I recently just finished "The Bourne Ultimatum." And let me tell you, every chapter felt like a punch in the face. And the finale was like a big ol' kick in the crotch. If you haven't read this & have plans to, stop reading now. Becuase I will be spoiling the ending. Still here? Then let's move on.
This had to be some of the worst dialogue I've ever read. Who talks like this? Ever!?! Every year I read a classic novel, & the old world english in those books was often easier to swallow. It never felt like I was reading a conversation. It felt like someone who had listened to a conversation, took out all the slang & warmth, & regurgitated it back on the page. Using affectations like "Darling." Darling!?! Who calls the significant other darling in the 20th century that doesn't star on "Leave It To Beaver"? Other times, it was like listening to people who felt they were too smart for the room they were in. It often felt like the author was talking down to you. Throwing in dialogue in foreign languages, without ever offering a hint at the translation. "Oh, you don't know French? How droll the commoners can be. Well, you better ask some of your more educated colleagues to read it to you." And these so-called "conversations" would go on far too long, without character identifiers. Sometimes they would be between three characters, & you could no longer tell who was saying what. Add all of this together, & you get constant frustration on the readers part.

I truly enjoyed the first two books in the series. But, it really felt that Robert Ludlum had lost all interest in the character by the time he got to this one. He no longer cared for the character & didn't want you continually bugging him for another installment. So, instead of killing off Jason Bourne, he tried killing off your desire to read about him. Well, congratulations. Job well done Mr. Ludlum. Well done.
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