a man who loses his memory and tries to figure out who he is and why everyone wants him dead. It has a very tight plot that keeps you guessing and is a lot more winding than the recent movie. The plotting falls apart some towards the end with some holes, and the ending is pretty unsatisfying. The characters are not written very well, especially the romance which is rather nauseatingly over the top. It is still worthwhile though.

F...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Margaret rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not like the movie. There are a few similarities but Hollywood seems to think they have the right to change the story lines drastically when they make it into a movie. I did enjoy this book. I’m embarrassed to say that it took me two months to read. (Life has become very busy with a four month old). But every time I would pick it up after not reading for a week, I had the hardest time trying to remember what was happening and who all of the different characters were. I felt clueless...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Randall rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The opening scene in the book was quite similar to the movie (or vice versa, as the case may be) and from there the two diverged and never met again. I found that aspect of the book actually quite interesting, the rest of the book not so much. I was in fact very pleased that the story was essentially "new", at least to me, since I had seen the movie some years ago but had never read the book. I was in the mood for a spy thriller, which I got, but as is typical with books of this type the plot wa...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Jack rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

Excellent --- The story is the introduction to Jason Bourne and spends most of its time in Europe - London, Paris, Zurich and move eventually to New York. He is shot in Marseilles and nursed back to health by a doctor in Port Noir. Goes to Zurich to open a bank account whose number was on a microfilm surgecally implanted into his hip. Gets to Zurich and all hell breaks loose. He hooks up with a Canadian economist, Marie St. Jacques, and is chased by Carlos the international killer. Turns out tha...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Alex Kawamoto rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum is about a guy named Jason Bourne and he loses his memory and throughout the whole book he is trying to figure out who he is and why terrorist groups, professional killers, and the CIA keep trying to kill him. Throughout the whole book he has flashbacks of what happened to him before he lost his memory.This book is very good and it kept me interested in what is about to happen next.

This book is great, it was a very long book but it didn’t matter because it...more The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum is about a guy named Jason Bourne and he loses his memory and throughout the whole book he is trying to figure out who he is and why terrorist groups, professional killers, and the CIA keep trying to kill him. Throughout the whole book he has flashbacks of what happened to him before he lost his memory.This book is very good and it kept me interested in what is about to happen next.

This book is great, it was a very long book but it didn’t matter because it was a book with a lot of descriptive language and he really describes everything that is happening at that certain moment. I really liked this book because it is hard to make a good spy fiction book because the author really has to be able to describe everything that happens to make it a good spy book. Robert Ludlum does a great job at describing the events. Every time I read this book, I could easily visualize what is happening and how and I really like those kind of books that can make me visualize and picture what is happening. This book was always keeping me guessing of what was about to happen. It always kept me guessing and wanting to keep reading. I really enjoyed the character Jason Bourne and how he is always so quick to think and he never gives up even though he is badly hurt. I love this about him and I love everything about Jason Bourne! A good quote in this book that I really liked was “Men and women walked casually about as they did on the main floor, every now and then stopping one another, exchanging pleasantries or scraps of relevantly irrelevant information. Gossip.” This quote just shows how detailed Robert Ludlum gets. He can really make you visualize of what it going on. I love how he does this and it makes it a great book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful and mystery books. This book is full of action. So if you like action movies or action books, this book will be perfect for you. I love action movies and I have seen the movie and the movie is great. I think that the book is better because you can picture it the way you see it in your head. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

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Mar 11, 2013 08karstenc rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Karsten Cebollero P:8
The Bourne identity year 1980
By Robert Ludlum pages: 595

I think that the intended audience for this book is anyone who loves a thriller filled with action.
The main problem is that Jason Bourne lost his memory in a failed mission and is trying to figure out who he is.
I think that the settings of this book work really good the way that they are however the setting could be changed but then a lot of the book would have to be changed.
The main character is Jason Bourne some othe...more Karsten Cebollero P:8
The Bourne identity year 1980
By Robert Ludlum pages: 595

