August 2014 Group Read: Bird Box by Josh Malerman

[Rex]

Really looking forward to starting my first group read. I should have the book by Friday!

[Tressa]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "Tressa, great description! You hit it right on the head!"

Thanks. And my imagination is running wild trying to figure out what these things are, what they look like, and just what they do to (view spoiler)[encourage suicide upon seeing them. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, and the scene where the proactive survivor (view spoiler)[films five hours of outside and then is tied down alone in a room while he watches? Brilliantly ghastly. (hide spoiler)]

[Addy]

22%(view spoiler)[The encounter with the man in the boat was freaky! (hide spoiler)]Really enjoying Malorie's story about how things became.

[Jon]

Ugh, I am so late to the party this month!

Anyway, my own impressions are right here, if you want to know what I thought (spoiler free, of course).

I do agree with the majority, though: this book was intense and claustrophobic, and had me pulling some extremely dodgy facial expressions during certain scenes, I'm sure!

I wouldn't want a sequel, though. I felt that the whole point of Malerman's style was the ambiguity, and that less was definitely more in this particular case.

[Bill]

This story is very good. I am about 24% in and so far it has me engaged. I agree with Addy about (view spoiler)[ Malorie and the kids running across the guy in a boat. creepy. She must have been scared out of her wits. (hide spoiler)]

[Jeffrey]

I enjoyed it very much. It's a different type of horror for me. I believe that it should remain a stand-alone novel though. The author is working on his next work of fiction right now. He has given little strange hints as to what it's about on his facebook page. How exciting!

[Amanda]

So I've finished. This was a good book, but not one I was head over heels in love with. My main issue was that the speech didn't flow right for me. But a book is only great in the eye of the beholder and life would be pretty boring if we all liked the same thing! I did enjoy the creeping, unnerving horror of this book.

[Mike]

I finished the book last week and thought I'd let others catch up before commenting on it. One of my favorite parts of the book was during (view spoiler)[ Malorie's and Olympia's deliveries. (hide spoiler)] I thought Malerman drew that up beautifully. Also I was very happy that the (view spoiler)[ creatures went not birds. I am fine not knowing what they are (hide spoiler)]
Overall I liked the book enough to give it a decent rating. I have it on audio so I'll probably revisit it.

[[deleted user]]

JUST FINISHED ZEE BOOK! I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Malerman is very eloquent with his words, that is fo sho! Maybe that's a natural talent of his considering he is a songwriter as well. Amazing first novel for this author.
Anywhooo, review will be posted soon, after I cover all my windows with blankets and cardboard...

[Catster]

Mike wrote: "I finished the book last week and thought I'd let others catch up before commenting on it. One of my favorite parts of the book was during [spoilers removed] I thought Malerman drew that up beautif..."

Haha, I was pretty happy about that too! (view spoiler)[ The title made me think the creatures could be some creepy 8 feet tall tucans. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Catherine wrote: "Mike wrote: "I finished the book last week and thought I'd let others catch up before commenting on it. One of my favorite parts of the book was during [spoilers removed] I thought Malerman drew th..."

Agreed!

[ZoeyBB]

Wayne wrote: "It seemed like a reasonable short story extended to novel length for no real reason."

I kind of agree with this. I did enjoy it very much- but it felt a little drawn out to me I guess. Which is funny seeing as it was so short. I just felt like it should have either been much shorter as a true short story, or fleshed out much longer to give it more depth. I would still give it four stars though, because I was thoroughly creeped out and I still feel like the story was very original. I like the fact that (view spoiler)[ we never really found out what these creatures were, and the story focused more on those trying to survive. (hide spoiler)]

Things I thought while reading-

Huge nerd reference, but Malorie kind of reminded me of (view spoiler)[ Sara Connor in Terminator 2 (um, awesome movie, btw), raising her child to be sort of militaristic for survival. Her character wasn't hugely developed before she did turn so militaristic though, so it was hard tell if this was a drastic change from her normal persona or not. But it was a shorter novel. (hide spoiler)]

Did she name the kids "Girl" and "Boy" because (view spoiler)[ she wanted to keep some semblance of emotional distance from them in case they died? Or was it to keep up the militaristic-training-style so that they respect and follow her like a leader, rather than a mom? Or some other reason? (hide spoiler)]

I hadn't done a group read in a while so glad I finally got back to it!

