Bourne Identity-V01

by Robert Ludlum

Genres: Fiction, Espionage, Thriller

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Robert Ludlum was the author of twenty-seven novels, each one a New York Times bestseller. There are more than 210 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into thirty-two languages. He is the author of The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and the Jason Bourne series--The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum--among others. Mr. Ludlum passed away in March, 2001. 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, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. A non-Ludlum book supposedly inspired by his unused notes, Covert One: The Hades Factor, has also been made into a mini-series. The Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (The Bourne Ultimatum won three Academy Awards in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.

Reviews

[Mariela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how many times I've read this book. I do remember that I was in my teens the first time and that I was mesmerized by the complexity of the plot, fascinated by the characters and in awe of the writing. The Cold War, spies who renounce their lives for their country, who spend years living in strange places under different names, who have been trained the hard way and have nothing and no one to rely on but their skills. No cell phones, no internet, no satellite communication. The loneliest people on Earth. That's the stuff that makes up a terrific book.
So it was hardly surprising when Jason Bourne grabbed me once again, kept me from sleeping until I'd finished the last chapter of his gruelling story.
I've tried watching the movies and, as it is usuallly the case with films adapted from books, they were a big let down. It's impossible to trasnform stories that took place in a different world to make them work in the present one. They simply become something else, another story whose main character vaguely reminds you of a great novel you once read and loved.
I caught part of an interview with Matt Damon after the first Bourne film was released, and when he said he had read the book but hadn't liked it, I got mad. Doesn't he know who Robert Ludlum is? He should have shown some respect!
Anyway, take a train back in time and revisit the era of spies, real ones who hurt when they are wounded, full of resources and abilities, and who face impossible situations. I can promise you won't regret it.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell like this book wasn't meant for me. It went in to to much detail about the CIA and i was mostly just the girl and him talking.

[Bob Box · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1980. What can I say about the Bourne books? The movies were pretty good also.

[Shelley Alongi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book before. I went back to read it and I thought wow this is so 80s. :-) I like it better than the movie.

[Graham Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, first book of the series. Will make you want to read more of the series.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely enthralling

[Incandragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the 2nd half, and managed not to quit in the first half. This has one of the problems that Shakespeare does ... it's easy to think it's very formulaic, when I feel that Ludlum probably invented a lot of the formula.

Anyway, the "things get worse, then the get even worse, then they get worser, then it gets really bad" formula really grates on me. However, once the love interest actually starts to get a kind of power on her own, I could enjoy it. I don't really enjoy the "man alone" scenario.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent spy thriller with an original setup. Ludlum has a good eye for details - sometimes, too good, as the plot gets bogged down with extraneous description. As with most spy novels (especially for the 80's), characters are pretty thinly drawn caricatures. A good read, but nothing I'll revisit.

[Juliann Wasisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok

[Stefano de Rosmini · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hundred percent action, best ever book about secret organizations and spies.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good book. It easily kept me interested until the end.

[Daniel Prestwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best action packed books I have ever read. Very excited about the rest of the series.

[Jacob Vicente · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a while! Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Torr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent pace, learning about the main character as he learns about himself.

[Taro Yamashita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook checkout expired before I was able to finish listening to it. I'm not dismayed. It was OK, but not great. I think that this was one of those books that was better as a movie.

[Peter J Goeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also read books 2 and 3 this year as well.