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Borne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
Am I a person? Borne asks Rachel, in extremis. Yes, you are a person, Rachel tells him. But like a person, you can be a weapon, too. In a ruined, nameless city of the future, Rachel makes her living as a scavenger. She finds a creature she names Borne entangled in the fur of Mord, a gigantic despotic bear that once prowled the corridors of a biotech firm, the Company, until he was experimented on, grew large, learned to fly, and broke free. Made insane by the companys torture of him, Mord terrorizes the city even as he provides sustenance for scavengers. At first, Borne looks like nothing at alljust a green lump that might be a discard from the Company, which, although severely damaged, is rumored to still make creatures and send them to far-distant places that have not yet suffered collapse. Borne reminds Rachel of the island nation of her birth, now long lost to rising seas. She feels an attachment that she resents: attachments are traps, and in this world any weakness can kill you. Yet when she takes Borne to her subterranean sanctuary, Rachel convinces her lover, Wicka special kind of dealernot to render down Borne as raw genetic material for the drugs he sells. But nothing is quite the way it seems: not the past, not the present, not the future. If Wick is hiding secrets, so is Racheland Borne most of all. What Rachel finds hidden deep within the Company will change everything and everyone. There, lost and forgotten things have lingered and grown. What they have grown into is mighty indeed.
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Eeberst
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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My thing with Jeff VanderMeer is like, if you‘re gonna hang your career on hallucinogenic horrors then…get really good at descriptions and settings? I didn‘t want to read more of him after the annihilation trilogy but was convinced by a good friend of mine to give him another shot and he did disappoint

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Lukerey-Doo
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

I think this was my first journey into the genre of New Weird. I don't remember if I discovered it before or after seeing Annihilation, which is based on another work of the same author. What else can I say about it LOL. I suck at reviews 😆

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bekakins
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

Seriously weird speculative fiction (not sure why that came as a surprise after reading the southern reach trilogy!), very enjoyable. Would like to read more about this universe.

Plus #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo for September (1 book still TBD)

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
12 likes1 comment
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britt_brooke
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Kids are in bed (hallelujah). I‘m puzzling (again). Hubby is reading (tagged). We‘re both enjoying some bourbon (his neat, mine on the rocks). Normal weekend life. 💚🧩📖🥃

Hope y‘all are doing something relaxing, too!

BarbaraBB Sounds perfect. Enjoy! 💕 3y
Jess861 This sounds like the perfect weekend! 3y
See All 9 Comments
Trashcanman 🖐🏼🖐🏼🖐🏼 3y
Megabooks I hope you enjoyed it! 😊 3y
vivastory What does he think of Borne? 3y
britt_brooke @vivastory He‘s really liking it so far. Have you read it? I haven‘t, but he and I both were torn between so-so and pick on Southern Reach. 3y
vivastory @britt_brooke I did. It's a pretty wild book. Southern Reach was ultimately a pick for me, but there were issues with it. 3y
britt_brooke @vivastory I mostly liked it, but needed a better ending. 3y
115 likes9 comments
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britt_brooke
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Kids are in bed (hallelujah). I‘m puzzling (again). Hubby is reading (tagged). We‘re both enjoying some bourbon (his neat, mine on the rocks). Normal weekend life. 🧩📖🥃

Hope your weekend is as enjoyable! 💚

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cariashley
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

Almost unbearably bleak and tough to follow at times, but cut with just enough humor and humanity (or not humanity? What really is a person?). The ending brought me to tears. VanderMeer once again has written something unlike anything I‘ve ever read.

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cariashley
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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I‘m finding it oddly calming to immerse myself in a world so egregiously more disastrous than our current reality. And I just love the naked cover of this hardback.

Tanisha_A I like that cover too 4y
38 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Jason7
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Mehso-so

This is just another average sci-fi novel. It revolves around the concept of destructive biotech in a post-apocalyptic scenario. The premise seemed interesting at first, but it fell flat for various reasons. I keep looking for a good sci-fi novel, but the last few I‘ve picked haven‘t been that great. Overall rating: 3.69 stars.

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The.Intentional.Reader
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Currently reading this very weird book. Definitely a strange one but an addictive read at the same time.

19 likes1 stack add
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parasolofdoom
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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December reads

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Schnoebs
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Bailedbailed

Really wanted to get into this because I‘m always down for a good dystopian but I just couldn‘t get into it. I was forcing myself to pick it up and I just gave up after the weird magic flying bear things

#dnf #dystopian #scifi

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j9brown
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

So weird! A nightmare dystopia full of monsters, this one definitely isn't for everyone and isn't always an easy read due to the style (which was frustrating at times). There's a terrifying flying bear. There's murderous half-human children. But there's love and heartbreak and the big question, what makes a person a person?
Not sure if I'd recommend it but I'm glad I read it!

