Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Sanction (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Admittedly, I've never read any of the late Robert Ludlum's books but I am a fan of the Bourne movies; except the last one with Renner. Van Lustbader received permission from the Ludlum estate and is continuing where Ludlum left off. He seems to be doing it with success in this novel. Many of the fictionalized drama books I pick up are poorly written these days but this one holds up better than most and I really enjoy chapters that are about 10 pages in length. It''ll be interesting to see if the next movie in 2016 takes it's cues from this book and the others he has written. This book comes in at just over 450 pages which seems a little long but if you enjoy this particular character you'll appreciate the story. There's just something about the indestructible, nice guy image of Jason Bourne. We know he'll win. We are now so far away from the original Bourne series, I can hardly recognise the main character, his underlings, or even the connection that Bourne/Webb has with the man who opened Ludlum’s series years ago. Even taking the Bourne part out of it, this story fell far short of what I expected or even wanted to read, and it pains me that I have to see this drivel associated with what Ludlum built up over time. Where is the mentally calculating man? Where is the passion for justice and the king of espionage that Ludlum presented to us? Lustbader has taken this illustrious character and series and tossed it into the refuse bin, in hopes of making money off the name, and the Hollywood version of the fames spy.I feel the books are just racing further and further away from the great books that laid the foundation for this series. While I found some of the earlier books more complex than I am used to reading, the challenge was worth it. Perhaps, had I no context, I could put up with these books, but since I know where this all came from and worry about where it is headed, I cannot sit back and pretend all is copasetic. While I like a good action movie and did find those Damon films to be full of action, I am not impressed with Lustbader’s attempt to ride piggyback on them to lure fans to the Bourne series. I cannot see many people who love the movies diving into the series from the beginning and being as enthralled. I guess I suppose Lustbader wants people to read ‘his interpretation’ and hope they toss out Ludlum’s previous attempts.Those who have followed the reviews previously will know I am reading the entire series (what did I get myself into?). I am by no means impressed and worry they will get worse.
What do You think about Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Sanction (2012)?
I really enjoyed the early Bourne books, but this was painful.
—Kenzie
Good so far. Needed some predicatbale spy-smut to read.
—Geetha
well written, liked the style, fond memoris of Bourne
—Erin