[Catster]

SNB wrote: "Wayne wrote: "It seemed like a reasonable short story extended to novel length for no real reason."

I kind of agree with this. I did enjoy it very much- but it felt a little drawn out to me I gues..."

When it comes to Boy and Girl (view spoiler)[ I think it was more of a personal detachment. I've read a book before, where children were given names only after reaching a certain age, because of high mortality rates among toddlers. If she wanted to raise them more military-focused, I think she would've made them call her "ma'am" or "mother", not "mommy". (hide spoiler)]

[ZoeyBB]

Catherine wrote: "When it comes to Boy and Girl (view spoiler) "

Yeah that does make sense. (view spoiler)[ They seem to have a more emotional attachment to her, calling her Mommy, than she tries to have with them, because she is intentionally keeping a feeling of detachment.... (hide spoiler)]

[Robert]

Geez, last month I started right on time and there was very little discussion, and this month I'm a bit delayed in getting started, and it could take me hours just to catch up to the discussion by the time I get into reading! :-) Great to see a lot of discussion this time.

[(shan) Littlebookcove]

yeah I agree she didn't know but when she did name them I kinda welled up. was a fantastic read.

[KIMBERLY]

Thanks to everyone who gave me encouragement regarding the subject matter. I'm so glad I didn't skip this one. It's one of the best books I've read in quite a while!

[Mike]

SNB wrote: "Wayne wrote: "It seemed like a reasonable short story extended to novel length for no real reason."

I kind of agree with this. I did enjoy it very much- but it felt a little drawn out to me I gues..."

Your insight on Boy and Girl is fright on the money. Sometimes I miss these things.

[Marc-Antoine]

I chocked up when she named them as well...

[Monica]

Noooo (view spoiler)[ animals go crazy too. Poor Victor. (hide spoiler)] I'm afraid to open up all of your hidden stuff. I'll wait until I'm done.

[Kim]

The suspense nearly gave me heart failure and the ambiguity drove me nuts. In the end I found there were too many loose ends and ultimately gave it three (1/2) stars.

[Katy]

Monica wrote: "Noooo [spoilers removed] I'm afraid to open up all of your hidden stuff. I'll wait until I'm done."

Yeah. That made it more intense.

[Shawn]

started this book this morning very good so far.

[Tiffany]

(view spoiler)[. I just finished the book. It's a lot better than I thought it would be, but I still only gave it 3 stars. I think the book lost steam at the end. But I did like how she resolved the issue of the unnamed children. I thought the names she gave them were very appropriate. I thought Gary was the most interesting character in the book ( I know that sounds weird). It would have been a more interesting ending if when she opened her eyes Gary was there. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Tiffany]

I tried to add a spoiler alert link, but for some reason it didn't work. Anyway, I ended up rating the book with 3 stars. I think it lost steam at the end. I didn't care for the ending at all. When she opened her eyes, it would have been more interesting if Gary was there.

[Katy]

Tiffany wrote: "[spoilers removed]"


LOL! You did OK with the spoiler!

Sometimes when I'm not sure, I post then quickly hit edit if I don't like what I see.

I'm also wondering what happened with Gary.

[Tiffany]

Katy wrote: "Tiffany wrote: "[spoilers removed]"


LOL! You did OK with the spoiler!

Sometimes when I'm not sure, I post then quickly hit edit if I don't like what I see.


I'm also wondering what happened wit..."

For some reason I can see the spoiler link on my laptop but not my iPhone app. That was why I didn't think the spoiler alert link worked. It's strange that I can't edit and/or delete my comment with the iPhone goodreads app.

[Latasha]

I can't click on the spoilers from my phone or tablet. I can't edit, delete or reply either. guess it's just the app?

[Kasia]

I have the same issue on my phone GR app, can't access spoilers and parts of messages are always cut off lol.

[Charles]

This will be my next book after I finish parasites

[[deleted user]]

Charles wrote: "This will be my next book after I finish parasites"

By Mira Grant? That is the one I am current reading right now.

[[deleted user]]

Finally posted my review and now will treat myself to some well-deserved wine. And it is official! I AM NEVER GETTING PREGGERS!

[Tom]

I really enjoyed this book, the level of suspense was only heightened by the characters having to survive without the sense of sight.

Overall, thought it was a really effective thriller/horror. The title was slightly amusing as in New Zealand (were I live) replying to the question "How are you" with "A box of birds" means you are happy and healthy.

(view spoiler)[ I enjoyed Malorie teaching the children how to thrive without that sense. The games, the list all the things you can hear, and naming breaths, scratches of nose etc. That was a neat detail.

I thought the wolves incident was interesting, they could have been starving golden retrievers but Malorie imagines Wolves. Were wild animals effected the same way as Victor the dog?

The power conveniently staying on for years, because the plot required blacked out windows, and if the windows are blacked out, then how could you see inside when you ran out of candles or oil for lamps. I know, power stays on forever! Also must have made heating and entertaining the children a lot easier.

After Gary, how'd Malorie survive? Surely the basement didn't have 4 years of food for three people? Didn't seem she gardened. Was there enough food in other houses around her, did she go out daily, weekly to forage? This wasn't clear. It was handy that the house had a clean well just nearby.

If the babies had seen the creatures what would have happened? Babies can't even focus properly for a few weeks, and they don't have language or a sense of self, do they go mad too when they see the creatures?

Does anyone think the premise seemed a bit insensitive to those with mental illness? If you were already ill, like Gary or the guy in the boat, you could see the creatures without becoming violently insane. So people at a mental health unit/hospital would have been fine? If you're a little depressed does that guard you against the creatures? It'd have been interesting if Malorie had ended up at an hospital for the mentally ill at the end. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Tom wrote: "I really enjoyed this book, the level of suspense was only heightened by the characters having to survive without the sense of sight.

Overall, thought it was a really effective thriller/horror. T..."

I really thought it was interesting how in a lot of apocolyptic books always have a small demographic that survives (e.g. immunity, already being ill, certain gene etc.). In this case it was (view spoiler)[ the blind and the mentally ill. Though those who suffered from mental illness still functioned they were highly dangerous. Whereas the blind were still sane and organized. It took the population of those who actually have a harder time in our societies and makes them the dominant population for survival. (hide spoiler)]

[Robert]

I'm on around p170, and LOVING it. Definitely a very creative idea, and very well-executed, especially for a first novel. He's asking all the right questions in the story like (view spoiler)[what happens to people who are already insane when they see "the creatures", and how will people know when they're gone, can they ever feel safe again? (hide spoiler)].

I'm really anxious to see how this one is going to finish! I'm hoping to finish it in the next couple of days - had a lot of reading time over the weekend but that likely won't continue into the week...

[11811 (Eleven)]

Tom wrote: "I really enjoyed this book, the level of suspense was only heightened by the characters having to survive without the sense of sight.

Overall, thought it was a really effective thriller/horror. T..."

You did well at pointing out some of the many plot holes in this book. Others have also by pointing out things like "how does one navigate a boat while blindfolded?" I liked the atmosphere and I liked the relatively unique idea of the story if not so much the execution. The only thing I can compare it to is The Suicide Collectors although I thought that book was far superior. Apparently Bird Box has a sequel and I still plan to read it to see where the story goes next. A solid 3 star read.

[Rex]

Lan Lan's wrote: "Charles wrote: "This will be my next book after I finish parasites"

By Mira Grant? That is the one I am current reading right now."

There's a new Mira Grant book? How did I miss that?!

[[deleted user]]

Rex wrote: "Lan Lan's wrote: "Charles wrote: "This will be my next book after I finish parasites"

By Mira Grant? That is the one I am current reading right now."

There's a new Mira Grant book? How did I miss..."

Here is a link to it. I believe it has been out for over a year... Parasite

This is the first Mira Grant novel I am reading. I think after I finish it I will read the Newsflesh series. I am assuming you have read them already? Did you like them?

[Rex]

Lan Lan's wrote: "Rex wrote: "Lan Lan's wrote: "Charles wrote: "This will be my next book after I finish parasites"

By Mira Grant? That is the one I am current reading right now."

There's a new Mira Grant book? Ho..."

Thanks! I have been reading more fantasy lately, so that's what I'll blame it on!

