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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Fast-paced and a page-turner, this is one of those books that benefit from being read at the time of publishing. It gets quickly outdated (and especially the female characters are badly written), but the fact that nowadays there are still books in circulation is a testament to the unique and intricate plot and a prose that flows considerably well, considering the predisposition for passive voice.
This book really surprised me. I had no idea it was written and set in 1980. And because of that, the Jason Bourne of the book is a completely different character than that of the movies. If there's any advice I'd give someone reading this book, it'd be to basically forget the movie Bourne. This is a character with the same name, the same basic story of amnesia, and the same badass-ery, but a totally different back story and different methods of finding out who he is. A really fun read for mystery and suspense lovers. A side note: you might want to brush up on your French. There were some sections where I had absolutely no idea what was being said.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When you read this book, you need to keep in mind the time period that it was written to go along with the story line. This is a fun adventurous read. Some plot devices were a little convenient to keep the story moving.
I used to make fun of christian for reading books like this - never again. I really loved this book. So fun to be completely entertained. don't worry, it isn't like the movie so you really don't know what is going to happen.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book in my opinion ws far richer in detail and in fact had a different story to tell from the film. It was pacey, exciting and had me gripped from the start.
It tells the by now well known story of Jason Bourne - a man who loses his identity due to the fact that he is shot in the back and flung over the side of a boat. When recovered from the water, he soon realises that he has suffered complete memory loss. Throughout the book, fragments of his memory are recovered and the reader sees the story from the point of view of Bourne, i.e. at the start of the story there is little known of him by the reader and gradually they are introduced to various aspects of his past as Bourne recovers his memory. This approach has good points and bad points. The main negative is that the reader never really feels they have a full grip of the plotline until the final pages. The good point is that they are able to empathise more keenly with Bourne as they have a greater understanding of his lack of knowledge about his own past.
I liked the dichotomy in Bournes personality in that he acts as a ruthless killer at certain points and at other points he is a caring, honest and compassionate human being. This is most apparent in his relationship with Marie, whose life he initially threatens in order to force her to comply with his wishes but who ultimately becomes his lover. After this, he thinks primarily of her protection from the horrific life which he knows she will be exposed to if she remains with him.
Also central to the book is the character known as Carlos - a character notably absent from the film adaptation. He is a prolific assassin, known worldwide for his exploits but who has thus far avoided the best efforts of law enforcement agencies worldwide in their attempts to capture or kill him. This is the purpose for which Bourne was recruited to Treadstone (a CIA project which is top secret in nature) - to act as a lure and appeal to Carlos' competitive nature to lure him into the open and make him more vulnerable. He is to achieve this by taking the credit for assassinations which have been conducted, thus making Carlos jealous of Bournes perceived achievements.
I will not spoil the ending but needless to say there are too many twists and turns in this thriller to mention and ultimately Bourne ends up with Treadstone believing he has betrayed them by turning as well as being pursued relentlessly by Carlos.
A great book and I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the others in the series....onwards to The Bourne Supremacy!
It tells the by now well known story of Jason Bourne - a man who loses his identity due to the fact that he is shot in the back and flung over the side of a boat. When recovered from the water, he soon realises that he has suffered complete memory loss. Throughout the book, fragments of his memory are recovered and the reader sees the story from the point of view of Bourne, i.e. at the start of the story there is little known of him by the reader and gradually they are introduced to various aspects of his past as Bourne recovers his memory. This approach has good points and bad points. The main negative is that the reader never really feels they have a full grip of the plotline until the final pages. The good point is that they are able to empathise more keenly with Bourne as they have a greater understanding of his lack of knowledge about his own past.
I liked the dichotomy in Bournes personality in that he acts as a ruthless killer at certain points and at other points he is a caring, honest and compassionate human being. This is most apparent in his relationship with Marie, whose life he initially threatens in order to force her to comply with his wishes but who ultimately becomes his lover. After this, he thinks primarily of her protection from the horrific life which he knows she will be exposed to if she remains with him.
Also central to the book is the character known as Carlos - a character notably absent from the film adaptation. He is a prolific assassin, known worldwide for his exploits but who has thus far avoided the best efforts of law enforcement agencies worldwide in their attempts to capture or kill him. This is the purpose for which Bourne was recruited to Treadstone (a CIA project which is top secret in nature) - to act as a lure and appeal to Carlos' competitive nature to lure him into the open and make him more vulnerable. He is to achieve this by taking the credit for assassinations which have been conducted, thus making Carlos jealous of Bournes perceived achievements.
I will not spoil the ending but needless to say there are too many twists and turns in this thriller to mention and ultimately Bourne ends up with Treadstone believing he has betrayed them by turning as well as being pursued relentlessly by Carlos.
A great book and I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the others in the series....onwards to The Bourne Supremacy!
After 8 days of knowing each other Jason and Marie declare their undying love for each other. Other than that, book was pretty good but very different from the movie. A little dense. I listened to it as an audiobook and it was kind of hard to jeep track of all the characters
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's spectacular.
By which I mean it abandons dreary reality, and goes for spectacle every chance it gets.
If you're willing to go along with that, you'll likely have a good time with this book.
By which I mean it abandons dreary reality, and goes for spectacle every chance it gets.
If you're willing to go along with that, you'll likely have a good time with this book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes