jbarbeau 's review for:

Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
1.0

This book made me hate reading. It is written with love and care and is singularly the most boring book I’ve ever read. The message smacks you in the face as if illustrated in a child’s picture book. The constant attempt at poetic language and frankly obscene use of passive voice don’t hide that exactly three things happen in this book. The main character spends 98% of the book just kind of “out of it” for no reason and I found myself unable to relate to her in any way.

Jeff Vandermeer is a great author. It is, however, a shame that this book was published as text. It feels far more like a surrealist painting wherein the viewer is made to smoke 8 joints before seeing the piece and is not allowed to leave until they vomit or mercifully die of boredom. Goddamn I hate this book. Neat concepts though I suppose. It really would’ve made a good painting.