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Jason Bourne #2
The Bourne Supremacy
David Webb is an ordinary citizen living an ordinary life in a small university town...except he is under 24-hour personal surveillance. Of course his memory is gone, but with his wife's loving care his past is on the mend.
Suddenly it returns, but not at his volition. From Hong Kong comes word that the assassin has struck again, that Bourne is back!
But the U.S. government knows he never existed. Webb only posed as Bourne to unearth a notorious killer. Yet someone is killing again in Bourne's name...and he must be stopped or stability in the Far East will crumble. The decision is made -- Jason Bourne must exist again and hunt his own imposter.
679 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 1986
1771 people are currently reading
38273 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ludlum
629 books5,264 followersRobert 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,489 reviews
September 25, 2008
#2 in the Bourne trilogy. This book didn't have some of the elements that made the first one so great, but it had a few things that weren't there in the first book that I liked, namely the distinct seperation of David Webb, the mild mannered husband and Jason Bourne, the highly trained killing machine who cares for nothing but himself. Ludlum actually creates three different characters in the same body: David Webb, Jason Bourne and "Delta", Webbs codename during his time as a heartless American guerrilla fighter in early-70's Vietnam.
The story sarts with , who has Webb had 5 years of peace (and therapy) and has mostly put his past as the psuedo-assassin Jason Bourne and his chaotic years in Vietnam behind him. Suddenly he is plunged back into the covert ops world that he has been trying to forget. This time, allied with his once enemy and long time friend Alex Conklin (no, he doesn't die in the first book like in the movies), he must fly to Asia and kill a new assassin who is using the name of Jason Bourne.
What I liked most about this book was the inner struggle between Webb and Bourne. Webb is weak and slow, but he is capable of emotions like love and empathy. Bourne on the other hand is a void of emotions, with the exception of hate and anger, and is highly effective for it. As the story goes on you see less and less of Webb and more of Bourne. By the end, Webb is virtually gone, and Bournes anger and hate gives way to "Delta", who was the origianl killer, a persona so filled with rage at losing his first family during Vietnam that he joined an American guerrilla force just to be able to kill. This part of the story kept me enthralled through the entire book. Also, in this book you see Bourne as a hunter, and not running for his life. He appears more clever and deft in this book than in the first.
The cons in this book were about the same as the first. The characters talked way too much and it felt like they kept going on tangents that weren't really important to the story. And Webb and Marie reached whole new levels of romantic barf-ness during this book.
But overall , I still loved this one. It wasn't quite as complex as the first book, but there was more action in it. It was more of an in-your-face kinda action suspense book, but it came off great. I recommend it to anyone
The story sarts with , who has Webb had 5 years of peace (and therapy) and has mostly put his past as the psuedo-assassin Jason Bourne and his chaotic years in Vietnam behind him. Suddenly he is plunged back into the covert ops world that he has been trying to forget. This time, allied with his once enemy and long time friend Alex Conklin (no, he doesn't die in the first book like in the movies), he must fly to Asia and kill a new assassin who is using the name of Jason Bourne.
What I liked most about this book was the inner struggle between Webb and Bourne. Webb is weak and slow, but he is capable of emotions like love and empathy. Bourne on the other hand is a void of emotions, with the exception of hate and anger, and is highly effective for it. As the story goes on you see less and less of Webb and more of Bourne. By the end, Webb is virtually gone, and Bournes anger and hate gives way to "Delta", who was the origianl killer, a persona so filled with rage at losing his first family during Vietnam that he joined an American guerrilla force just to be able to kill. This part of the story kept me enthralled through the entire book. Also, in this book you see Bourne as a hunter, and not running for his life. He appears more clever and deft in this book than in the first.
The cons in this book were about the same as the first. The characters talked way too much and it felt like they kept going on tangents that weren't really important to the story. And Webb and Marie reached whole new levels of romantic barf-ness during this book.
But overall , I still loved this one. It wasn't quite as complex as the first book, but there was more action in it. It was more of an in-your-face kinda action suspense book, but it came off great. I recommend it to anyone
May 2, 2021
Still Jason Bourne/David Webb flushes out the impostor in Hong Kong/Kowloon China in this book. It's filled with action, the hand-to-hand fight scenes, and constant plotting. Not quite as good as the first one in my opinion, but still a good read. The Bourne Identity had more of a "wow" factor to it I suppose.
May 29, 2023
After the succes of “The Bourne Identity” Robert Ludlum wrote this sequel and what would become the Bourne trilogy.
As the story begins the Jason Bourne Identity is mostly gone and David Webb has re-emerged and is happily married. One day he discovers that somebody has kidnapped his wife and once again it seems that a Jason Bourne is required.
Hong Kong - several killings have been claimed by the mythical assassin Jason Bourne and yet he was never more than a myth to bait the assassin Carlos and yet he is back.
It seems that the far east is on the brink of war and mayhem and it seems that only The real Jason Bourne can stop this from happening.
It seems that his own government once more needs the Bourne identity or Delta, and they are willing to forget the rights of David Webb.
Once again they have underestimated Jason Bourne as he goes where he was not expected and does what they never expected. Bourne reigns surpreme.
