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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Much better than the movie. The characters make so much more sense.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book the first time I read it. But reading it again, I have to admit that this book needs an editor. Every section is twice as long as it needed to be, and as the book went on, it became more and more irritating.
I'm sure it was groundbreaking in 1980, but 45 years later, I find it tedious.
I'm sure it was groundbreaking in 1980, but 45 years later, I find it tedious.
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this at my in-laws on whatever we're calling vacation during the COVID era. The entire time I was reading it I was marveling at how the scriptwriters for the movie made this entire story SO much better. Ludlum is not a great writer so expected him to make up for it with plotting and action and, well, he at least gave us this concept and, thankfully, we eventually got Matt Damon.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I have loved the Bourne movies since they came out 10 years ago and have watched them over and over, which is what prompted me to read the book, to see what the movies were based on. The story started at very similar, though this only lasted for about 30 pages. Once the story diverged, it took me awhile to quit expecting the same plot as the movies, but I was equally enthralled and the story was jam-packed with action. The story of Jason Bourne is even more complicated in the books, and I think I will need to re-read it someday to fully understand all the details. Nevertheless, I really liked this book. And I think I loved it even more, because I can still picture the main character as Matt Damon :)
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this very enjoyable and well written and paced. My only problem was the relationship between Bourne and Marie, which is built mostly on his interrupting her rape from one of the bad guys. I don’t think it was handled all that well and I flip flop as to if their love, with that scaffolding was believable or not. On the one hand I like that she’s not a typical written victim but on the other basically no weight is given to it, which makes it feel strange. Eventually there are many more moments that give their relationship more credence. But it kind of felt like it was hand waved simply because she was extremely intelligent and analytical.
I actually liked that she would call Bourne out on things frequently, showing that his confirmation bias was driving his conclusions. The dynamic worked well because it explores his past trauma, and centres it frequently. The training versus the man are liminal and nicely coupled with the larger plot. It’s much more complex and rich, and featured way more trade craft and more factions than I expected.
I was warned that it was much more slow and I think it altered my expectations enough. I could see how if you expected the movie you’d be disappointed. Ones an action movie with spy fiction trappings while this is full fledged spy fiction. I actually thought it moved along at a good pace and developed characters more than the other books do in the genre. It actually has something interesting to say about what the government does to operatives trained in a far more nuanced way that isn’t boiled down like in the movie.
As I said before, pretty much my only problem was the initial relationship development. But Marie is a much more fleshed out and better character in the book, I found. I suspect some of that is down to when it was written, possibly. I also listened on the audiobook and the narrator was great (same guy who narrated Jurassic Park, I think.) sometimes listening this way really highlights the cadence and flow of the author. Really like the authorial voice in this one. And while the action is far less, I liked how they were written; felt much like the action in the movie.
I actually liked that she would call Bourne out on things frequently, showing that his confirmation bias was driving his conclusions. The dynamic worked well because it explores his past trauma, and centres it frequently. The training versus the man are liminal and nicely coupled with the larger plot. It’s much more complex and rich, and featured way more trade craft and more factions than I expected.
I was warned that it was much more slow and I think it altered my expectations enough. I could see how if you expected the movie you’d be disappointed. Ones an action movie with spy fiction trappings while this is full fledged spy fiction. I actually thought it moved along at a good pace and developed characters more than the other books do in the genre. It actually has something interesting to say about what the government does to operatives trained in a far more nuanced way that isn’t boiled down like in the movie.
As I said before, pretty much my only problem was the initial relationship development. But Marie is a much more fleshed out and better character in the book, I found. I suspect some of that is down to when it was written, possibly. I also listened on the audiobook and the narrator was great (same guy who narrated Jurassic Park, I think.) sometimes listening this way really highlights the cadence and flow of the author. Really like the authorial voice in this one. And while the action is far less, I liked how they were written; felt much like the action in the movie.
An intense page turner. Caution: Beaucoup de swearing!
This is a ridiculous plot! And i found myself not caring at all if Bourne was captured and killed. He was a very flat character.