Book Reviews of The Bourne Identity (Bourne, Bk 1)

I read "The Bourne Identity" after seeing the film and I enjoyed both though the book was better. In modernizing the time of the story for the film, new technologies come into play making Bourne's flight through Europe almost impossible because he could be tracked via cell phone signals, satellite imagery, email and the Internet. In the book there are none of these modern devices, allowing Bourne and his female companion more time to plan and act. I also prefer Maria in the book because she actually has useful skills. In the film she is just there as a convenient ride away from the initial confrontation and later hangs onto Bourne out of Stockholm syndrome. It was refreshing to see her have useful skills and a more robust personality than she does in the film.

Dare I say it? This is one of the very cases in which I preferred the movie to the book. I picked up the novel after having seen the film starring Matt Damon, thinking to find a similar plot (though, of course, we all know movie plots always are changed). However, the book is extremely different. Honestly, I found Jason Bourne to be more of a "thinker" than a "doer" in the novel. Which, therefore, made it a far more boring read for me. Again, this is simply my opinion. It was still a decent book and I don't necessarily discourage one from reading it - just a warning that it is quite, quite different from the movie and I found it difficult to be fully absorbed by the novel.

Unlike the movie, Ludlum engages Robert Bourne in an unbelievable series of events that draw him all across Europe. It's one of those reads that until you finish the novel you don't realize just how bizarre the trip is because you are so caught up in the events. This is one book you won't put down once you start reading it.

Published in 1980, The Bourne Identity tells part of the story of Jason Bourne, a man who, well... this gets a bit complicated.

First of all, the book and the movie of the same name, while related, tell very different stories. I have a fascination with the conversions of novels into movies, and it was only after I watched the movie (9 years after it was released) that I bothered to track down and read the book, mostly to see how it had been converted into a movie.

Both the movie and the book center around an individual suffering severe amnesia who gradually discovers his past. Some of the other characters share names between the book and the movie, but the story arcs are very different.

In the book we learn that Jason Bourne is part of a plot to remove a master assassin named Carlos. He has to figure that out of course, thanks to the amnesia. As in the movie there is a woman, Marie, who helps him, though in the book she's an expert in international finance instead of a student.

Oddly - and rarely, in my experience - the movie may actually be better than the book, though it's a close thing. In the book I didn't buy the relationship between Bourne and Marie. She fell for him too easily given their "introduction" and nothing in his character made me think he loved her, even though those words were used. Early chapters bogs down in needless detail about certain financial transactions. Later chapters moved along better, but the details of some of Bourne's history got hazy, so things weren't perfect there either. And, frankly, Carlos seemed too good - and too powerful - to be true.

That being said, Bourne himself has a less nasty past in the book than he does in the movie. He feels a bit cleaner here, and possibly a bit more likable. The movie, while being more up to date in many ways, gives Bourne an uglier background, one where his motivations and origin are a lot more gray than white. It then promptly sugar coats it, though, leaving the audience happy and probably not thinking about it too much.

I guess the book is worth reading. Ludlum did get some things right, but it's not perfect.

This is one of the rare cases where I'd have to say that I like the movie better! All of the layers of psychological delving started to get old.

Most excellent...the Movie was wonderful, but this book adds several details and nuances that the movie lacked

Robert Ludlum's best book ever, IMHO!!

Much better than the movie(a pale imitation).

Lots of good fast-paced action, exactly what you’d expect of Ludlum. He doesn’t vary much from his typical formula, and this reads like most of his other books. But, that’s a *good* thing if you like his writing.

For those of you who have seen the movie and now want to read the book, let me forewarn you: the movie is vastly different from the book. I personally thought the movie was a much better story –- don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but it is best to consider the book and the movie as two completely different stories. Attempting to compare the two as if they were the same story is an exercise in frustration. Perhaps the thing to keep in mind is the original time-frame the book was written (mid 1960s).

The first of Ludlum's three Bourne books. Tremendous...just the best.

His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microflilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival.

I enjoyed this book very much. I also enjoyed the movie, I just don't think the book and the movie have anything to do with the other.

Very Very good read. Fast paced intrigue. A lot of fun. Enjoy.

Reads more like a movie than the movie was like a movie.

Good read.

Pretty good read overall but I was disappointed in a couple places with some unlikely scenarios. This is one time that I think the move was better than the book.

Loved it!

A fast paced thriller - much better than the movie (and very different from the movie). I recommend it.

started slow but got better as the book went along.

Great book. I love all of the Bourne books, but especially the first three by Ludlum.

Great beginning but the rest of the plot never seemd to match it. Hate to say it but I enjoyed the film more.

I read this book when the movie first came out. It is a little confusing but once you get into it, it's just as amazing as the movie.

I love this series, and am glad it was continued. This was a pretty good book, and followed along the lines of the original author well.