I think that the intended audience for this book is anyone who loves a thriller filled with action.
The main problem is that Jason Bourne lost his memory in a failed mission and is trying to figure out who he is.
I think that the settings of this book work really good the way that they are however the setting could be changed but then a lot of the book would have to be changed.
The main character is Jason Bourne some other important figures in this book is Marie from Canada who Bourne meats near the beginning of the book and near the middle falls in love with, the main character aren’t all good another important character is Carlos an assassin who hates Jason Bourne.
Story Summary: A huge gash on his head stranded in the middle of the ocean. He is picked up by a deep sea fishing boat and dropped off at nearby island with Doctor Washburn. Six months later still not knowing who he is he goes to Zurich hoping he can earn who he is. He doesn’t find much except a bank account with five million dollars and that a lot of people want him dead. He decides to go to New York to try to figure out his past at Treadstone then he figures out that it is a trap. He is stuck in the building where it all began with an assassin Carlos. Knowing only what he has heard or read about Carlos and that Carlos would go to the end of the earth to kill him. He finds himself one on one with him in a room where Jason Bourne defeats him.
I liked the action and suspense that this book constantly had. However I did think the book was a little long.
Quotes: “He is going mad” Page: 468 I thought that it was funny because that is exactly what I was thinking. He said this while Bourne was trying to process all of the new information. “Peace came with the darkness” Page: 586 I liked when he said that in the end of the book in the heat of the moment right after he defeated Carlos.
Theme: People can change
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a book with a lot of action and suspense.
I think that it is unique because the whole time during the book something interesting is always happening.
I would give this book five stars!
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Mar 09, 2013 sage rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disability, fiction, reviewed

Gah. So many mixed feelings. Basically, if I'd hit CTRL-H and inserted Natasha Romanov/Natalia Romanova for every mention of Jason Bourne (and various epithets), I might have loved this. It would have changed all the horrible gender dynamics and created a fabulous statement about men in power hanging women out to dry.

Marie's Stockholm Syndrome is so distasteful. As are every one of the many instances where crimes against women are dismissed, tolerated, or gotten away with (either by word or acti...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jorgen Schäfer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Der Agententhriller Der Borowski-Betrug von Robert Ludlum handelt von einem Mann, der sein Gedächtnis verloren hat. Auf der Suche nach seinen Erinnerungen lernt er langsam, dass er in seinem früheren Leben wohl ein Profikiller war – und er wird immer noch verfolgt.

Im zweiten Teil, Der Borowski-Herrschaft, hat der Mann gerade erst sein Leben wieder ein klein Wenig unter Kontrolle als ein Profikiller auftaucht, der unter seinem Namen wieder mordet. Die Regierung sieht keine Wahl als ihn gegen sein...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Myron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

To begin with I want to say two things:

1. I have seen the movies, however I barely remember them. Nevertheless after reading this book I have re-read the plot of the Bourne Identity movie and all the memories of the movie came flooding back.

2. Don't read this book if you expect a written version of the movie, in depth characters or a very down to earth plot. It is a spy/thriller book that has almost nothing to do with the movie other than some characters having the same names. Most spy/thrillers...more To begin with I want to say two things:

1. I have seen the movies, however I barely remember them. Nevertheless after reading this book I have re-read the plot of the Bourne Identity movie and all the memories of the movie came flooding back.

2. Don't read this book if you expect a written version of the movie, in depth characters or a very down to earth plot. It is a spy/thriller book that has almost nothing to do with the movie other than some characters having the same names. Most spy/thrillers are very plot driven, involve lustful romances and fairly implausible action.

Now that that's out of the way, this review can begin. The Bourne Identity is a story about an amnesiac who is searching for his lost memories. His only hope of doing so lies in a bank account in Zurich and a set of skills that allow him to be resourceful and when necessary, violent. Giving away any more of the plot would ruin the book.

As a spy/thriller, this book is amazing. There were many points throughout the book where I was very tempted to jump ahead to see what happens. There are twists and turns on every page, yet it does not go too far astray from the main plot; Bourne's goal of getting his memory back. The action is well paced and intense. Ludlum has produced a very complex yet thrilling plot which should keep the reader captivated.

One aspect that was unexpected was the psychological issues Bourne had to deal with throughout the book. His dark past would haunt him everywhere he would go, making him fear himself, especially when he had no idea of what harm he is capable of inflicting. This added an extra burden that Bourne would need to overcome to reach his goals.

As mentioned before the romance isn't very well developed and other than Bourne, the characters have no real depth. Nevertheless, neither of these aspects hinder the overall plot. There are some points, however, where it is hard to follow what is happening. I think that comes down to either poor writing or perhaps I was just reading at a late hour of the night.

In conclusion, if a reader would like to enjoy a good spy/thriller, this is the book to read. (less)

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Jan 18, 2013 Jackson S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Robert Ludlum’s book, The Bourne Identity, the first book of the Bourne trilogy, is about an exceptional assassin with a loss of memory, trying to find his place in the world. He was a part of operation Treadstone, a secret CIA operation plotted to kill Carlos, one of the most dangerous assassins in the world. In the execution of the operation, Jason was shot multiple times; suffering from major blood loss drifting in the ocean, bobbing up and down in the painfully cold water. He was found a str...more Robert Ludlum’s book, The Bourne Identity, the first book of the Bourne trilogy, is about an exceptional assassin with a loss of memory, trying to find his place in the world. He was a part of operation Treadstone, a secret CIA operation plotted to kill Carlos, one of the most dangerous assassins in the world. In the execution of the operation, Jason was shot multiple times; suffering from major blood loss drifting in the ocean, bobbing up and down in the painfully cold water. He was found a stray in the middle of the ocean and reeled in by fisherman. Soon he was awake with no memory of who he was, where he was and what had happened. Having some common knowledge the fisherman rushed him to the local doctor; a drunk, outcast for a simple mishap that caused a patient their life. The doctor then waits until the patient is conscious and starts to speak before he examines him. The doctor found a message about a bank account located in Zurich; once Jason was back to full health he was notified immediately and started his quest to discover who he really was, hoping that he can stay alive.
The first part of the book was a struggle, due to it being slower than a sloth on ambient (sleeping pill). I had to use clothes pins to keep my eyes open, until the story started to pick up and get to the action. Once the book got into the 3rd chapter it was an unstoppable force of excitement and exhilaration, non-stop heart pounding action. Mr. Ludlum had described the scenery and characters to a T; it’s almost as if I was a bystander watching the action happen. When the characters speak, it is of almost foreign language; the characters use military term, which can either add appeal or ruin the book. If you didn’t understand the terminology, then you’re going to be even more puzzled than his brain by the end. I would not recommend this book to many girls if any; this book is a mystery action thriller that most boys may like. If you liked this book go onto the next book in the series, The Bourne Legacy.
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Jan 15, 2013 Daniel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Bourne Identity Review

The Bourne Identity was a pretty good book. This book is an action based novel with some elements of mystery and suspense mixed in. The plot is one that takes a while to reach the climax. Here’s a general summary. When his half-dead body was pulled from the Mediterranean Sea by some fishermen, no one, not even himself knew who he was. While slowly regaining his memory, images and names come to him. Slowly, pieces of a puzzle that could potentially kill him begin to fal...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Zack Boone rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One afternoon, a man is found clinging to a piece of driftwood in the Mediterranean Sea. He is still alive, but barely. He is brought to a doctor and is saved. However, when the man wakes up, he has no memory of anything that has ever happened to him.
Such a situation occurred in The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. This is the first book in a series. All of the books in the series are about a man named Jason Bourne.
The book is titled The Bourne Identity because throughout the book, Jason B...more
One afternoon, a man is found clinging to a piece of driftwood in the Mediterranean Sea. He is still alive, but barely. He is brought to a doctor and is saved. However, when the man wakes up, he has no memory of anything that has ever happened to him.
Such a situation occurred in The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. This is the first book in a series. All of the books in the series are about a man named Jason Bourne.
The book is titled The Bourne Identity because throughout the book, Jason Bourne, who lost his memory, has to rediscover who he really is. He goes on many dangerous adventures to try to uncover the true identity of him.
This story is an adult fiction novel. The intended audience of the novel is older teens and adults. The story has a lot of action. However, the action in this book comes with death and destruction, as Jason Bourne must kill people in order to survive throughout the novel.
The main character throughout the novel is a man named Jason Bourne. He loses his memory in the beginning of the story and begins a quest to find out who he really is. Along the way, he teams up with a government official from Canada named Marie St. Jacques.
The problem in this story arises when Jason Bourne cannot remember who he is. As a result, he goes on a quest to find out who he really is. However, the world’s most dangerous assassin, Carlos, is determined to find and kill Jason Bourne. Along with Marie St. Jacques, Jason needs to find out his true identity without getting murdered in the process.
Along the way, Jason starts to piece together his past and realizes that he would like to change who he is. This begs the question of whether a person can change who they have been for a few years. Jason would like to change but has found that throughout the world, there are many people that still see him as the person that he was before he lost his memory.
One of the themes in this book is the idea that one event can change a person forever. In the case of Jason Bourne, this event is the loss of his memory. After he loses his memory, he becomes a different person.
The author does a great job of lacing the themes throughout the story without changing the flow of the novel. This style of writing is very effective because while the book is an action adventure at the surface, there are deep questions posed underneath the surface of the story.
All in all, this is a good book, but it is not for everybody. Those who do not like violence should not read this book as the main character kills quite a few people and there is a lot of death. I would not recommend this book to children under the age of 14, as the content in this novel may not be appropriate for kids under that age.