While the recent Bourne movies carry the titles that were Ludlum devised, the 2nd book has nothing in common with the story of the movie. The book takes place in Hong Kong before the Chinese takeover and in China. The problem to solve was the politics in the far east and Jason Bourne had to fight his own identity which had been used by a less successful person but trained by somebody from David Webbs own violent past.
A decent thriller from the past written by somebody whom was a very popular author, but like Alistair MacLean and his contemporaries he has lost the interest of readers. I can recall the time when a new Ludlum was greeted with enthousiasm and he and one Stephen King were the best books for backpackers to have to trade with other people.
A nice reread and of a different style as the recent Jason Bourne novels, already in its third writer. For me Ludlum is still very enjoyable.
As the story begins the Jason Bourne Identity is mostly gone and David Webb has re-emerged and is happily married. One day he discovers that somebody has kidnapped his wife and once again it seems that a Jason Bourne is required.
Hong Kong - several killings have been claimed by the mythical assassin Jason Bourne and yet he was never more than a myth to bait the assassin Carlos and yet he is back.
It seems that the far east is on the brink of war and mayhem and it seems that only The real Jason Bourne can stop this from happening.
It seems that his own government once more needs the Bourne identity or Delta, and they are willing to forget the rights of David Webb.
Once again they have underestimated Jason Bourne as he goes where he was not expected and does what they never expected. Bourne reigns surpreme.
While the recent Bourne movies carry the titles that were Ludlum devised, the 2nd book has nothing in common with the story of the movie. The book takes place in Hong Kong before the Chinese takeover and in China. The problem to solve was the politics in the far east and Jason Bourne had to fight his own identity which had been used by a less successful person but trained by somebody from David Webbs own violent past.
A decent thriller from the past written by somebody whom was a very popular author, but like Alistair MacLean and his contemporaries he has lost the interest of readers. I can recall the time when a new Ludlum was greeted with enthousiasm and he and one Stephen King were the best books for backpackers to have to trade with other people.
A nice reread and of a different style as the recent Jason Bourne novels, already in its third writer. For me Ludlum is still very enjoyable.
January 23, 2022
4.5 Stars for The Bourne Supremacy: Bourne Series, Book 2 (audiobook) by Robert Ludlum read by Scott Brick.
I’m still finding it interesting to see what inspired the movie franchise. The storyline of this book and the movie are quite different. I like that we get to finding out more about Bourne’s backstory in this book. The plot seems kind of dated now but I really liked the immersion into Chinese culture.
I’m still finding it interesting to see what inspired the movie franchise. The storyline of this book and the movie are quite different. I like that we get to finding out more about Bourne’s backstory in this book. The plot seems kind of dated now but I really liked the immersion into Chinese culture.
December 3, 2018
عالی بود! واقعاً عالی بود!
در بین همه کتابهای ماجرایی که خوندم - البته تعدادش خیلی زیاد هم نیست- این بهترینشون بود. همیشه یه غافلگیری داشت. هر لحظه یه اتفاق جدید میافتاد. به هیچ وجه قابل پیش بینی نبود. تا لحظه آخر فقط مطمئن بودم که خود بورن زنده میمونه و حتی به زنده موندن ماری هم اطمینان نداشتم.
در بین همه کتابهای ماجرایی که خوندم - البته تعدادش خیلی زیاد هم نیست- این بهترینشون بود. همیشه یه غافلگیری داشت. هر لحظه یه اتفاق جدید میافتاد. به هیچ وجه قابل پیش بینی نبود. تا لحظه آخر فقط مطمئن بودم که خود بورن زنده میمونه و حتی به زنده موندن ماری هم اطمینان نداشتم.
May 1, 2013
I guess whoever likes reading, or even knows how to read, should (or would surely already have) read the Bourne series. The first book that I'd read many many years ago, changed my life for the better. I have this habit of implementing the learnings of what I read in practical life.
The second book, The Bourne Supremacy, though its learnings cannot be implemented in real life unless you are in danger, but I'm sure I could use those when I do get in trouble some time. Every paragraph of this book hits you with a surprise learning or twist. If you readers have a habit of putting yourself in the protagonist's shoes, I'm sure, you wouldn't know what YOU would do if such life-threatening situation (count days or months or lifetime) presents itself to you. This book shows the extent of dirty politics (and not just that of the politicians, but bureaucratic politics as well) and how to read it - I could related to the politics to my days as a working professional.
Some details I couldn't understand because I'm not a finance person, more so, because I dont much understand international economics or international affairs. But the book makes it easy to understand how any changes in one country could affect the international affairs - especially after witnessing the tumbling of gold prices after one 'small' European country sold its complete gold stock.
The only reason it took me to read this book so many days was because I was reading 3 books at a time, which I dont usually do.
The second book, The Bourne Supremacy, though its learnings cannot be implemented in real life unless you are in danger, but I'm sure I could use those when I do get in trouble some time. Every paragraph of this book hits you with a surprise learning or twist. If you readers have a habit of putting yourself in the protagonist's shoes, I'm sure, you wouldn't know what YOU would do if such life-threatening situation (count days or months or lifetime) presents itself to you. This book shows the extent of dirty politics (and not just that of the politicians, but bureaucratic politics as well) and how to read it - I could related to the politics to my days as a working professional.
Some details I couldn't understand because I'm not a finance person, more so, because I dont much understand international economics or international affairs. But the book makes it easy to understand how any changes in one country could affect the international affairs - especially after witnessing the tumbling of gold prices after one 'small' European country sold its complete gold stock.
The only reason it took me to read this book so many days was because I was reading 3 books at a time, which I dont usually do.
March 26, 2023
I’m left wondering why the movie departed so far from the character and plot line of the book. I would love to see this story come alive on the screen.
November 3, 2018
Seasonal Reading Challenge Fall 2018 Task 15.9 - Get a Clue: Mystery MPG & Characteristic 3 (name in title)
Request a Big Book ticket, as MMPB (I ‘read’ the audio) comes in at 688 pp.
Request a Big Book ticket, as MMPB (I ‘read’ the audio) comes in at 688 pp.
October 3, 2023
It's probably a good thing that it's been so long since I've watched the Matt Damon trilogy that I could go into this fresh.
I liked that this novel picks up straight from the first one as our main character Bourne/Webb is recovering from those events.
Though he's soon thrust back into action as assassin in China is impersonating him.
This leads Bourne needing to take back his identity in this high stakes thriller.
As you'd expect from this series, this instalment is action-packed, whilst the inclusion of Asia added a nice mix.
It's quite wordy and whilst I enjoyed the conflict of Bourne/Webb I would have liked more focus on China - though Ludlum's descriptions are strong with all the details.
I liked that this novel picks up straight from the first one as our main character Bourne/Webb is recovering from those events.
Though he's soon thrust back into action as assassin in China is impersonating him.
This leads Bourne needing to take back his identity in this high stakes thriller.
As you'd expect from this series, this instalment is action-packed, whilst the inclusion of Asia added a nice mix.
It's quite wordy and whilst I enjoyed the conflict of Bourne/Webb I would have liked more focus on China - though Ludlum's descriptions are strong with all the details.
November 3, 2020
I didn't care all that much for the first one, and this one was worse. What a heap of convoluted nonsense, replete with clichés and ridiculous dialogue. And if I had a euro for every time a Chinese characters was referred to as "the Oriental"... Ugh. Suffice it to say, I did a lot of skimming to get through this.
January 4, 2013
Anyone looking for a book that mirrors the adaptation that made Matt Damon the new spy fatale can move along and not read the rest of this review. Hollywood chose to keep the name of Ludlum’s second book in the series, but make it much more thrill-centred and nothing like what I remember of the movie. Alas, it goes to show that bombs and sex sells, while honest to goodness thriller books, set in a time before GPS technology and the like, seem to wither on the vine. I must say that while the book was a little dense and I found it too detailed in parts, it does reflect some of the keys of the world of espionage back in the mid- to late-1980s. Ludlum does an excellent job of encapsulating the hunt for truth and villains, against a very interesting backdrop (Communist China), while not flogging their ideology as the central theme of their villainous ways. I wish some of the newer thriller/crime writers could do that; divorce the incessant need to talk about Islam and Al-Qaeda in the same way.
Ludlum’s premise is that someone posing as Jason Bourne is out in China and Hong Kong killing some high ranking officials in the PRC government (remember, this is a time when Hong Kong was still under British rule). Bourne’s new wife is also taken captive, which acts as the impetus to send Bourne (aka David Webb, aka Delta) into the Orient to find his wife and determine who is trying to smear his name. The book focuses on the two plots of finding the imposter Bourne and Mrs. Bourne/Webb piecing things together about her capture and those responsible. With a ton of detail and character introduction, the reader may find it hard to distinguish between the original Jason Bourne (actually David Webb, also called Delta while he was in Vietnam) and the imposter, as names appear interchangeable at the drop of a hat. Add to that the fact that I was listening to the book (gotta love Scott Brick) and it got all the more confusing and made me have to pay special attention.
I must admit that Hollywood sure did kick the Ludlum estate in the gonads, trying to pass the movies off as parallels to the book. Not that I worry about the movie-going public, but anyone wanting to tackle the true and pure Bourne series will be sadly disappointed if their attention span is only that of shooting, killing, gore and sex.
Kudos Mr. Ludlum on a job well done. One more of your ‘pure’ books before you pass the torch on to another.
Ludlum’s premise is that someone posing as Jason Bourne is out in China and Hong Kong killing some high ranking officials in the PRC government (remember, this is a time when Hong Kong was still under British rule). Bourne’s new wife is also taken captive, which acts as the impetus to send Bourne (aka David Webb, aka Delta) into the Orient to find his wife and determine who is trying to smear his name. The book focuses on the two plots of finding the imposter Bourne and Mrs. Bourne/Webb piecing things together about her capture and those responsible. With a ton of detail and character introduction, the reader may find it hard to distinguish between the original Jason Bourne (actually David Webb, also called Delta while he was in Vietnam) and the imposter, as names appear interchangeable at the drop of a hat. Add to that the fact that I was listening to the book (gotta love Scott Brick) and it got all the more confusing and made me have to pay special attention.
I must admit that Hollywood sure did kick the Ludlum estate in the gonads, trying to pass the movies off as parallels to the book. Not that I worry about the movie-going public, but anyone wanting to tackle the true and pure Bourne series will be sadly disappointed if their attention span is only that of shooting, killing, gore and sex.
Kudos Mr. Ludlum on a job well done. One more of your ‘pure’ books before you pass the torch on to another.
July 3, 2020
While reading this book, I couldn't picture Jason Bourne in my mind without seeing Matt Damon, but those who think the book follows the movie, I'm going to tell you right now, it doesn't.
David Webb thought he put the past behind him, he hung up the Jason Bourne mantel, is married to Marie, and is teaching Asian studies at a University in Maine (Where I'm from). But after Webb turns down his own Government when a ruthless Chinese tyrant is working on creating a new order with assassinations perpetrated by a Jason Bourne imposter. As it turns out, there never was a Jason Bourne, it was an alias created as a cover for Webb, while on his search for Carlos the Jackal, (see
), but now there is a new Jason Bourne.
Now Marie, the only important person in Webb's life, is taken from him, and will be killed if Webb does not cooperate. David Webb must now return to the life he never wanted to, the life of Jason Bourne, and hunt down the Bourne imposter, but things are not what they seem for Bourne, for he is once again drawn into a world of conspiracy and corruption.
Nowhere near as good as Identity, Supremacy was still a solid thriller by Ludlum. My only preventing from giving it a 5-star rating is I felt the story dragged in certain areas, it jumped around and at times very hard to follow. But other than that, a great spy thriller!
David Webb thought he put the past behind him, he hung up the Jason Bourne mantel, is married to Marie, and is teaching Asian studies at a University in Maine (Where I'm from). But after Webb turns down his own Government when a ruthless Chinese tyrant is working on creating a new order with assassinations perpetrated by a Jason Bourne imposter. As it turns out, there never was a Jason Bourne, it was an alias created as a cover for Webb, while on his search for Carlos the Jackal, (see
), but now there is a new Jason Bourne.Now Marie, the only important person in Webb's life, is taken from him, and will be killed if Webb does not cooperate. David Webb must now return to the life he never wanted to, the life of Jason Bourne, and hunt down the Bourne imposter, but things are not what they seem for Bourne, for he is once again drawn into a world of conspiracy and corruption.
Nowhere near as good as Identity, Supremacy was still a solid thriller by Ludlum. My only preventing from giving it a 5-star rating is I felt the story dragged in certain areas, it jumped around and at times very hard to follow. But other than that, a great spy thriller!
June 5, 2015
JJason Bourne, Ludlum's resourceful superhero, out MacGyver's MacGyver in the middle book of the Bourne trilogy. It takes the story a while to get going, as Ludlum establishes a bucolic scene of academic retreat for Bourne (now going by his real name, David Webb) and his red-headed Canadian companion and now devoted wife Marie. And, like the first book, there are too many talky interludes to push the complicated plot forward.
But when Marie is kidnapped by US Government, Jason Bourne snaps back into the forefront of our hero's psyche, and he turns tricks of resource and cunning that only the 80's TV superhero could match. In fact, in a 2007 poll MacGyver easily outpaced Bourne as the preferred hero of the voters (27% to 8%), and Bourne even finished behind Indiana Jones and John McClane (of the Die Hard series). I'm not sure why, because the action in "Supremacy", once Bourne is on the trail of Marie and her captors in Honk Kong, is faster and more furious than The Bourne Identity (Bourne Trilogy, Book 1). Marie now holds her own as a superheroine in her own right, and the interplay between the two story lines as the separated couple fight for the lives makes the middle section of this book supreme.
On one hand, if Ludlum cut the chit chat by about a hundred pages or so, these books would boil along at an insane pace. But then again, Ludlum writes with an old-fashioned and almost gentlemanly pace, so like a classic car that could use a little touch up to be perfect but would lose its charm in the detailing, Ludlum's style is best left alone and enjoyed for what it is.
But when Marie is kidnapped by US Government, Jason Bourne snaps back into the forefront of our hero's psyche, and he turns tricks of resource and cunning that only the 80's TV superhero could match. In fact, in a 2007 poll MacGyver easily outpaced Bourne as the preferred hero of the voters (27% to 8%), and Bourne even finished behind Indiana Jones and John McClane (of the Die Hard series). I'm not sure why, because the action in "Supremacy", once Bourne is on the trail of Marie and her captors in Honk Kong, is faster and more furious than The Bourne Identity (Bourne Trilogy, Book 1). Marie now holds her own as a superheroine in her own right, and the interplay between the two story lines as the separated couple fight for the lives makes the middle section of this book supreme.
On one hand, if Ludlum cut the chit chat by about a hundred pages or so, these books would boil along at an insane pace. But then again, Ludlum writes with an old-fashioned and almost gentlemanly pace, so like a classic car that could use a little touch up to be perfect but would lose its charm in the detailing, Ludlum's style is best left alone and enjoyed for what it is.
May 15, 2016
That difficult middle book in a trilogy. This time, Bourne is tricked into heading to Hong Kong to track down his kidnapped wife. Except it's all a government plot to get him to assassinate a rogue Chinese leader who is threatening the stability of the region.
A frantic chase across the US, China and Hong Kong. Involving the Chinese, American and British secret services. This book was pretty un-put-down-able - including several late nights where my arms were unable to support the book any more. Sadly the ending felt a little rushed and a little too neat, but that hardly detracts from the book at all.
A frantic chase across the US, China and Hong Kong. Involving the Chinese, American and British secret services. This book was pretty un-put-down-able - including several late nights where my arms were unable to support the book any more. Sadly the ending felt a little rushed and a little too neat, but that hardly detracts from the book at all.
Read
December 16, 2022DNF at page 75.
It's really poorly written, feels very badly dated, and just isn't even slightly exciting. An action scene that would be fun in a movie feels wooden and stiff. I was in the mood for a thriller, but this isn't fitting the bill.
It's really poorly written, feels very badly dated, and just isn't even slightly exciting. An action scene that would be fun in a movie feels wooden and stiff. I was in the mood for a thriller, but this isn't fitting the bill.
July 21, 2023
If you can completely forget the Matt Damon film that shares the same title, you may enjoy Robert Ludlum's novel "The Bourne Supremacy".
I saw and enjoyed the "Bourne" movies, but the film does not compare to the book as there is no resemblance whatsoever between the two. I nevertheless enjoyed the Ludlum novel slightly more. As for similarities: there is a character named Jason Bourne in both the film and novel. That's about it.
Jason Bourne, as we learned in the first novel, "The Bourne Identity", was a persona created by the U.S. government and a CIA operative named David Webb as a way of luring the world's greatest assassin, a man named Carlos, into the light. No one (alive) had ever seen Carlos, so Webb agreed to go deep undercover for three years by playing the role of a man named Jason Bourne, an equally brilliant and prolific assassin, except for the fact that Bourne wasn't real. Unfortunately, when Webb nearly dies in the Mediterranean and is awakened by an alcoholic doctor in a small fishing village, Webb discovers that he has amnesia. For nearly six months, with the aid of the doctor, Webb pieces tidbits of memories together. Unfortunately, they are memories of being Bourne, not Webb.
I know it sounds confusing; just read the first book...
"The Bourne Supremacy" takes place many years later. David Webb is a college professor, happily married to Marie (the woman he kidnapped, later fell in love with, and who ultimately saved his life), and has nearly recovered from his amnesia. Jason Bourne is a long-lost memory. That is, until several important diplomats are murdered in Hong Kong. A calling card left at the scene reveals that the killer is Jason Bourne. Only Webb, his wife, and a select few government agents knows that it is impossible. Clearly, someone is playing mind games, again, with Webb.
When Marie is kidnapped and taken to China, Webb must reluctantly dig deep and resurrect Jason Bourne, the killer.
I think what makes Ludlum's novels far superior to the films is the intense psychological drama: Webb is a man with two distinct personalities, one of which he wants nothing to do with anymore but must somehow control and use to save his wife. On the same token, Bourne hates Webb for being soft and emotional. The warring personalities within Webb's psyche is fascinating and the source of most of the suspense of the novel, moreso than the storyline involving international espionage, although the storyline (which involves a lot of 20th-century Asian history and a working knowledge of Maoist Communism) is also fascinating.
Great book by a great writer.
I saw and enjoyed the "Bourne" movies, but the film does not compare to the book as there is no resemblance whatsoever between the two. I nevertheless enjoyed the Ludlum novel slightly more. As for similarities: there is a character named Jason Bourne in both the film and novel. That's about it.
Jason Bourne, as we learned in the first novel, "The Bourne Identity", was a persona created by the U.S. government and a CIA operative named David Webb as a way of luring the world's greatest assassin, a man named Carlos, into the light. No one (alive) had ever seen Carlos, so Webb agreed to go deep undercover for three years by playing the role of a man named Jason Bourne, an equally brilliant and prolific assassin, except for the fact that Bourne wasn't real. Unfortunately, when Webb nearly dies in the Mediterranean and is awakened by an alcoholic doctor in a small fishing village, Webb discovers that he has amnesia. For nearly six months, with the aid of the doctor, Webb pieces tidbits of memories together. Unfortunately, they are memories of being Bourne, not Webb.
I know it sounds confusing; just read the first book...
"The Bourne Supremacy" takes place many years later. David Webb is a college professor, happily married to Marie (the woman he kidnapped, later fell in love with, and who ultimately saved his life), and has nearly recovered from his amnesia. Jason Bourne is a long-lost memory. That is, until several important diplomats are murdered in Hong Kong. A calling card left at the scene reveals that the killer is Jason Bourne. Only Webb, his wife, and a select few government agents knows that it is impossible. Clearly, someone is playing mind games, again, with Webb.
When Marie is kidnapped and taken to China, Webb must reluctantly dig deep and resurrect Jason Bourne, the killer.
