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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not as good as Area X, but still a good post-apocalypse story. Ending wasn't what I expected.
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked a lot of things about "Borne." VanderMeer is able to create uniquely weird and quietly sinister worlds in his books, and—even more so than in the Southern Reach trilogy—the world of "Borne" fits that bill. There's a giant, flying bear (Mord), young, violent children who are modified via "biotech" to have animal parts, and, of course, a large amorphous, Cthulu-like, child-like blob (Borne) that has a strange compulsion to "taste" everything. A lot of the weirdness feels familiar (Borne, at first, reminded me of Chappie), but VanderMeer does a good job at making it feel freshly strange.
I also liked the idea behind the character Borne. In the novel's postapocalpytic world where human society is seemingly at its end, Borne is a non-human thing that nonetheless wrestles with human problems. He's (I assumed Borne was male, but it's not clear Borne has a gender) fundamentally bad, but strives to be good. He curiously seeks answers to basic metaphysical questions, while sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the experience of life. Borne is like us—dichotomous, emotive, conflicted, inquisitive. He's also entertainingly very not like us in his physical form (I imagined him, at least at first, as resembling a shape-shifting Pac-Man ghost).
Despite these strengths, I didn't really think there was much to the book beyond its world and its characters. The plot is uneventful and lacks a compelling story arc. Its ending has an unnecessary and boring sense of resolution. VanderMeer awkwardly and suddenly answers questions for the reader that we either didn't realize were unknown beforehand (e.g., that Rachel lacks a memory of how she came to meet Wick) or that seem pretty obvious (e.g., that Borne came from the company and that Wick helped create Mord). I feel reluctant criticizing VanderMeer in this way, after griping over the frustrating lack of answers in The Southern Reach trilogy; still, I wish he had found a convincing middle ground with "Borne."
I also liked the idea behind the character Borne. In the novel's postapocalpytic world where human society is seemingly at its end, Borne is a non-human thing that nonetheless wrestles with human problems. He's (I assumed Borne was male, but it's not clear Borne has a gender) fundamentally bad, but strives to be good. He curiously seeks answers to basic metaphysical questions, while sometimes feeling overwhelmed by the experience of life. Borne is like us—dichotomous, emotive, conflicted, inquisitive. He's also entertainingly very not like us in his physical form (I imagined him, at least at first, as resembling a shape-shifting Pac-Man ghost).
Despite these strengths, I didn't really think there was much to the book beyond its world and its characters. The plot is uneventful and lacks a compelling story arc. Its ending has an unnecessary and boring sense of resolution. VanderMeer awkwardly and suddenly answers questions for the reader that we either didn't realize were unknown beforehand (e.g., that Rachel lacks a memory of how she came to meet Wick) or that seem pretty obvious (e.g., that Borne came from the company and that Wick helped create Mord). I feel reluctant criticizing VanderMeer in this way, after griping over the frustrating lack of answers in The Southern Reach trilogy; still, I wish he had found a convincing middle ground with "Borne."
Audio
This was only okay. If it weren't audio I would have DNF'd bc I was bored a good amount of the time.
Worldbuilding was the best part and even then, it was glossed over in the most interesting part closest to the end...
This was only okay. If it weren't audio I would have DNF'd bc I was bored a good amount of the time.
Worldbuilding was the best part and even then, it was glossed over in the most interesting part closest to the end...
My original BORNE audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Jeff VanderMeer presents a compelling post-apocalyptic landscape populated by a pair of highly interesting human characters and vicious biotech experiments run amok in the wastelands.
Rachel and Wick survive by scavenging whatever they can from The City, and steering clear of the massive bio-engineered bear that lords over the ruins. On a scavenging run, Rachel notices something odd stuck to the bear’s fur, which she manages to dislodge and bring back home. What this “it” is, though, defies description – it’s not a plant, nor is it an animal, nor a machine. Or maybe it’s all three. As time goes on, Rachel begins to notice new things about this strange discovery, eventually realizing that Borne is, indeed, sentient. Her partner, Wick, an ex-employee of the biotech Company, wants to dissect Borne, or perhaps scrap him for parts, but she refuses to allow that to happen. While Borne is certainly strange, Rachel becomes not only fond but paternal of it, and she strives to protect Borne from the threats lying within and without their sanctuary.