Great book! Full of action.

Hubby loved it!

Warning to Movie Watchers: Do not expect it to be the same as the movie although of the three in the series I think this one the movie followed the closest. It was a good book as a stand alone and sets the book series up well.

Great book, even better than the awesome movie made from it. Really interesting and fast paced.

A great story similiar to the Movie Screenplay but very unique and spell-binding. I read it in a hurry it was so good.

QED.

It's quite different than the movie. I found it hard to get through at some points but still enjoyed it.

An excellent book by an excellent author.

Well written and compelling plot. Even better than the movie.

A pretty good read. Very entrhalling at times.

This was a slow read for me, but I enjoyed it.

Way better than the movie, but in the end really not my style.

"His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Miduterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival through bizzare world of murderous conspirators-led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. Who is Jason Bourne? The answer may kill him."*

*From the back of the book, The Bourne Identity.

Wow. A thrill-ride that while different from the movie, has its own brand of exciting suspense. Ludlum fans will really enjoy this one.

This book was ok it is the set up for the later books

The first Bourne story, and probably the best. One of my favorite Ludlum books.

Different from the movie and sometimes a little hard to follow, but an interesting read nonetheless

Suspenseful, very enjoyable easy reading.

Very nice shape. Good book!

Good action.

Jason Bourne. He has no past, and he may have no future. His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival through a bizarre world of murerous conspirators--led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. Who is he, the answer may kill him.

If you liked the movie, you'll love the book. Fast-paced adventure with plenty of detail.

Great movie and even better book.

MY FAVORITE LUDLUM BOOK. THE MOVIE DIDN'T D0 IT JUSTICE. IF YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE IT RUINS THE BOOK. SO IF YOU HAVE DON'T BOTHER

Movie is better than the book, action dulled by over-analyzing the politics.

Much much MUCH better than the movie could have ever hoped to be! IF you saw the movie, read this!

A page-turner, filled with suspense and intrigue and just the right amount of romance to keep things interesting.

Never read it. but letting it go to someone that will.

This book is much more detailed than the movie, and is a highly recommended read for those who never judge a book by its movie.

I lost interest after about three chapters, but I'm not a big suspense/novel type of reader. Many of my co-workers have read this an loved it.

I thought the action was great and think the book should be read, before you see the movie!

The back reads:

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

His memory is blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival through a bizarre world of murderous conspirators-led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. Who is Jason Bourne? The answer may kill him.

I know the movie was really good so I can only imagine what this book is packed with :)

I bought "The Bourne identity" mostly because I didn't want to lose the opportunity of reading Ludlum's book before the release of a film based on it. I really wasn't a fan of the author (and I am not one now), but I loved this book.

To start with, the plot is remarkably good. "The Bourne identity" is the story of a man without a past, rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by some fishermen. He is very ill, and his body has suffered the impact of many bullets. The man is taken by the fishermen to a doctor in a nearby island, who helps him to recover physically and mentally. Our protagonist doesn't remember who he is, but with the help of the doctor he finds some clues he doesn't like too much. He only knows for certain some things, for instance that his face has been altered by plastic surgery, that he knows a lot about firearms and that he carried on him a microfilm that contains the code to an account of four million dollars.

In the Swiss bank where the account is he also finds a name: Jason Bourne. But... is he Jason Bourne?. He cannot remember, and if it were for quite a few people, he won't. From the moment he leaves the island onwards, our man without a past will be followed, and attacked. He doesn't understand why, but he reacts in order to stay alive. Add to this already interesting mixture a woman he takes as a hostage, Marie, a number of assasins (including the most famous assassin in the world, Carlos), and the possibility that he is, as a matter of fact, also an assassin, and you will understand why this book is so good. The main character will be hunted all throughout the book not only by the "bad guys", but also by the "good" ones (mainly agents from the USA Government). You won't be able to stop reading this book, and you will find yourself asking aloud to nobody in particular "who on earth is this man?" and "what started this whole mess"?.

All in all, I highly recommend this book to those who appreciate a good thriller, and to those who don't usually read this kind of book but are open to new experiences. I belong to the last category, as I only read "The Bourne identity" because I was interested in watching the movie of the same name.

Much, much better than the movie! Very detailed and well written.

jason bourne ,he has no past, and he may have no future his memory is blank. who ios jason bourne? the answer may kill him

Ludlum at his best. Reread after movie came out & enjoyed the second time too

Jason Bourne's first adventure. Better than the movie!

the first of the series-thriller!

His memory is blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival through a bizarre world of murderous conspirators - led by Carlos, the world's most dangerous assassin. Who is Jason Bourne? The answer may kill him?

Robert Ludlum will keep you up at night.This is the very first book about his hero Jason Bourne and the books should be read in order of publication.Ludlum keeps the suspence right up to the last page.