Josh Malerman’s debut book is a strong post-apocalyptic story about living in world where survivors are taken their ability to see, forcing them to find other ways to cope in a world full of invisible dangers. So let’s take closer look of this interesting view of apocalypse in Bird Box book review.

The story takes place in two parallel timelines, past and present. The past timeline follows 20-year old Malorie who finds out that she is pregnant. If that was not enough of surprising news, reports start leaking around the world about strange phenomenons that drive people into suicidal frenzy, killing other people and finally themselves. Suddenly the horrors are on Malorie’s doorstep, forcing Malorie to seek shelter in nearby house which accommodate other survivors. It is not before long that people realize that something lurks in our world, something that makes people insane if they see it. As the world slowly dies around them, Mallory and remaining survivors try to find their way in the new reality where they must travel blindfolded outside the security of their home’s shielded windows. 

In present timeline Malorie is alone with her children who she has named simply Boy and Girl. During the years, Malorie has teached Boy and Girl to master their other senses over sight, especially hearing. Blindfolded in the outside world, using only their hearing,  the three abandon their safe house to start their dangereous journey on a rowing boat, travelling downstream the nearby river.

Blindfolded 

The most horrific thing in Bird Box is the thought of losing one of our most used sense. When the characters are moving outside their safe house they are always blindfolded which causes them to be more defenseless against threats. This brings a whole new level of terror: Is the snap of a twig in forest just animal, or something more horrible coming at your way? Can you know what you stumbled upon just by using your touch? Is that faint breeze in your neck just wind, or something breathing really close to you? When you cannot see, every little thing can be translated into dangers in our mind. 

Bird Box also has Netflix film adaptation which was quite OK but like often happens, the book and film version differ quite lot. Although the main plot is the same, there are lots of different scenes in movie that did not appear book and vice versa. Movie version also can’t describe the thoughs of people when they try to learn to survive in their new blind reality. 

A great read

Bird box is great book that gives fresh look at the survival literature by taking away one of the most important senses that we have. You can find few inconsistencies here and there in the plot that makes you think ”how’s it like that”. For example, there’s a scene where there’s doubts about water pureness and nobody thinks of boiling it. But these little things are compensated by horrifying and sometimes brutal scenes of violence and suspenseful moments when there might be danger close but you just cannot open your eyes and see. Bird Box also has sequel titled Malorie which continues the story. Malorie will also be reviewed later on 1000ends.com so stay tuned!

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