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  • The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Series, Book 1

  • By: Robert Ludlum
  • Narrated by: Scott Brick
  • Length: 22 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (1,020 ratings)
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The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Series, Book 1 cover art

The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Series, Book 1

By: Robert Ludlum
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Summary

Now a classic film, The Bourne Identity is Robert Ludlum's first exploration into the bewildering and chilling world of Jason Bourne. Exciting, fast-paced and powerfully written, you won't escape unchanged.

He was dragged from the sea, his body riddled with bullets. There are a few clues: a frame of microfilm surgically implanted beneath the skin of his hip; evidence that plastic surgery has altered his face; strange things he says in his delirium, which could be code words. And a number on the film negative that leads to a bank account in Zurich, four million dollars, and a name for the amnesiac: Jason Bourne. Now he is running for his life.

A man with an unknown past and an uncertain future, the target of assassins and at the heart of a deadly puzzle. He's fighting for survival and no one can help him - except the one woman who once wanted to escape him....

©1980 Robert Ludlum (P)2008 Random House Audio

What listeners say about The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Series, Book 1

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Can't get past the accents

I can't fault the story - Ludlum is Ludlum, you know what you're getting - but I simply could not grow to appreciate the narrator. His melodramatic, overblown style would already have lost him a star or two, but the way he murders those accents (and there's a LOT of accented dialogue in this story)... It's simply impossible to suspend disbelief when the voice you're hearing is a hammy camped up parody of a generic European accent.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

A great story but a dreadful narrator

I love the Bourne character and the stories but I cannot abide Scott Bricks narration.



This may be just a personal choice but I also did not like his style when I listened to Blade Runner. Anyway, make up your own mind and listen to the extract before you purchase! Sorry, Scott

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great story, terrible narration.

I saw a few other comments similar to this but decided to purchase anyway, annoyed that I did. The narrating starts off fine, however when more characters are introduced (specifically anyone female or French) the reading is beyond comical and is actually annoying, the same generic and weird accent used for anyone who isn't American.

The story itself is very good and differs from the film, so I've actually bought the book as I want to finish it. Purchase at your own risk!!!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

How to destroy a great book

This is a very unfortunate situation because the story is absolutely brilliant but the enjoyment has been totally undermined by the person reading it. It may have something to do with the way in which British people hear their own tongue. This book may be a pleasure to hear if you are American but the emphasis on the words is all wrong and it is infuriating to listen too even though I so want to listen to the book. Please could I suggest they get a different reader for the Bourne series so that British listeners can truly enjoy it; I would suggest the reader of the 'Girl with the dragon tattoo' series (That was brilliant). Please do not read this as something against Americans because it is not, I love you guys.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Nothing like the film

After watching the film I thought I might like the book, after listening to it, I like the book a lot more, in fact it leaves it in the dust. Not the best reading, but not that bad either. Don't think I could play all the characters. I will now get the others in the series.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Trickier than the film

I can usually multi-task when I listen to an audiobook, but I had to give this one my full attention.

A man is found adrift with a near-fatal head wound. Desperate to find his true identity he travels the world chased by various shadowy men and women, never knowing who to trust.

I got pretty lost with the story as so many people were introduced and the plot line was quite intricate.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I'm a Ludlum virgin

This my first Ludlum book, having seen all the films thought I'd give them ago. Firstly it's big, 3 down loads and obviously the films are completely different. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Got a bit muddled with all the characters till I got going, aside from that it was exciting, fast and gripping. Going to get the next one in the series.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Much better than the Film

As is the case with most books / films the Bourne book series is a thousand times better than the films. Far more invovled with a completely differnt plot. I have read them once now listening to them on Audible.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Superb

Many years ago I read this and the other Bourne books, I have to say that whilst set in the 70s the books have not lost any of their appeal. The narrator does a good job, not excellent but good hence I've given 4 rather than 5 stars.

The books are VERY different to the films and in my opinion far superior. Bourne is a dark genius and the balance between action and suspense is perfect. The 2nd and 3rd books open up even more of the character as his memory comes back together.

I'd recommend this to anyone who is after a top rate thriller!!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 23-12-12

Bourne series Book 1 (not what I expected)

Not having read the books, my first impression of the audio book was that it started very differently from the film and this theme continued throughout the book.

The narration was clear and easy to understand (I have had books that were poorly narrated), the book was enjoyable but I was left with the impression that if I had read the first book before the file came out, I probably would have never watched the films.

That said, this is a very good start to a very good series and I will definitely collect the rest of the Audio books and the printed books.

I like this series and hope that the future books are as good or better as the plots continue to pile up.

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4 people found this helpful