I think what makes Ludlum's novels far superior to the films is the intense psychological drama: Webb is a man with two distinct personalities, one of which he wants nothing to do with anymore but must somehow control and use to save his wife. On the same token, Bourne hates Webb for being soft and emotional. The warring personalities within Webb's psyche is fascinating and the source of most of the suspense of the novel, moreso than the storyline involving international espionage, although the storyline (which involves a lot of 20th-century Asian history and a working knowledge of Maoist Communism) is also fascinating.
Great book by a great writer.
October 21, 2011
My first thought will give you an idea of how this book reads: I am so happy to be done with it! The plot is terribly complex and if you are clueless about the Far East/China and try to follow it, good luck to you! The book and the movie are not similar and this is one of the rare instances where I found the movie better than the book.
In the movie, his wife is killed right away. Not so in the book. The wife annoyed me to no end. Here's what I thought of that:
As for the economic "genius", Marie St Jacques, I find it astounding that to conceal her appearance, all she has to do is 1. push back her gorgeous red hair, 2. not wear makeup, 3. wear flats instead of heels, 4. not wear form fitting clothing. Wow - instantly unrecognizable! So I guess she normally has a red Afro, wears clown makeup, 9 inch heels, and a body suit. You know a man is writing this.
If Marie is so smart then why do her stupid clues not work with Bourne but alert McAllister? And my God could she be more obvious? Maple tree? She's Canadian for Pete's sake!
Finally, I liked Bourne and D'Anjou working together. It reminded me of Anakin and Obi Wan Kenobe.
In the movie, his wife is killed right away. Not so in the book. The wife annoyed me to no end. Here's what I thought of that:
As for the economic "genius", Marie St Jacques, I find it astounding that to conceal her appearance, all she has to do is 1. push back her gorgeous red hair, 2. not wear makeup, 3. wear flats instead of heels, 4. not wear form fitting clothing. Wow - instantly unrecognizable! So I guess she normally has a red Afro, wears clown makeup, 9 inch heels, and a body suit. You know a man is writing this.
If Marie is so smart then why do her stupid clues not work with Bourne but alert McAllister? And my God could she be more obvious? Maple tree? She's Canadian for Pete's sake!
Finally, I liked Bourne and D'Anjou working together. It reminded me of Anakin and Obi Wan Kenobe.
March 27, 2009
First and foremost, this book has absolutely nothing to do with the movies that recently came out. Sure, they share the same title, but let me reassure you, they have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the movie. The only thing that is kept from the book and transferred into the movie is the fact that Bourne is killers killer (if you don't believe me, just watch the movie. He kills a man with a TOWEL).
All that being said, I found this to be a quite enjoyable book. It takes place in China. Apparently, someone has taken up the Jason Bourne monniker and started assassinating Triad members. The real Jason Bourne (whose real name is David Webb) is, to say the least, furious and this fury is further fueled by the kidnapping of his wife, Marie. After that, David Webb goes back to being Bourne in order to find his wife and to kill the man who is impersonating him.
I really enjoyed this book because it keeps the sense of action that movies have. It also is really suspenseful and keeps you glued to the page. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys espionage novels.
All that being said, I found this to be a quite enjoyable book. It takes place in China. Apparently, someone has taken up the Jason Bourne monniker and started assassinating Triad members. The real Jason Bourne (whose real name is David Webb) is, to say the least, furious and this fury is further fueled by the kidnapping of his wife, Marie. After that, David Webb goes back to being Bourne in order to find his wife and to kill the man who is impersonating him.
I really enjoyed this book because it keeps the sense of action that movies have. It also is really suspenseful and keeps you glued to the page. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys espionage novels.
August 27, 2014
The second installment of the Bourne series is again full of action. However, the old proverb - about sequels never being as good as the original - is true.
Wordy! This book just has too many words. It could be a quick two or three hundred page fast movin' action packed paperback, instead of the 600 page mammoth it turned into. Now, there were many scenes that put you on the edge of your seat and kept you turning those 600 pages. There were the expected car chases, the identity changes, the occasional explosions and gun battles that I was expecting (and hoping for). But, there was also so much more...pages to read that is. Pages and pages of dialogue that seemed to drag on and on and on...like one of those phone messages you might get, you know that ones that time out they are so long...a whole lot of blabbering, repeating, and droning on. At points while reading I wanted to yell at the book, "get to the point already! Or, at least move on to a car chase or something!"
I also found the entire storyline a bit too unbelievable, even for an over the top spy thriller. In this novel an assassin has been murdering top Hong Kong business men and diplomats, all the while leaving the calling card of Jason Bourne. The copy cat had to be stopped. The FBI/CIA guys get together and form a plan to motivate the real Jason Bourne to come out of retirement (aka witness protection program) and take on this killer. He is the only person in the world with enough skill to do it.
The plan is to kidnap his wife, whom you may remember as the tough as nails Canadian economist from the first novel? The plan goes a bit haywire after Marie escapes. Jason turns crazy thinking his wife is dead...all making great fodder for an explosive story. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down with the long drawn out conversations between the government/FBI/CIA folks and the Hong Kong government guys. There conversations try to tell a bigger story about the Chinese wanting to cause a major crisis in Hong Kong so they can take it back over. However, there is a real chance this will turn into a something much bigger - WWIII!!