49 likes2 stack adds
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Alicepondpoe
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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7 days, 7 covers, no explanation. I still have no one to tag 🤣 #covercrush

vivastory Vandermeer has great covers, his new one is pretty bonkers 4y
Alicepondpoe It is, wow. It's like a bad acid trip 😂 4y
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tessavi
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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#Day4 #7Days7Covers #CoverLove

If you fancy playing along all you have to do is post a picture of a book cover you love with no explanation.

SilversReviews Gorgeous!! 5y
56 likes1 comment
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j9brown
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Book_ish Beautiful ❤️ 5y
GatheringBooks this is gorgeous, indeed! 5y
Addison_Reads Love this cover! 💚 5y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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the-flashley
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

Anyone else like to read the acknowledgments at the end of a book? These were particularly entertaining.

Another from Vandermeer that I thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely recommend if you like crazy fantasy worlds with larger than life monsters/people.

On a side note, this book has led me to reprimand my cats by telling them they/the things they‘re doing are ‘Not Nice‘. 😂

Texreader Yes I read the acknowledgments. 5y
Megabooks Always read the acknowledgements! 5y
Bookzombie I always read the acknowledgements too! 5y
45 likes3 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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#LMPBC #GROUPV I'm torn between these two. Which would you prefer?
I'm leaning a slight bit to Borne.
@Avanders @TK421 @Bklover @BethM

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Is this a sequel to River of Teeth? Yay! (Also heard Borne is good, so can‘t decide) 5y
Avanders I‘m also torn! Both sound really interesting! I‘m a longtime fan of Vandermeer and always welcome an opportunity to read something of his, but American Hippo sounds really good too. I leave it to you all 😁😁 (helpful? Not really... 😉) 5y
Avanders @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled it‘s not quite a sequel: “In 2017 Sarah Gailey made her debut with River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow, two action-packed novellas that introduced readers to an alternate America in which hippos rule the colossal swamp that was once the Mississippi River. Now readers have the chance to own both novellas in American Hippo, a single, beautiful volume.” 5y
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TK421 I loved River of Teeth, but I haven't read Taste of Marrow yet. The hippo has my vote. 5y
Addison_Reads I'm not in this group, so my opinion doesn't matter.😉 However, I recently read both of these and I enjoyed them both, but I feel like you guys might have more to mark-up in American Hippo. 5y
BethM I‘d also lean Hippo 😂what a weird sentence! 5y
Bklover Hippo. Or Borne. Either. At first I thought hippo. But maybe Borne. I‘m no help at all. 🤪 (edited) 5y
Bklover Borne is on my TBR 5y
45 likes8 comments
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the-flashley
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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Wow! It‘s really been a while since I posted. This book is so strange, but in a good way! We‘re in New Orleans for the weekend, so reading it now to pass the time until we leave to explore more of the French Quarter!

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Addison_Reads
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

I finished this one last week, but to be honest I'm still not quite sure how I feel. It's definitely a unique, wild ride through the evolution of Borne; however, I'm still left wondering what the point was in all of it.

VanderMeer paints very vivid pictures with his words and Borne is a character I will not soon forget.

#Letter V #LitsyAtoZ @BookishMarginalia

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tessavi
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the pacing & overall flow more than the Southern Reach trilogy. I kept imagining Borne as a post-apocalyptic wasteland wandering Barbapapa 😅

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Victoriahoperose
Borne | Jeff VanderMeer
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Mehso-so

I just couldn‘t get into this really. It was a bit too scattered and abstract for me.

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Tonton
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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I have to confess: the news every day is affecting what I read. Started this, and just could not connect.Dystopian future narrative too depressing right now for me; feels like it‘s already upon us. Extremely well written and brings up important questions about what makes us human but will need to come back to read again to do it justice. Will give proper review when I can. Besides, giant flying bear and sentient something deserves respectful read!

Suet624 I know just what you mean. 5y
Toniyesss Oh for sure, dystopian futures are hitting too close to home right now 5y
Reggie Totally understandable. 5y
34 likes3 comments
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SammyKat
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
Pickpick

Story of the perils and adventures of adopting an eldritch anemone child. People who love each other but don't always know how. POC characters, including the badass, tender MC herself! Finished at 1 a.m. FEELINGS.
Sex present but not explicit, so the only real warning here is some language, plus creature/human violence like you'd expect in a post-apocalytic biopunk wasteland.

