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Bourne Ult (Random House Large Print)

Bourne Ult (Random House Large Print)

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: And so the great ones aged...
Review: Although the plot obsessed on the Jackal-Bourne confrontation, the two had little exposure towards each other for the most part of the story. And what little face-to-face combat they had had to be made as realistic as possible, as it would seem preposterous to see 2 aging assassins shooting each other to no end. Although the turn of events were too convenient for our protagonist, and in reality, his killing skills were no match for the Jackal (as Bourne supposedly had conscience), it was nonetheless exciting to witness every nuances, twists, developments and success in Jason Bourne/David Webb's life.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ludlum rules
Review: Dear Reader, You will enjoy the third installment of the Bourne series. If you liked the first two of the trilogy, this one won't dissapoint. We are drawn deeper into the lives of some of the charactors introduced earlier as well as learn more about the Medusa operation and how it formed Bourne's deadly skills. We also find many other charactors of courage sprinkled into the plot as the Bourne trots the globe to complete his mission. All these honorable men, many who lay their life down for Bourne, all contribute to his ultimate(hence, ultimatum) success. Carlos, the antithesis of Borne, is described more thoroughly in this novel. He is still as diabolical and elusive as ever. On a particular comical note, the reader will be entertained by the mafiosa-like charactors who intervene to do some of the "new" medusa's dirty work. Even though proficient in their sweet-wise way, Ludlum make these "zuchini's" the comic-relief to lighten the mood of the plot. The ending came as no surprize and wasn't as climatic as I expected. But it was succinct and worthy of the Bourne series. The epologe left the reader without the story book ending and yet not without hope for our hero. And although, I enjoyed the three books in totality, I think it's time to give Bourne his well deserved retirement. If you need more Bourne, see the movie coming out this Fall. Solo.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bourne R.I.P.
Review: I can not figure it out. How did Robert Ludlum's Bourne series ever get so populor? The first book was alright at best, but by part three, "The Bourne Ultimatum" things have completely degenerated to soap opera level drama. The plot is that Carlos is back; older, sick, probably dying, and is after David Webb, a.k.a. Jason Bourne. Carlos wants to settle the record before going on. But for all his pride, he has his army of old men do most of his errands. The plot gets so silly with all the traps (by both sides, by CIA and Carlos) and then how easily they can be tuned around on the trapper. It happens once I can buy it; but it happenes more times than I can count. David Webb/Jason Bourne is getting to the point where his two personas are more severe than Norman Bates. Maria is almost useless, just set around an spew out lines of dialouge that Susan Lucie would have trouble with. This book was pointless, I really hated it.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: What a disappointment over the other 2
Review: Identity and Supremacy were excellent novels, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on the final of the Bourne trilogy. BUT...I didn't even finish the book. Worse, I did something I think I have never done: I skipped to the end to see what happens.
I read at least half of it, and tried to get 'into it', but couldn't get excited for the characters and the plot. For starters, the plot is all too predictable, based on what happened in 'Identity'. Of course Bourne and the Jackal have to get it on, because they didn't finish business in the first novel!
(Incidentally, I really didn't care for how in Supremacy and Ultimatum, how Ludlum added the moniker 'Jackal' to Carlos' name. As if Carlos wasn't enough, he had to add some goofy name to him that doesn't add anything to the character, and the Jackal was never mentioned in Identity; only Carlos. Kinda annoying).
The character development was poor in this novel, esp. compared to the other two books. I just didn't feel any compassion for any of the characters. And Bourne's age and lack of "supremacy" was really lackluster. Let's face it, we all have come to believe Bourne to be invicible, and we like it that way. Ludlum drew it out too much how Bourne had aged and changed from the killing machine he was. It was taken too far, and Bourne became a pansy whom I didn't really care what happened to him.
And Marie was given a back seat character in this book. None of the brilliant woman we saw in the first two. The children were thrown in as a plot device only, and didn't have any life to them. My kids have life, and it's exciting. I hate it when authors throw in kids but don't give them characteristics.
Like I said, I was disappointed, and felt let down after the first two excellent reads.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Confused!
Review: In the opening of the first book of the series, a man was shot and fell into sea. I've never seen in any of the 3 books why or who shot him. Anyone have the answer to this? Also, the book gets pretty wordy.
Still liked all 3 though.


Rating: 2 stars
Summary: The beginning of the end for Ludlum
Review: It was after this book that I gave up on Robert Ludlum. His formulaic work ran together - I had stopped trying to keep the different "desperate, betrayed agent and beautiful woman running from corrupt government agency" books straight. The names and locations changed, but the plot really didn't.

