Bird Box by Josh Malerman
Bird Box: A Novel
Synopsis:
Most people ignored the outrageous reports on the news. But they became too frequent, they became too real. And soon, they began happening down the street. Then the Internet died. The television and radio went silent. The phones stopped ringing. And we couldn't look outside anymore. Malorie raises the children the only way she can; indoors. The house is quiet. The doors are locked, the curtains are closed, mattresses are nailed over the windows. They are out there. She might let them in. The children sleep in the bedroom across the hall. Soon she will have to wake them. Soon she will have to blindfold them. Today they must leave the house. Today they will risk everything.
Review:
Bird Box has an interesting premise, but unfortunately I didn't love the execution. So a few years ago some strange things started happening. People started dying and it is just like what is happening? Very strange things indeed.
So this story is really Malorie's story. It tells the story of what is happening now, Malorie and her kids trying to get somewhere downriver which might be safer, and the past, how Malorie got to where she is now. It is a really interesting idea. Her kids have never looked outside. They can't. They might see the thing that is out there. She hasn't opened her eyes outside in years. Every time you go outside you wear a blindfold. All windows are covered and doors locked. It is interesting to think about what that would be like, how you would live if you were in that situation. To never see outside again, just the insides of your house or other buildings that are safe...
You don't really know where Malorie is going or what she is doing for most of the book. I just wanted to absolutely love this book, but it just fell short a bit with the execution. The way it was written for some reason didn't hold my attention as much as it should have. I have been thinking about it and I am not really sure why. I don't know what it was about the style or something that I didn't like, but something didn't work for me.
The end also was a bit of a let down in a way. I don't really know how it could have been better or what could have happened differently, but it just was alright to me. Also I had wanted to see how she went from having a child to where she was now, but that wasn't focused on. Like the day to day lives of Malorie and the two babies. It just wasn't there. You learn all about leading up to her having the baby and everything that is happening now, but not much in the four years in between the two times. So this wasn't a terrible book, I didn't hate it, but I just didn't love it either. An alright read.
So this story is really Malorie's story. It tells the story of what is happening now, Malorie and her kids trying to get somewhere downriver which might be safer, and the past, how Malorie got to where she is now. It is a really interesting idea. Her kids have never looked outside. They can't. They might see the thing that is out there. She hasn't opened her eyes outside in years. Every time you go outside you wear a blindfold. All windows are covered and doors locked. It is interesting to think about what that would be like, how you would live if you were in that situation. To never see outside again, just the insides of your house or other buildings that are safe...
You don't really know where Malorie is going or what she is doing for most of the book. I just wanted to absolutely love this book, but it just fell short a bit with the execution. The way it was written for some reason didn't hold my attention as much as it should have. I have been thinking about it and I am not really sure why. I don't know what it was about the style or something that I didn't like, but something didn't work for me.
The end also was a bit of a let down in a way. I don't really know how it could have been better or what could have happened differently, but it just was alright to me. Also I had wanted to see how she went from having a child to where she was now, but that wasn't focused on. Like the day to day lives of Malorie and the two babies. It just wasn't there. You learn all about leading up to her having the baby and everything that is happening now, but not much in the four years in between the two times. So this wasn't a terrible book, I didn't hate it, but I just didn't love it either. An alright read.
Rating: ★ ★ ★
Available on
Comments
Post a Comment