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SammyKat
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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"Anyone else confronted with Favor Borne would have run screaming."
Love this book.

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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Really weird stock photo reminds me of Borne

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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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sherryvdh
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Does this look right? I'm trying to decide if it's a typo or an alternate spelling that I'm just unfamiliar with. Is it a Canadian vs American spelling? I'm used to seeing it spelled #mannequin. #ExcuseMyIgnorance #AskingLitsy #LittensKnowBest

MayJasper I have not seen that spelling (manikin) before 5y
TrishB Because I‘m a nerd!! 5y
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sherryvdh @TrishB That is fascinating! I had no idea. Thank you! 5y
ravenlee I‘ve seen this in books, usually dealing with magic. It‘s also in the card game Magic: the Gathering. 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @TrishB that is quite interesting. Who knew? 5y
hermyknee I love Litsy 💖 @TrishB 5y
TrishB @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I know 😁 have to try and drop it in conversation or scrabble!! 5y
TrishB @hermyknee 😘❤️ me too. We‘re allowed to be as nerdy as we want!! 5y
Slajaunie Interesting 5y
CouronneDhiver Sleepy editor? 5y
Rissreads @TrishB How interesting! Thanks for this, I've learnt something 😊 4y
25 likes12 comments
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sherryvdh
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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New book in from the library. Hoping maybe this one will do the trick for my current reading drought. I'm just not feeling inspired to pick up a book and read lately.
On the bright side, baby boy turned a year old today. The year has just blown by!
#MajorReadingSlump

Bklover Happy Birthday to your little punkin!! ❤️💙 5y
CouronneDhiver Already?! Wow! That went by quickly 5y
merelybookish Ditto @CouronneDhiver A year already! Time sure flies on Litsy! 5y
31 likes3 comments
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ItsAnotherJen
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

I chose this image because it shows you what the character of Borne looks like (some of the time, because he changes). The actual cover of the book is different. This is a weirdly good apocalyptic novel, the first in the series. Very interesting but odd.

Book_Fairy_Mary Definitely a cool cover! 5y
GypsyKat Interesting! Makes me want to check it out! 5y
sudi The cover is so creepy but seems interesting. It actually reminds me of H.P Lovecraft's 5y
ItsAnotherJen @sudi They do have similarities! In this book, the character of Rachel becomes very close to Borne. They almost become like family. They discover who (or what) Borne is as time goes on. 5y
96 likes1 stack add4 comments
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akckitty
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

This is based around Rachel, and her relationship with Wick, an ex employee at the Company & how they‘re surviving in a ruined city controlled by a deformed creature named Mord, a biotech mishap created by The Company. Rachel then meets Borne, an ever growing, shape shifting creature who learns how to speak. When their territory is threatened and livelihood, Borne does everything he can to protect Rachel and Wick, including risking his own life.

akckitty I feel like mentioning that I am very sad that this book is over. If I could erase my memory to experience it all over again, I would. I feel that I grew very close to the characters and I will miss reading the antics of Borne and Rachel. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 6y
minkyb Love the review! 6y
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akckitty
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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I am off to a GREAT start this month with book reading! Here is all that I‘ve read so far:

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Annihilation - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2.

The Other Side of Everything - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

2 Degrees - ⭐️ (I almost DNF this one)

Exit West - ⭐️⭐️

Borne - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2.

I will post up some reviews when I have time!

Anyone else having a good reading month so far???

Beachesnbooks Yes! Although definitely not as many books as you--that's impressive! I finished Yes We (Still) Can by Dan Pfeiffer, 4⭐️, and am reading/loving Record of a Spaceborn Few at the moment 6y
jillannjohn Wow! In 5 days! Amazing! 6y
ShananigansReads I wish mine was going that well. I‘m hot/cold on one book, about to DNF another and can‘t settle on an audiobook to listen to. 6y
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CouronneDhiver Goodness! Great work. I‘m still plugging away on several. None finished yet. 6y
akckitty @Beachesnbooks I really enjoyed Yes We Still Can by Dan Pfeiffer myself! Glad to hear your month is going good so far ☺️ thanks for sharing ❤️ 6y
akckitty @jillannjohn I was thankful to have had very little Labor Day weekend plans. It contributed to this list so far. Wondering if I can keep it up! Hope your reading is going well :) 6y
akckitty @Bookjunkie57 ugh, book ruts like that suck! I feel that‘s what I was experiencing last month. I hope it changes around for you!! ❤️ 6y
akckitty @CouronneDhiver I give my thanks to the long weekend ;) I‘m jealous you‘re able to work on multiple at once though! I feel I can only concentrate on one at a time. I can‘t vary, even if one is physical and one is audiobook :/ (edited) 6y
RavenLovelyReads Wow! I just finished my fist book for the month 😳 6y
107 likes9 comments
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jackilynn
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

It was a dead night tonight at work so I was thankful for the chance to finally finish my book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2506227211?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

*art found on Google*

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jackilynn
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Just another lazy Saturday. I have fallen behind on my Goodreads reading goal so I am hoping play catch-up this weekend.