A big far fetched you say? I was lost too. After reading the 300 or so pages outlining the collapse of the East I was really bored, annoyed, and had eye strain. This, consequently, left me with the feeling that this book was really slow and not that good overall.
Another bone I have to pick with Ludlum is that error on Canadian geography! He writes that Marie is a tough ranch girl and their family has a ranch in Calgary. Makes sense, there are ranches out in Calgary. Calgary is in the province of Alberta which is wide open ranch country. Where the mistake comes up is that Ludlum keeps mentioning the ranch is in Ontario (not Alberta!) Every time he wrote something about Marie being a tough Ontario ranch girl I would cringe. I'm still left wondering how an editor did not catch something like this?
http://bookwormsfeastofbooks.blogspot...
Wordy! This book just has too many words. It could be a quick two or three hundred page fast movin' action packed paperback, instead of the 600 page mammoth it turned into. Now, there were many scenes that put you on the edge of your seat and kept you turning those 600 pages. There were the expected car chases, the identity changes, the occasional explosions and gun battles that I was expecting (and hoping for). But, there was also so much more...pages to read that is. Pages and pages of dialogue that seemed to drag on and on and on...like one of those phone messages you might get, you know that ones that time out they are so long...a whole lot of blabbering, repeating, and droning on. At points while reading I wanted to yell at the book, "get to the point already! Or, at least move on to a car chase or something!"
I also found the entire storyline a bit too unbelievable, even for an over the top spy thriller. In this novel an assassin has been murdering top Hong Kong business men and diplomats, all the while leaving the calling card of Jason Bourne. The copy cat had to be stopped. The FBI/CIA guys get together and form a plan to motivate the real Jason Bourne to come out of retirement (aka witness protection program) and take on this killer. He is the only person in the world with enough skill to do it.
The plan is to kidnap his wife, whom you may remember as the tough as nails Canadian economist from the first novel? The plan goes a bit haywire after Marie escapes. Jason turns crazy thinking his wife is dead...all making great fodder for an explosive story. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down with the long drawn out conversations between the government/FBI/CIA folks and the Hong Kong government guys. There conversations try to tell a bigger story about the Chinese wanting to cause a major crisis in Hong Kong so they can take it back over. However, there is a real chance this will turn into a something much bigger - WWIII!!
A big far fetched you say? I was lost too. After reading the 300 or so pages outlining the collapse of the East I was really bored, annoyed, and had eye strain. This, consequently, left me with the feeling that this book was really slow and not that good overall.
Another bone I have to pick with Ludlum is that error on Canadian geography! He writes that Marie is a tough ranch girl and their family has a ranch in Calgary. Makes sense, there are ranches out in Calgary. Calgary is in the province of Alberta which is wide open ranch country. Where the mistake comes up is that Ludlum keeps mentioning the ranch is in Ontario (not Alberta!) Every time he wrote something about Marie being a tough Ontario ranch girl I would cringe. I'm still left wondering how an editor did not catch something like this?
http://bookwormsfeastofbooks.blogspot...
May 23, 2011
And the legend is back.
In this Bourne instalment the chameleon Jason returns to the spy/assassin game when his wife, Canadian economist, Marie, is kidnapped by a Chinese taipan who means serious business. Jason moves heaven and earth to get her back, which means leaving his gentle alter-ego, David, behind and embracing the killer he tried so hard to forget, Delta, in the hunt for his successor.
The new Jason Bourne is out there and only the original can catch him.
Behind the scenes Havilland and the US government work with MI-6 to move their chess pieces around China in their attempts to stop the Kuomintang from implementing a war between Taiwan (the True China) and the mainland. Meanwhile Alexander Conklin and Mo Panov do everything they can to help the wily Marie who escapes her captor’s clutches.
The entire book is a race against the clock and a test of ultimate endurance. Although this Bourne instalment was a bit repetitive at first, echoing many of the ideas from The Bourne Identity, it was so action packed and intriguing by the end that I forgave it. I was biting my nails through the last half because I really didn't know what to expect. I was seriously worried about the outcome for all of the characters involved, mainly David and Marie.
Ultimately this is another book that explores the ideas of ends justifying means and whether one life is fair to trade for the lives of millions. Havilland seems to think he knows the answer, but then again he's an evil, evil, manipulative monster. I have to say, the book was far better than the movie (nope, not shocking at all, and I love the movies) and it's completely different as well. The title actually makes sense here whereas the movie leaves me scratching my head in that regard.
All in all this was a really great read full of great cultural references concerning the Orient.
In this Bourne instalment the chameleon Jason returns to the spy/assassin game when his wife, Canadian economist, Marie, is kidnapped by a Chinese taipan who means serious business. Jason moves heaven and earth to get her back, which means leaving his gentle alter-ego, David, behind and embracing the killer he tried so hard to forget, Delta, in the hunt for his successor.
The new Jason Bourne is out there and only the original can catch him.
Behind the scenes Havilland and the US government work with MI-6 to move their chess pieces around China in their attempts to stop the Kuomintang from implementing a war between Taiwan (the True China) and the mainland. Meanwhile Alexander Conklin and Mo Panov do everything they can to help the wily Marie who escapes her captor’s clutches.