The Bourne books were different though. "The Bourne Identity" was unique, and well done. "The Bourne Supremacy" is in my Top 5 of All Time - BY FAR the best of Ludlum's work.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" is different from the usual Ludlum formula as well. However, that is not a good thing. This is one seriously dumb book. The climax in some sort of Russian spy DisneyWorld (I'm sorry, but that's exactly what I kept picturing - "The KGB welcomes you to AmericaLand. Please watch your step.") is the silliest thing I've read since, well, geez, it's pretty much the silliest thing I've EVER read!

Save your money. Just pretend that David and Marie Webb returned home from "The Bourne Supremacy" and lived happliy ever after.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Bourne to Live
Review: Robert Ludlum completes the trilogy with this rambling adventure between his two arch-rivals Jason Bourne and Carlos the Jackal. Only one survives to fight another day. Bourne returns to active duty because his family is under attack. The influence of the Jackal extends to all intelligence services and governments. Following the formula, Bourne miraculously survives several close adventures with the Jackal, where he is clearly over-matched.

Bourne and his rag-tag band of rejects, retirees, in-laws, and psychiatrists make many blunders before getting a line on the Jackal. Clearly, the thirteen years since the first Bourne adventure in Paris with the Jackal were not spent exclusively in commando and physical training. Also, this informal group seems to have trouble deciding who is in charge and how to proceed. Unbelievably the final showdown occurs in Moscow, which is clearly advantageous to the Jackal as he trained there many years ago.

There is a side story going on as well, with a group of former army junior officers from Vietnam, now prominent in the US government, military, and business, forming a murky Carlyle Group type organization to buy companies and assets. They have made millions in the process and will stop at nothing to continue. Bourne's group stumbles onto this new Medusa network and uses it to force Carlos above ground.

In reality, Carlos is still living in a Parisian prison, serving life sentences for 1970's era terrorist killings. He has enlisted the aid of the leftist President of his native Venezuela to promote his parole. Robert Ludlum is dead, but here things turn out differently.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Too much of a good thing
Review: The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy are two of my favorite novels. I have probably read each of them four or five times. I'd just as soon forget about Ultimatum, it doesn't have the hard core, kick butt Jason Bourne that we want to read about and it's a limp way for a story about a hero like Bourne to end. Go ahead and read it if you like Bourne, like I did, but it's definitely not in the same class as the first two. Bourne has lost his steam and edge and is just... can I say it? A fumbling broken old guy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good, but not Outstanding
Review: The Bourne Ultimatum pits Jason Bourne against his main nemesis, Carlos the Jackal. The scene that this book sets up feels very exciting as you pick up this book, especially with the thought of Bourne v/s Carlos.

Well, the book is very good, not outstanding, but very well written. Its got plenty of action, and is much more fast paced than the previous two books. Some of the confrontations that Bourne has with Carlos are quite tense and exciting. There's also a sub-plot regarding the old Medusa that Bourne was a part of but the plots get entangled pretty soon, and its down to a massive game of cat and mouse played between two of the world's most feared assasins.

Ludlum once again manages to keep the book engrossing throughout. His main character is almost 15 years older than what he was in the first part of the series. The ageing factor is handled well and reminds us that Jason Bourne is human after all.

Once gets a nice peek into Carlos's life too, especially about the ways in which he works and how he's hell bent on killing the only man who has seen his face. Marie St Jaques's character is wonderful as always, together with Conklin and Mo, they make up the rest of the known cast. David Webb has had children as well, but sadly there's no interaction between Daddy and his kids. (thank god Ludlum writes Thrillers!)

This is a good book, but the reason I said it wasn't outstanding, was due to one thing only. That was the climax. It was too weak, especially after three long books, Jason Bourne deserved something much more. Well perhaps, Carlos and Bourne have so many confrontations that Ludlum seemed too tired to make another one for the climax.

All in all, this series of three books are all great in their own way and are clearly three of the best books Ludlum has ever written, and quite possibly three of the best thrillers ever.

So be it, as JB always says.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Third in the series
Review: The final book in the famous Bourne trilogy is an explosive romp through the twists and thrills that characterize any Ludlum novel.
As unlikely as it sounds, shady assassin Carlos The Jackal is seeking a final showdown with Bourne and makes it clear by tracking and involving Bourne's (a.k.a. David Webb) associates and family. Forced to defend his wife and children, the chameleon Bourne takes on the challenge, which leads to bizarre and far-fetched plot twists which take place in the United States, Caribbean, France, Belgium and the USSR.

It is a savage thrill ride that is only marred by the inexplicable and irrational actions and mishaps of the adversaries and their foes and associates. Fasten your seatbelts and make sure the backup ammunition is close by!



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