Rating: 
Summary: The Bourne Supremacy
Review: The beginning of The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum starts off as an action-packed murder mystery in Southeast Asia. David Webb now has to rise again to defeat the assassin impersonating him. As I look back at the first book, The Bourne Identity, I feel that the sequel did not meet my expectations. For one, I think Ludlum wrote the Bourne Supremacy in order to write the last book, The Bourne Ultimatum, which already seems to be better than the last. For Carlos, the original threat to Bourne, wants Jason's head. However, I would still recommend this book because of Ludlum's action-packed writing style.
Rating: 
Summary: This is the best Ludlum there is
Review: If you've read more than a couple of Ludlum's books, you're probably thinking the same thing I am. After the 3rd or 4th one, you start to lose track of which betrayed and desperate agent is running from which evil and corrupted government agency. They sorta run together, don't they? It's Ludlum's formula and it has obviously served him very well."The Bourne Supremacy" is a different kettle of fish, though. There's no mistaking this one with anything else Ludlum, or anyone else, has written. This book kicks some serious posterior. There were times in the middle of it that my head was spinning. What the heck was going on? If the action wasn't so insanely great, I might have bailed. But the action, my God, the action... Andy McNab is the only other writer that I'm aware of who can write action as well, but even his pales in comparison. The plot eventually makes itself clear, and it's pretty cool when it does. And have I mentioned the action? There are so many absolutely great scenes that I'm not even going to bother listing them. Trust me, it's good stuff. OK, so the scene on the grounds of the Embassy house is drawn out a bit too long, and some of the dialog in that same scene is a little silly, but that's nitpicky. This is BY FAR the best Ludlum has ever done, and it's in my Top 5 of all time. READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Once you get past the dialogue-laden beginning of the book, the action really picks up. I didn't read the Bourne Identity, but I bought this book because I saw the movie. I wish I had read that book because this one was excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: A book which is liked and hated by many
Review: The Bourne Supremacy isn't either a great book or a horrible book, some people like and some people hate it. The main complaint with this book is that it's confusing because of the book's many subplots, which are eventually joined at the end. Though everything is explained in the end, you might have to look back in the book for the characters and events. Another problem is that many of the characters are referred through different names and perspectives change, for example in one scene you may begin reading what Bourne is doing but suddenly you switch to another character, that is confusing at some times. The action however is written extremely well, that is this book's strong point. Some lines are a little cheesy and some scenes may be a little drawn out, but that's just my nitpicking. If you liked the Bourne Identity you will probably like this book; you will probably enjoy it more if you, like me, can keep track of what the multiple characters are doing throughout the book. If you don't like keeping track of too many characters and plot lines you will probably dislike this book. This is not either a horrible piece of trash, but it isn't an outstanding book that everyone will like, it is, however a good book which some people will like, it isn't as good as the first but it is still a good book in many peoples' opinions.
Rating:
Summary: I would have to be in a hospital to finish it...
Review: After enjoying the Bourne Identity film, I had fine expectations upon picking-up this ten-pound sequel. However, the character writing was a throwback to my comic-book reading days of - say - Spy Smasher. Maybe if you could obliterate every italicized line you would lose five-pounds of its turgidity. The author has so many inner voices popping up I could visualize his dictating the novel while in a strait-jacket. DELTA! JASON BOURNE' (Ohhh) MARIE!
Rating:
Summary: BOURNE SUPREMACY -- ECELLENT BOOK
Review: One of the reviewers did not care for this book because it did not pick up where the film "Bourne Identity" left off. He had not read the book "Bourne Identity." "Bourne Supremacy" does in fact pick up where the BOOK "Bourne Identity" left off. The film, however, does not much resemble the book. I saw the film twice (I had forgotten that I'd seen it before it was so bad) and thought it was terrible and everything that happens isn't even clearly depicted. I read the book and it is excellent. It doesn't resemble the bad movie at all. The only thing the movie has in common with the book is the title. It's like they bought the right to use the title but only used a few concepts from the book.
"Bourne Supremacy" is an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: Bourne and not-Bourne
Review: This is the second in Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy. The first two hundred pages are truly riveting as Bourne is brought back into action by the kidnapping of his wife. Bourne is reunited with Conklin, who had tried to kill him in the first book, and heads to Hong Kong, where his wife is being held and several political murders have occurred. The killer is an imposter of Jason Bourne who leaves notes and clues implicating the real Jason Bourne. In the second part of the book, things get so complicated that one needs to get out a scorecard. The action is non-stop, with each chapter ending on a note of true suspense. Some of the sub-plots appear to go nowhere, and when you get to the last chapter, you discover that they really dont go anywhere, other than to add some color to the transformation of Webb back into the Medusan Bourne. A minor character from the first book reappears and becomes Jason Bourne's true compatriot and ally. Ultimately, it becomes clear that the kidnapping was a contrived plot to get Bourne to take on a series of assignments he would have refused. Unfortunately, the Jackal never really shows himself in China and we all must wait another ten years for Ludlum's third installment, where the Jackal returns for his final showndown with Bourne. The political intrigue surrounding the anti-Bourne murders are very good, unusual for Ludlum, and a rich 20th century Chinese history lesson. Old rivalries between the KMT and the Communists, including a Chinese version of the Manchurian candidate, nearly lead to a world war over the future of the Hong Kong colony.
Rating: 
Summary: Shockingly weak
Review: I tried reading this book as a follow-up to The Bourne Identity film. Though I didn't read the first novel, I assumed that the second would pick right up with where that brilliant film left off. I was dead wrong, however. After a few chapters that read like an extremely poor Tom Clancy novel, I threw it aside and called it quits. I don't know how the "Bourne Identity" novel was, but the movie was great. I'd wait until this novel is made into a film and watch it there, once Hollywood has added a much-needed makeover. Sounded like a naive litte boy trying to write an action/suspense/spy novel. It just didn't work.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as "The Bourne Identity"
Review: Ludlum had a heck of a lot to live up to when he decided to bring Jason Bourne back into action. I mean, it is pretty hard to top a book as thrilling and fun as "The Bourne Identity". Unfortunatly, I have to say that I feel he fell short of living up to all he created.
This book was good. I will say that much. I would not pass it by if you have read the first in the series, but Ludlum seemed to drag on way to much making a lot of the book a little dull. The beginning grabs you, and wont let go for a good 200 pages, but then things get slow, and I actually found myself wanting to stop reading. That is not like me at all. It is also the reason this book took me almost 3 months to read, between giving it a break for faster paced novels and me rather sleeping than staying up to read it.
After struggling through the middle 200 pages, I got hooked again, and ended up reading the rest of the book in a matter of days. I could not put it down.
So, I guess I can say that it is not a total flop, and I am still planning on reading the third in the Bourne series, but I only gave it three stars because of the slow middle.
You should at least pick this book up and read it for the awesome beginning and ending 200 pages.
Rating:
Summary: Really a 4 1/2
Review: I gave it the extra half point because it was such an incredible follow-up to the first one. Also, the geopolitical actions are extremely realistic and seem perfect for the times. He simpy invites us deeper into the mystery of who the man is and why he remembers the thing he does. Great pairing with Marie (good love story) and good action and adventure.
|