While the post-apocalyptic world-building is very well done, Borne really thrives and revels in its characters. VanderMeer has created a trio of relateable, sympathetic, and ultimately very human personalities. Rachel and Wick squabble, share their disagreements and keep their secrets. Borne, meanwhile, grows, adapts, and learns, becoming a sounding board for Rachel and a mirror to hold up to humanity in all its brilliance and flaws. Borne is a highly intriguing creation from VanderMeer and one that is highly charismatic in its child-like mentality, at times reminding me a bit of Johnny Five from Short Circuit in its earnestness and keen attempts to learn and study the world.
Although this is primarily a character-driven drama and not an action-heavy sci-fi title, VanderMeer does manage a few terrific set pieces. And with Mord, the larger-than-life bioengineered bear, being so massive a few of these sequences carry the weight of a kaiju-like destructiveness. Others action scenes are smaller in scope, but no less effective and dramatic in their execution, such as an early attempt on Rachel’s life by a gang that invades her sanctuary.
Told entirely from Rachel’s point of view, this is a title that is only made stronger by the brilliance of its narrator. Bahni Turpin delivers a stellar reading of VanderMeer’s terrific writing, completely selling the story and bringing Rachel’s tale to life. Turpin does some solid voice work for each of the characters, but it’s her performance as the titular character that proves just how adept she is as an audiobook narrator. She nails the humor and warmth, and when necessary the anger, of each of the three leads, making this an absolutely engrossing read.
[Note: Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com.]
Jeff VanderMeer presents a compelling post-apocalyptic landscape populated by a pair of highly interesting human characters and vicious biotech experiments run amok in the wastelands.
Rachel and Wick survive by scavenging whatever they can from The City, and steering clear of the massive bio-engineered bear that lords over the ruins. On a scavenging run, Rachel notices something odd stuck to the bear’s fur, which she manages to dislodge and bring back home. What this “it” is, though, defies description – it’s not a plant, nor is it an animal, nor a machine. Or maybe it’s all three. As time goes on, Rachel begins to notice new things about this strange discovery, eventually realizing that Borne is, indeed, sentient. Her partner, Wick, an ex-employee of the biotech Company, wants to dissect Borne, or perhaps scrap him for parts, but she refuses to allow that to happen. While Borne is certainly strange, Rachel becomes not only fond but paternal of it, and she strives to protect Borne from the threats lying within and without their sanctuary.
While the post-apocalyptic world-building is very well done, Borne really thrives and revels in its characters. VanderMeer has created a trio of relateable, sympathetic, and ultimately very human personalities. Rachel and Wick squabble, share their disagreements and keep their secrets. Borne, meanwhile, grows, adapts, and learns, becoming a sounding board for Rachel and a mirror to hold up to humanity in all its brilliance and flaws. Borne is a highly intriguing creation from VanderMeer and one that is highly charismatic in its child-like mentality, at times reminding me a bit of Johnny Five from Short Circuit in its earnestness and keen attempts to learn and study the world.
Although this is primarily a character-driven drama and not an action-heavy sci-fi title, VanderMeer does manage a few terrific set pieces. And with Mord, the larger-than-life bioengineered bear, being so massive a few of these sequences carry the weight of a kaiju-like destructiveness. Others action scenes are smaller in scope, but no less effective and dramatic in their execution, such as an early attempt on Rachel’s life by a gang that invades her sanctuary.
Told entirely from Rachel’s point of view, this is a title that is only made stronger by the brilliance of its narrator. Bahni Turpin delivers a stellar reading of VanderMeer’s terrific writing, completely selling the story and bringing Rachel’s tale to life. Turpin does some solid voice work for each of the characters, but it’s her performance as the titular character that proves just how adept she is as an audiobook narrator. She nails the humor and warmth, and when necessary the anger, of each of the three leads, making this an absolutely engrossing read.
[Note: Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com.]
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad