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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have an appreciation for the world built in this book. I went in expecting some similarities with the movie, which I was pleasantly surprised there were few of. Really, just the names of characters and the backdrop of international espionage and assassinations carried over from the book to the movie.
Overall, I really enjoyed book 1 and am planning to borrow book 2 from the library pretty soon. I appreciate the intrigue and action built into the storyline. And who can resist a good CIA spook?? That being said, Ludlum became repetitive and verbose at times, and could have been more concise with storytelling (I do a good deal of technical writing; it's in my nature to want people to get to the point). Also, the love affair between Marie and Cain/Bourne/Webb seemed a bit contrived. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series...eventually. These books are long!
Overall, I really enjoyed book 1 and am planning to borrow book 2 from the library pretty soon. I appreciate the intrigue and action built into the storyline. And who can resist a good CIA spook?? That being said, Ludlum became repetitive and verbose at times, and could have been more concise with storytelling (I do a good deal of technical writing; it's in my nature to want people to get to the point). Also, the love affair between Marie and Cain/Bourne/Webb seemed a bit contrived. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series...eventually. These books are long!
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
it is not the most intense and nerve-wrecking book i‘ve ever read, and compared to other action-driven novels it might even be kind of slow, but it reminds me of some personal events and memories that i really like to reflect on. it just carries a sentimental kind of vibe for me.
This book is not really very much like the plot of the films (which modernizes the story at the cost of losing much of its social and political details), and as is so often the case I liked the book better. Just like James Bond's history with World War II, the Cold War and Vietnam provide important detail to the plot of this book.
This was a good book however, slightly verbose. I know that some of the details were important to setting the mood, describing a character or describing the setting but sometimes it was too much. I like Marie and Jason but Jason said that "Carlos is Kane, Kane is Delta" phrase WAY too many times. It got really annoying after awhile.
I was not impressed with the movie or at least the one that shares the name of this novel. It essentially cut Carlos out, changed Marie's last name and cut out a lot of plot and minor characters. The movie stripped the meat of the book only to leave a mere skeleton of the original plot. The book was much better than the movie but to adapt that one novel would have required more time and more movies which was not a popular trend when it was released in 2002. I liked Matt Damon as Bourne but didn't like the casting choice for Marie. Everyone else was good. That is where my praise ends.
I was not impressed with the movie or at least the one that shares the name of this novel. It essentially cut Carlos out, changed Marie's last name and cut out a lot of plot and minor characters. The movie stripped the meat of the book only to leave a mere skeleton of the original plot. The book was much better than the movie but to adapt that one novel would have required more time and more movies which was not a popular trend when it was released in 2002. I liked Matt Damon as Bourne but didn't like the casting choice for Marie. Everyone else was good. That is where my praise ends.
How could such a dull book be considered a suspense classic?
I saw all the great review and bought the entire series.... jeeeez I didn’t think it would be such a complicated and boring book to read, I really had no idea what was going on, but I always finish a book I start.
I might try the 2nd and hope it’s easier to follow and more of a page turner, but this one was very disappointing considering I love a good conspiracy and government espionage plot line.
I might try the 2nd and hope it’s easier to follow and more of a page turner, but this one was very disappointing considering I love a good conspiracy and government espionage plot line.
I'd actually give it 3.5 stars but oh well. Really enjoyed it for what it was. Did not care for the treatment and casual violence against women which sucks cause Marie was actually a pretty awesome character. But I really liked when the pace of the story picked up and all the political intrigue finally came into play. Started getting really good about half way through. Too many exclamation points. I would have liked to see Delta in action back in the day but that's just some wishful thinking on my part.