The Bourne Identity, Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Bourne Identity.

Did you enjoy reading these chapters? Did you feel like any of your questions from the first section were answered? 

One of the most interesting scenes for me was the one where all of the American intelligence directors were meeting together to discuss Cain. It was interesting that they had received so much intelligence about Cain but did not verify if the information was correct. That makes me believe that all of the hits that are attributed to Cain are not really his. I think someone, probably Carlos, is trying to set Cain up to be taken out by the American government. 

I still wonder about Marie and why she has such confidence in Bourne. I feel like he has shown her again and again that he is a trained fighter and does not have a problem killing people who get in his way. Why does she keep saying that she believes in him and doesn't think he is a bad man? Why doesn't she think he is a killer? Even after he tells her that he believes he is Cain and tells her about the things he remembers, she tells him that his memories might be false. I just don't understand why she believes that he is so innocent. It seems to me that he keeps telling her who he is, so she should probably listen to him. Do you think Marie is justified to think that Bourne is a good man? Do you think he is? 

I was glad that we got more information about Bourne and Cain and how Cain came to be. It was really interesting that Bourne was recruited to become Cain, a man who is a counterpoint to Carlos and is meant to bring about Carlos's downfall. Did that make sense to you? Can you imagine being underground for over three years? It's no wonder that Bourne doesn't really know who he is. He was someone else for so long before he lost his memories. We also learn that Bourne's family was killed, so that's why the American intelligence community believes that he has gone rogue. Does it surprise you that they want him dead now? How will Bourne survive if he has so many people after him? 

What did you think of chapter 20? That was the chapter where there was a shadowy figure called "The European" who ended up killing a bunch of people and then planted a fingerprint of Bourne's on the scene. Why did he do that? Who is that man? Later, when the American intelligence agents are talking about Bourne and the fingerprint from the scene, they reveal that he was never their first choice for Cain. He was too unstable, so that's why they believe he has gone off the deep end. What do you think is going to happen? Do you think Bourne is justified in his actions throughout the book? Do you think he is ultimately going to do something good by the end of the book? So far, he hasn't done anything that makes me think he is a character to cheer for. I just don't know what to think. And, I don't know how Bourne is going to survive with so many different groups looking for him. 

What do you think is going to happen in the last section? Do you think Marie and Bourne are going to end up staying together? Do you think they will both survive and make it to the end of the book? Will we finally understand who Bourne is and what he is working to do? 

Before you go, check out this video in which Matt Damon talks about being Jason Bourne. Have you watched any of the Bourne movies? Do you think Matt Damon matches the Bourne character you see on the pages? 

Thanks for following along again this week! I can't wait to hear from you in the comments. Have fun finishing the book for next week!