The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum

THE BOURNE IDENTITY, by Robert Ludlum, is a complex novel that revolves around two main characters, Jason Bourne and Marie St. Jacques. Jason Bourne wakes up in the Meditteranean Sea, 30 km off the coast of Marseilles, France, his bullet-ridden body floating on the surface, surrounded in a cloud of his own blood. He is then rescued by a fishing boat, and soon realises that he has no memory of his past, or of any details of who he is. Once back on land, Jason is taken to the local doctor, who extracts many bullets from Jason, as well as a small piece of photographic film surgically implanted in his hip, with the account number to a Zurich based bank account. After spending many moths recuperating in the doctors small home, and discovering many talents Jason never knew he possesed, he sets out to find the Zurich bank, and to discover who he is and why he possesses skills that he can't explain. What ensues is a whirlwind, action packed adventure that is exciting from Chapter 1, and leads Jason around the world, from France to New York, and will keep you engaged until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone who is in the mood for a action packed thrill-ride, but if you are looking for a light read, this may not be the book for you. I particulary enjoyed the way the author descibed the scenery and the various settings; this made the novel much easier to understand and to picture as I read. Also, looking back on the novel, it is easier to describe the characters and situations to others, in greater detail. I would also recommend this book because it is full of high-intensity action, and will keep you guessing until the very end. This is done to such a degree that you don't suspect what will happen next, but is not so unexpected that it is unclear, or does not clearly tie into the plot. With its vivid descriptions and high-paced action, THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a great, fast-paced read.

While Ludlum vividly describes the novel's characters and scenery, it can become a bit much, and can sometimes get confusing, or cause you to lose the plot line of a certain section. This often forced me to have to jump back a few pages, and to re-read sections to get a better understanding of the chapter. Secondly, Ludlum integrates foreign languages quite often, to create a more realistic environment for the reader, and to further develope the characters. Although this does achieve the desired effect, it does become confusing, and I had to spend considerable amounts of time translating phrases, which ususally were meaningless. These two factors combined to severley subtract from my general opinion about the novel.

In conclusion, THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a great, fast paced read, with vivid characters and page-flipping action. Unfortunately, the descriptions can become distracting from the plot, and the frequent use of foreign languages often becomes confusing, and you will likely have to spend a great deal of time translating. Altough these elements can sometimes take away from the general excitement of the novel, it remains a great story of action, drama and suspense, and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a vivid, action-packed thrill ride.

-Dale Hughes