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shadowspeak17
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very creative, and I loved the character Borne, but there was something about the way this book was written that just didn‘t work for me. I never felt truly invested in the story. It just felt like it was missing something. 🤷🏽‍♀️

#MakeMeReadIt 3/5
#catsoflitsy #Ember #Phoenix

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Moray_Reads
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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1. I don't watch many films so I'll go with Avengers: Infinity War. Didn't love it but it was better than the last few. Plus, Edinburgh setting!
2. Bail? 😬🙃
3. Borne. I'll probably go back to it at some point
#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

saresmoore Getting married was such a relief, just because I didn‘t have to date anymore. In my wizened retrospect, after 11 years of marriage, I wish I had simply quit dating... 😬🤫 6y
Cathythoughts I love no. 2 ..... 👍🏻❤️ dates are hard going. I love them now with my husband , but pretty scary before I was married (edited) 6y
batsy 2! Haha 👏🏽 6y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore @Cathythoughts @batsy really it's not so much bailing as just not dating in the first place 🙃 6y
47 likes4 comments
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shadowspeak17
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Up next, my third book for #MakeMeReadIt.

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Settings
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
Mehso-so

Read because it was nominated for some SFF awards.

Wavering between pick and so-so.

The goal seems to be to explore philosophical issues and people's relationships with each other (via interestingly weird monsters and technology) , but it's on a very shallow underdeveloped level and doesn't raise enough questions.

Thought Borne was the least interesting character in the book.

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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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THERE'S MORE!!!

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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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DARChocolate #BloomArt packaging reminds me of Borne. https://www.darchocolate.com/bloomart #chocolate

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Briary
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

A gigantic, flying, psychotic bear. That really hooked me in. But this is a book that rather defies a short explanation so I won't even try. It was cruel, weird, gently humorous, heartbreaking. The only thing I was sort of iffy about was the ending, but we can't have everything.

"You are a person. But like a person, you can be a weapon, too."

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wellreadredhead
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Pickpick

This novel was crazy imaginative. I loved the character of Borne and found myself rushing through the book to see what would happen with him. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Booksnchill I have lusted after that cover since I saw it! 6y
trazo I really enjoyed this book! Glad you liked it too! 6y
2BR02B Borne was so unexpectedly charming. And I liked that the ending was (mostly) happy. 6y
BzerkMcD There‘s a new Novella “The Strange Bird” A Borne Story. It is quite good as well. 6y
wellreadredhead @BzerkMcD Thanks, I‘ll have to check that out! 6y
87 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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sloanghost
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer

I poked around--by which I mean went to the author's Twitter--and discovered that Three Dead Astronauts is still being written and as such isn't even out in arc form, hence the lack of reviews. The notif I got was an error.

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sloanghost
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Amazon has scrambled the Three Dead Astronauts reviews with the Three Body Problem reviews so all it talks about is whether or not it's a good translation from Chinese. Please, I need to know things!!

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Briary
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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This has been tickling my interest for a while, and now seems to be a perfect time to give it a go. Let's see how I like it.

18 likes2 stack adds
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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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#ProjectFi marketing reminds me of Borne.

LibrarianRyan This image is amazing. What is project if? 6y
mab-solenne @LibrarianRyan it is google's fiber optic wireless phone network. The shiniest new plan out there. I do not have but i do see their beautiful ads around. And they look like cute fuzzy creatures. 6y
5 likes2 comments
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mab-solenne
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
This post contains spoilers
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"Borne was offering up so many approximations, so many near misses on what he meant that might have meant other things. Much later, when I realized this, i went back over our conversations in my memory, to see if i could translate them into some other meaning. But it was too late. They are what they are. They mean what they meant."
I'm rereading the whole book. Even if nothing changes *sniffle* I still want to understand these people better.?

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Scott_BookInvasion
Borne: A Novel | Jeff VanderMeer
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Listening to this during work. It‘s tough to sink into at first and you have to be ready to be placed into a different world unlike our own. It‘s hard to keep my investment but I‘ll soldier on.