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Nov 15, 2012 Sitti rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have never thought that there would come a time that I would actually enjoy watching a movie adaptation of a book more than reading the book itself. Unfortunately, I found 'The Bourne Identity' a bit too dry for my taste. The beginning of the plot is very enticing and promises an action packed adventure. However, it did not live up to my expectations.

I normally emphatise with the characters of the books that I'm reading. Unfortunately, I found it very hard to establish an emotional connection...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Henry Hager rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Do you want a action- packed thriller, that keeps you on the edge of your seat? Then this is the right book for you. The book starts off with Jason Bourne is pulled the Mediterranean Sea with bullet holes in his back and unconcious. He was helped by a small island doctor. He has no memory and cannot remember his history. He goes through a series of live threatening events keeping his distant from the worlds most dangerous assasin; Carlos. Will he find his identity or will he be stopped?

This nov...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Marvin Amazon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first saw the 2002 theatrical version of the Bourne Identity a year after it was released, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It moved at a relentless pace and introduced a new kind of hero to the general movie-going public—one who got the job done with grit and sweat, rather than cool weapons and gadgets. The plot seemed current and relevant to our times—I believe it actually still does today—which was a very good thing.

Up until a few months ago, I never considered reading the book. I assumed it wou...more I first saw the 2002 theatrical version of the Bourne Identity a year after it was released, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It moved at a relentless pace and introduced a new kind of hero to the general movie-going public—one who got the job done with grit and sweat, rather than cool weapons and gadgets. The plot seemed current and relevant to our times—I believe it actually still does today—which was a very good thing.

Up until a few months ago, I never considered reading the book. I assumed it would be just like the movie, but then I read the synopsis. I immediately got intrigued and ordered it that same evening. After I finished the book, I kicked myself for not reading it sooner, for I might as well have been witnessing a completely different story.

The plot from the get-go centres on a man called Jason Bourne. We learn quite early on that he’s an amnesic, who doesn’t quite know who he is, following his shooting in Marseille, France. What is apparent, however, is that he has a number of unexplained skills, like being able to completely dismantle a gun in no time at all.

As the story moves on, he slowly pieces bits of his life together with help from unlikely sources. At the same time, he is pursued by a number of people who seem intent on seeing him dead at all costs. He ends up running for his life across Europe, while trying to gather clues as to who he actually is.

As with the film, the story moves at breakneck speed, but includes more intricate schemes and plots. This novel is very much in the same mould of John le Carré’s spy thrillers, with huge emphasis on the KGB/CIA spy activities during the 70s and 80s. The movie, however, modified it to suit the times, which helps to explain the vast differences.

The antagonists seem to come from everywhere, but the beauty of this novel is that Jason genuinely doesn’t know who they are, or why they’re hell bent on killing him. This also leaves us—the readers—in a state of confusion, adding to the mystery. The author, Robert Ludlum, keeps things from us for much of the novel, relying instead on a slow revealing process.

The story does start to drag around the middle, and the entire concept is quite implausible at times. Also, as we witness Jason recollecting fragments of his life at random moments, Deus ex Machina sometimes springs to mind in a few of these scenes. But all in all, it’s a thoroughly engaging read, especially if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief from time to time. Four out of five stars.
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Aug 05, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, audiobook, mystery, thriller, suspense

The Bourne Identity
By Robert Ludlum

Off a small island in the Mediterranean a man is found floating in the ocean. The man has no memory of who he is and how he came to be floating in the ocean clinging to a plank. He is taken to a doctor who has been tending to him upon his awakening the doctor tries to help him remember the man has had extensive facial reconstruction and something implanted in his hip that has a bank account number on it. The man follows the bank account lead and begins to disco...more

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About Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum was an American author of 25 thriller novels. There are more than 290 million copies of his books in print, and they have been translated into 32 languages. Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.

Some of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch,...more

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“I mean, we're all trying to find out who the hell we are, aren't we?” — 79 people liked it

“The success of any trap lies in its fundamental simplicity. The reverse trap by the nature of its single complication must be swift and simpler still.” — 43 people liked it

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