Rating: 
Summary: Amnesiac assassin on the loose
Review: A nameless man who will later be revealed to be Jason Bourne awakens in the home of an inebriated doctor in Port Noir, an island south of Marseille. He had been peppered with gunshot wounds and near dearh when he was fished out of the sea by a passing trawler. The doctor has nursed the nameless one back to health but unfortunately was unable to cure a case of total amnesia. During his examination the doctor removed a piece of microfilm surgically implanted under the skin of his patient. On it was revealed an account number in a Zurich bank.With help from the doctor and a phony passport the nameless man travels to Zurich to investigate the bank account. After gaining access to the safe deposit box the nameless man discovers that he is Jason Bourne of the Treadstone company and in possesion of millions of dollars. Unfortunately opening the account sets off numerous bells and whistles to those monitoring the account causing Bourne to be stalked by unknown killers. Bourne goes through minor epiphanies as people, places and things awaken forgotten memories that give him insight into his true identity. He teams up with an attractive Canadian government financial expert who he initially used as a hostage to escape killers stalking him. They fall in love as she helps him escape the bad guys and gain deeper insights into himself. In Ludlum's pivotal action thriller we learn that Bourne is a deep undercover CIA agent with a mission relating to the world's foremost assassin called Carlos. Ludlum masterfully manuevers both reader and main characters through a multitude of small revelations that give a clearer and clearer picture as to the true identity and mission of Bourne.
Rating: 
Summary: Ludlum and Bourne combine for a great novel
Review: Robert Ludlum wrote this story of twists and excitement brilliantly to keep the reader wanting more. Jason Bourne looks into the eyes of his would be killers throughout the whole book and is able to avoid death even though he doesn't know where death will be threatening from next. Ludlum puts you inside Bourne's mind as he tries to figure out where he came from and who he is. The only thing that Bourne is sure of is that he needs to kill Carlos, the world's greatest assassin, or be killed by him. It becomes a battle of wits with Bourne the underdog being hunted by his own team from Treadstone. Ludlum did a great job writing this book. He kept me guessing until the very end (even then I wasn't sure). I just wish the movie were more like the novel.
Rating:
Summary: superior to the movie
Review: I waited 5 months to get this book from the library, so I had a bit of frustration and anticipation built into getting to read The Bourne Identity. I had seen the movie when it came out in the theater, but otherwise this is not a genre that normally interests me. I decided that I wanted to read the book anyway. While the book and the movie started the same, it became quickly apparent that the movie deviated quite a bit from Ludlum's novel. The novel opens with two newspaper clippings about an assassin named Carlos. It moves right into Bourne being shot and falling into the ocean. He is pulled from the water and is put into the care of a doctor. The doctor heals Bourne, but Bourne does not remember his past. He does not know his name or how he came to be where he is. All he has is an account number for a bank in Zurich. It is with this knowledge (and the lack thereof) that Jason Bourne begins his quest to unravel his identity. Bourne's actions are determined by the little information that he has, but he quickly learns that someone is trying to find him and kill him. He finds out the name of a company that he thinks he works for, Treadstone 71. But when I tried to contact this company, it doesn't exist...as near as he can tell. However, the closer he comes to finding who he is and why he has all these skills (fighting, espionage) and memories that he can't explain; the closer he is to being killed. Starting from the simple concept of one man trying to find out who he is, this book travels up the ranks of the U.S. Government to covert ops from the CIA. The book also has the other side hunting Bourne: the organization of an assassin named Carlos (the Jackal). This was an extremely engrossing novel and is far superior to the recent movie adaptation.
Rating:
Summary: Action-Packed!
