Rating: 
Summary: A disgusting excuse for literature
Review: My brother recommended this book to me, and, showing a surprising amount of emotion over reason, gave it a go.Robert Ludlum reminds me heavily of Clive Cussler, an author who I used to read before I knew what a good book was. This stuff is drivel. Ludlum's penchant for titling books with obscure, mock-intellectual word pairings that seldom come off as vaguely more than non-sequitors should serve as good warning to any learned reader. Don't think that my love for "good literature" means that I can't appreciate entertainment or "thrillers". The genre of a book should not excuse a book for being mediocre tripe. And that's all this is. Emmalgumating such glaring cliches as secret government agencies and amnesia does not make for anything original in unto itself. This book could have dealt well and subtly with realtively unexplored or underexplored issues in a dramatic and entertaining fashion. For instance, left without memories, only violent abilities, what questions of the morality of self would be brought up? That would be fascinating. If I lost my memory and quickly found I had an extreme proficiency for killing people, I would be very worried about who I was. No big deal for Ludlum though. Look, people, if you want a good, thrilling, entertaining book, please go out and buy something by Graham Greene. Skip Ludlum, Cussler, Grisham, Koontz, Clancy and King. There is a whole world of great literature right around the corner on this very website! Use it.
Rating: 
Summary: Ludlum was a master.
Review: So many of the 'spy thrillers' of recent day seem recycled (for lack of a better word). Ludlum did a fantastic job of not only creating a unique storyline, but a unique lead character in 'Jason Bourne'. In the opening stages of the book, not only is Bourne a mystery to the reader, he is a mystery to himself. It's as if you are learning about Bourne as he does (as an amnesiac). The plot has central ties in Paris, but the characters make appearances around the world. By the end of the book, it seems as if the protagonist is completely riddled with bullet holes but still manages to come out alive. This is the first (of 3) in the Bourne series. If you've seen the movie (which was very good), make sure you still read the book. The book is even better...which is usually the case.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, quick, fun read.
Review: If you want an action story with all the surprise bells and whistles then here you go. The Bourne Identity is a good story as a book. The Bourne Identity is a good story as a movie; don't confuse the two, they are very different. That said, check 'em out but don't bash one because it's unlike the other; movies and books will never run on the same tracks.
Rating:
Summary: Whoever said the movie was great didn't read the book
Review: I was encouraged to read the Bourne Identity due to my mother's persuassion and my love of spy novels. Of course, I was eager to try a new author since I had read at least twelve of John Grisham's in a row and was needing a break from the lawyer frenzy. In the midst I found myself caught up in the unusual twists and the unsuspecting turns of this phenominal book. Ludlum is an extraordinary author who has an amazing ability to captivate your mind.
The twists in this book are far greater than what is reflected in the movie. Hollywood, will be Hollywood, thus adding material that is nonexistant in the book in order to spice things up. Unfortunately for Ludlum's advent readers, we were given a waterdowned version of an extraordinary novel.
Rating:
Summary: Not at all plausible
Review: I will concede that the book did have a lot of action and plot twists. Without giving away too much of the plot, here's the general idea. The heroine receives some trauma to the head which results in amnesia. The only clue to his identity is a secret bank account number found on his person. Upon trying to track down his identity, the protagonist discovers he has secret-agent-type skills and a seemingly endless number of bad guys are trying to kill him. The plot did seem to be well thought out and I'd say it is not at all predictable, but one repetitive theme ruined the book for me; it seemed as though the main character is getting shot or blown up in every chapter of the book. That in itself isn't necessarily bad, but he gets riddled with bullets and manages to keep going, and this happens repeatedly. It reminds me of those thriller/horror movies where you think the villain is dead, but he keeps coming back to life for that last attempt to kill the teenagers. At first, this didn't bother me, and I was enjoying the book; however, I can only take so much unbelievable garbage. As I reached the half-way point I found I had to force myself to continue reading, and after a few sessions after that, I gave up on the book; I couldn't stand it anymore. If you can overlook this major annoyance, then you probably would like this book, but if you're like me and need certain aspects of the action to have a fragment of realism, then you might want to look for something else to read.
Rating:
Summary: One You HAVE TO read!!!
Review: First of all: If you don't like this book, I think you're crazy!
Next: Don't expect this book to be like the movie (the book is much better!)
Okay, this book has to be one of the best books I have ever read. It is about this man, Jason Bourne, who loses his memory and slowly gains it back with the help of this girl, Marie St. Jacques.
The book is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. In fact, I was up past my bedtime by at least three hours every time I tried reading this book!
However, if you absolutely love this book, I would not recommend watching the movie. It completely ruins the book because it has only two things in common with the book: Jason and Marie.(That's why you shouldn't get dissapointed if you watch the movie and then read the book.)
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: I have read most, if not all, of Ludlum's books.The Bourne books are my favorite ( I have read all three two times each). exciting, well written, interesting, etc. These books are absolutely flawless.
p.s. both attempts at making this book a movie were absolutely horrible
Rating:
Summary: The Bourne Books
Review: I have all of Robert Ludlum's Bourne Series of books and they are all outstanding. One of my favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: not impressed
Review: has anyone else noticed that most of the reviews for any product on amazon are all five stars, written by people who "aboslutely loved this book/cd/dvd/whathaveyou"? okay, well with that said, the Bourne Identity wasn't terrible, but it wasn't particularly good either. While I was reading it, I couldn't help but think it was perfect to send to hollywood as a move plot and lo and behold, poof. The story line has an interesting premise (a man wakes up with amnesia on a fishing boat and the only clue to his identity is a microchip that was implanted in his body...) but it starts to read a little predictably after that, just like a typical hollywood blockbuster should. enter the love interest who will help him understand who he really is and change him through her love, a chase across europe and the united states ensues, etc. etc. it's good mind-numbing reading, but don't expect anything monumentally novel and ground-breaking or life changing. I actually think I liked the movie better, at least, I don't expect as much from hollywood as I do from a book.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good read. Best adventure intro I've ever read.
Review: I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is truly a 'page turner'. the opening paragraphs in chapter one are some of the most exciting and vivid I have read in over 50 years of avid reading. if you like reading thrillers, mysteries, or adventures, you will enjoy reading this one and the two sequels that follow it (Bourne Supremecy + Bourne Ultimatum).
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