Customer Reviews
Not for me - By: Mr. D. J. Sutton, 31 Aug 2008 
I am probably one of the few peoplein the entire world that didn't like this book. I found the first part really well paced & exciting although it was tedious at times & over steps the mark on gritiness & violence. When Ludlum constantly shows Bournes thoughtsin italics it just becomes extremly annoying for some reason. Then characters speakin French half the time & you have know idea what's being said or whats going on. I no the whole idea of the book is that you find out more as you go along, but by the time i got to the middle i was too bored, confused & fustrated to read any further. This is just my opinion, probably because i like less complex stories where the authors get straight to the point. Rather than waste time describing the history of places, which i end up scanning through anyway. The description can some times be a little too much at times & again i found myself scanning through this because it went on too long & i wanted to reach some dialogue. This certainly wasn't for me but i no many others love it. I just found it too ploddy, tedious, complex & boring. So i never actually finished it. Dissapointing compared to the brilliant film.
This book is essential if you love espionage novels - By: jules, 27 Feb 2008 
I think that the book is superior to the film & am AMAZED that some other reviewers have commented otherwise (notably those I see who saw the film first & thus perhaps read the book impatiently, KNOWING, the plot & outcome.
I read this book 20 years ago & it is still, to this day, a book I highly regard amongst the plethera of books I have readin the meantime. I was skeptical when Damon was cast as Bourne as, at that time, I thought him too lightweight. HOWEVER, I did go to see the movie & have to say he was brilliant & I loved him & he isn't lightweight at all.
For those unfamiliar with the book & movie, this is the firstin a trilogy of books/now movies about an American citizen of unknown name seeking his identity after being washed up from the oceanin Europe, with no memory.
I would recommend to anyone to read the book first THEN see the movie & really enjoy both of them. Exotic locations & excellent story featurein both, exotic locations are lovely to see on the DVD & the story is obviously better portrayedin the book. I've read some reviews that think the book is heavy going, well I can't say I agree with that (and I HATE "heavy" going literature stuff). Having said that, it obviously is't a light read like a fluffy romance. I think it has balance & depth & portrays characters with dimension & a storyline worth following. It DOES read wellin that it flows & isn't dull or monotonous.
I personally love a lot of Ludlums work, particularly the early stuff, & am always looking for similar styles. I have recently enjoyed both Stephen Leather & Daniel Silva's work as I love the spy & espionage stuff & they deliver both with excellent, easy reading writing styles. I have to say I'm amazed that both they & Ludlum haven't received more reviews (as I always consider number of reviews as well as ratings). Perhaps us spy enthusiasts are pre-historic beasts?
Excellent thriller for a holiday read - By: M. Wilkinson, 10 Nov 2007 This is a great book from the start, it is by far the best of the trilogy. The next book is a bit slow but the third one better. Although a daunting size it keeps you turning the pages. The plot is quite realistic & could happenin real life where as book 2 & 3 are purelyin fantasy land. Clever & well thought out, but not don't expect anything intellectual. You probably need to read this within a week or two on holiday to keep up with the turns & twists. The film only just touches the basic idea of the book & has no depth.
What a great read - By: jammy person, 26 Aug 2007 What a great read, it had me hooked from the out set. it did drag a little part way through but plenty of action to follow was keptin going. A well written book, thank you.
The Master at his peak........ - By: richard Brown, 20 Aug 2007 Robert Ludlum had been writing successful thrillers for 9 years by the time he published 'The Bourne Identity'in 1980 & this was the book that propelled him to the top of the fiction bestseller lists with each new novel for the next 15 years. In fact during the 80's he was the worlds bestselling author.
This is one of my favourite novels, a book that I reread every 5 years or so. It is so original. The opening grips you & you have to hang on for the next 500 odd pages.The set pieces are excellent, especially the sectionin Zurich from Bourne's visit to the bank through to his escape from the city. The plotting gets more & more convoluted as Bourne makes it to Paris, images of the past flashingin his amniesiac head, assassins attempting to end his life at every turn.
Ludlum had an eye for detail,in particular locations & he loved to set his thrillersin European cities, one of the reasons why this American author had a huge readership throughout the world.
The pace never lets up, you have to hang on to the ride.. This was Robert Ludlum at his unstoppable best.........