The entire book is a race against the clock and a test of ultimate endurance. Although this Bourne instalment was a bit repetitive at first, echoing many of the ideas from The Bourne Identity, it was so action packed and intriguing by the end that I forgave it. I was biting my nails through the last half because I really didn't know what to expect. I was seriously worried about the outcome for all of the characters involved, mainly David and Marie.
Ultimately this is another book that explores the ideas of ends justifying means and whether one life is fair to trade for the lives of millions. Havilland seems to think he knows the answer, but then again he's an evil, evil, manipulative monster. I have to say, the book was far better than the movie (nope, not shocking at all, and I love the movies) and it's completely different as well. The title actually makes sense here whereas the movie leaves me scratching my head in that regard.
All in all this was a really great read full of great cultural references concerning the Orient.
December 19, 2017
Once again, utterly forget all of the movies.
While book 1 of this series is superior, this is still a top-notch book. Ludlum knows how to keep the tension brewing. Once again, the protagonist's psychology (inner-conflict) is a great element of the tale. I highly recommend this book; it's nothing like a "dumb action movie" book.
**************************
SPOILER-ISH ISSUE BELOW-
One peeve... A thing I really never got: The Ambassador who manipulated David never convinced me that David was truly necessary for this mission. Sure, David's the best. But he's not as good as 5 others combined. Why didn't they get 5-10 agents and put them into the field to accomplish this mission?
While book 1 of this series is superior, this is still a top-notch book. Ludlum knows how to keep the tension brewing. Once again, the protagonist's psychology (inner-conflict) is a great element of the tale. I highly recommend this book; it's nothing like a "dumb action movie" book.
**************************
SPOILER-ISH ISSUE BELOW-
One peeve... A thing I really never got: The Ambassador who manipulated David never convinced me that David was truly necessary for this mission. Sure, David's the best. But he's not as good as 5 others combined. Why didn't they get 5-10 agents and put them into the field to accomplish this mission?
August 18, 2016
The second novel in the original Bourne Trilogy and Mr Ludlum is really getting the hang of this character. It is almost as if the fictional Jason Bourne is now living a life of his own and the author is just along for the ride. Mainly set in Hong Kong and China the almost supernatural spy is leaving a trail of destruction and we are never really sure who is actually in control of actions and consequences. Ludlum truly was a master of the genre. If you liked the Bourne Identity then pick this up - no doubt worth your reading time.
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
September 3, 2019
(4.0) more preposterous, but somehow more gripping than the first.
September 24, 2019
I gave up. It dragged.
April 2, 2020
So this time instead of Europe Bourne had to run through oriental environs of Hong Kong and China to grab a killer who is killing in his name in the name of Jason Bourne. And David Webb has to be Jason Bourne again in order to stop the fake assassin and to stop a terrible plan from succeeding. I don't remember the movie much and intend to watch them again but I don't think that the movie went on the similar storyline. Once I finish 'The Bourne Ultimatum' I would finish the trilogy again. I really liked this long book which took me long time to finish.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put I just love reading and so to that end I have made it my motto to just Keep on Reading. I love to read everything except for Self Help books but even those once in a while. I read almost all the genre but YA, Fantasy, Biographies are the most. My favorite series is, of course, Harry Potter but then there are many more books that I just adore. I have bookcases filled with books which are waiting to be read so can't stay and spend more time in this review, so remember I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.
June 25, 2018
It's a whodunit. It's a psychological thriller. It's a spy adventure. And more than everything, it's a beautiful love story.
While the first 20-25% of the book is impressively straight forward, most part of the remaining book was thrillingly confusing, and at times agonising too.
David Webb and Marie are thoroughly impressive as leads, but whenever Jason Bourne comes to the fore, he delivers the fireworks so rivetingly.. Having read the book at a stretch for a reason, the tension never really diffused. Guess I read it at the right time.
While the first 20-25% of the book is impressively straight forward, most part of the remaining book was thrillingly confusing, and at times agonising too.
David Webb and Marie are thoroughly impressive as leads, but whenever Jason Bourne comes to the fore, he delivers the fireworks so rivetingly.. Having read the book at a stretch for a reason, the tension never really diffused. Guess I read it at the right time.
December 13, 2019
2.5 stars. Oh boy, this book was bloated and did not make me eager to find out what was going to happen next. And thus it took me a long time to finish it, a surprise, as I like thrillers and loved The Bourne Identity all those years ago. I just didn't care about most of the characters and the yelling that punctuated most of the dialogue was annoying. The best part was the interesting trinity that was Webb/Bourne/Delta, and how each personality impacted the other. The ultimate compartmentalization!
August 12, 2009
The first 100 and the last 100 pages were great. The 400 pages in the middle were kind of slow. The book is totally different from the movie. The book takes place in China in the late 70s and is premised on how the world will pretty much end if China tries to take over Hong Kong before 1998. Nothing like an out-dated international crisis to get the blood pumping. I'm just glad to have finished this book (I read it over the course of 2 years).
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