Review: In The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum, a man is found floating in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France with bullet wounds covering his body and a severe case of amnesia. He is nursed back to health by a local doctor. When the doctor performs surgery, a piece of microfilm is found embedded in the patients back. It is a bank account number in Zurich. The man heads to Zurich to find his identity, but assassins pursue him on the way. In his account is a passport, hundreds of dollars and a gun. He finds his name on the passport, "Jason Bourne." Also, he finds his employer's name. A company based in New York called Treadstone 71. Treadstone is not listed in any business directories or phonebooks. He kidnaps Marie St.Jacques, a doctor staying for a meeting, to use as a shield. Jason saves her life, after nearly killing her numerous times, and they become friends. They travel to Paris together, where they find that the world's most dangerous assassin, Carlos, is hunting Jason. Jason knows he must kill Carlos from something in his blurred memories. Meanwhile, one of Carlos's men masquerades as Jason and sneaks into Treadstone 71, a covert operation inside the government. He kills several high-level government officials, one of whom was Jason's brother. The government believes Jason did it, and tries to capture him. As Jason and Marie question many of Carlos's operatives, Jason finds out that he is a highly skilled assassin, possibly more dangerous than Carlos. He is troubled by this fact, as he does not want to be a killer. Marie, however, refuses to believe him. As he gets closer and closer to killing Carlos, he finds that his assassin identity is nothing but a ruse to expose Carlos. Jason tries to get to New York to find Treadstone, which he believes will help figure out his identity. Carlos tries to get to Treadstone also, since Jason's reputation as a better assassin had lured away potential contracts. In a final confrontation, Jason reaches Treadstone at the same time Carlos does. They fight, but Carlos manages to escape. The government captures Bourne and he tells them about his journeys since a doctor off the coast of France rescued him. They believe him. He and Marie live happily ever after... at least until the sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, which I haven't read yet. This was one of the best books I have ever read. It is action packed and keeps you wanting more. It is a bit confusing though, with all of the places and names to remember. It is 535 pages and is VERY intense. I can't wait to read the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best - great plot, characters
Review: Here's some news for all thosed griping about the authenticity of this book....it's FICTION!. It's a spy thriller wherein our imagination is supposed to run wild. Ludlum excels at creating moods and the slightly offbeat murky one here perfectly matches the story. We begin to wonder who the man is, why he is where he is and what his real mission will turn out to be. Although this may be heretical, I actually thought the TV miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and Jacelyn Smith was far superior to the movie version with Matt Damon. When I first heard the casting for both versions I was disappointed. But Chamberlain was a perfect Bourne, a chameleon, relentless and dramatic. Smith was much more than a pretty face - she was a great costar. The newest version suffers from an ailment afflicting cinema across the board - the worship of youth. Matt Damon is not nearly as mature or old as the Jason Bourne in the book. Perhaps that's why those who do not read books enjoyed this version. My only complaint is one that I have with other authors, but particularly Ludlum. He has been copied so often and with such effectiveness that to be different his novels have grown longer and longer and longer. I know this story could have used a good editor but I can't think of any parts I would want to cut.
Rating:
Summary: Bourne Identity
Review: This book was great...after reading the book after I watched the movie, I relized that the book was better. Although I liked the movie and purchased it, I felt that the book had enough detail to keep you reading as if you were watching the movie. The book was great and I will most likely read it again, if you liked the movie I highly recommend this book, and even if you have read the book I recommend that you watch the movie, it was great too..
Rating:
Summary: Re-read it after the movie and liked it again !!
Review: After a few years of having read the Bourne trilogy, the movie version forced me to go back to the books. Unfortunately, movies cannot provide the same intrigue and suspense that readers like me, are attracted to in books. Mr. Ludlum continues to amaze me with his plots and the way stories develop. I found it very difficult to leave the book for long periods of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Not that great
Review: The idea and the plot of this book (along with other Lundlum books I've read) was exellent, that's why I gave two stars instead of one. Lundlum, I think, is not that great of a writer but like I said he has good ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: OK...as far as I got....
Review: I thought this book was OK, up until page 200 or so. I became very busy at work, and did not read it for a while. I found the plot twists and innumerable characters in the book so confusing to get back into I did not finish the book. Maybe one day I will pick it up again, but I really think there are better books I can spend my time with.
Rating:
Summary: YOU WILL NOT PUT IT DOWN
Review: Let me start by saying that this novel is completly different than the movie. Not that the movie was not great, and very well done, but I thought I would put that out there. Ok, now on with the review. This is the first book in the Bourne Trillogy. In "The Bourne Identity" we meet Jason Bourne, who by all means is lost and has no idea who he is, but has amazing abilities and knowledge that you would expect from a secret agent. This novel is extremely fast paced with a new twist every chapter. I will say that the writing is a little advanced and the story can be confusing, but as long as you read it strait through you will get it. I would definetly suggest not for you to read this book on and off, if you do, you will be as lost as Jason Bourne is. You really get placed inside of Bourne's shoes in this novel, which is a great feeling when reading. I really felt as if I was the one being chased, and could not put this book down for one minute. I would stay up all night just find out what was going to happen next. You will love this book if you are a fan of spy novels or anything by Tom Clancy. Dont let yourself pass this novel by.
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