I really enjoyed the Newsflesh trilogy. I feel like the second book had a slight dip in quality and the third introduced an element I wasn't super fond of, but they're good reads.

[[deleted user]]

Rex wrote: "Lan Lan's wrote: "Rex wrote: "Lan Lan's wrote: "Charles wrote: "This will be my next book after I finish parasites"

By Mira Grant? That is the one I am current reading right now."

There's a new M..."

Haha well I'm definitely going to read them in the near future :). I've been away from the zombie genre for too long.

[Alexandrea]

I just read it this weekend. I loved it. It was a very fast read. I convinced my husband to read it too and he couldn't put it down until he finished it. I would give it 5 stars. So glad it was on the poll or I wouldn't have even known about it! I usually stick to Stephen King.

[Kimberly]

Alexandrea wrote: "I just read it this weekend. I loved it. It was a very fast read. I convinced my husband to read it too and he couldn't put it down until he finished it. I would give it 5 stars. So glad it was on ..."

If I wasn't so determined to participate in more group poles, I would have completely missed this one, too! :)

[Robert]

Lots of great discussion on this one. As to some of the points that Tom pointed out:

(view spoiler)[

On the issue of the power staying on, he did at least attempt to explain that by stating that area was served by hydroelectric power. It's not like the arrival of the creatures stopped rivers from flowing. :-) Now is it possible a power system would simply stay running completely unmanned that long? Extremely unlikely. But at least he tried to provide a plausible explanation.

As far as hiding the eyes of the babies I thought the same thing. After reading the books on pregnancy, she should have known that newborns can't focus on anything for quite some time. But ultimately I decided it's very realistic that the mothering instinct would kick into high gear in that situation, logic be damned, so I was OK with that.

How she survived is a good question, though it's clear she's become pretty resourceful. I'm OK with that timeframe simply being a hole that's never explored, or very little, at least. She clearly did get out some, because she went and got the amps and mics.

I just loved the smothering sense of uncertainty that pervaded the work. It definitely made me really uneasy - the whole scene on the river (stretched across much of the book) was really effective. As far as navigating on the river, they did get stuck a number of times, and even got turned completely around once. They probably still did better than is realistic considering they don't mention any background in being on the water for her, but it's not like she navigated them straight where they needed to go without incident.

I don't really have an image of the creatures in my mind, and I'm fine with it staying that way. Olympia's comment about it being beautiful was a nice touch that really threw in more ambiguity.

I very much hope there's no sequel. It stands quite well on its own, and while I sometimes don't like happy endings, I was OK with this one. She'd been through enough, and after the start in life those kids had, they deserved a break.
(hide spoiler)]

This was an extremely impressive first effort, and I'm glad to hear he's going to keep writing. I hope he's got more stories like this one in him...

[Monica]

I finished it too and I really liked it. (view spoiler)[ Part of me thought that at the end, when she opened her eyes in the facility she would have seen Gary :O that would have been something! Anyway I liked that we don't get to see the creatures at the end, it's the right ending. Also I didn't understand well why Gary isn't affected. Is it because he is crazy?? (hide spoiler)] Nice points you brought up, you also clarified something for me.

[Alissa]

This book is soooooooooooooo creepy!! The non-seeing, walking with blindfolds... ugh... i was getting goosebumps!

[Shawn]

A nice debut novel with a great premise. I enjoyed the slow pace and when it was creepy it was creepy but I felt the ending was a bit rushed. A solid 3 stars and I will read the sequel. This was my first group read looking forward to next month. It's great finding new authors I probably would not have heard of without this group. Thanks .

[[deleted user]]

I don't actually read much horror these days (I think this might be my first comment in this group), but I really enjoyed this one. The pace was slow at first and I was a bit disappointed, but boy do things really pick up toward the end. The pacing, mood-setting and slow buildup turned out to be the real strengths of the book for me (as well as the basic concept/premise itself). I'm hungry for more horror now - I think The Troop is next for me.

[Kim]

Andy, Of you liked Bird Box I think you're gonna love The Troop. It contains some of the same elements contained in Bird Box with the exception of adolescent boys gone wild. I really liked it!

[Tiffany]

I have The Troop on my TBR List. It looks really good.

[Tom]

Robert wrote: "Lots of great discussion on this one. As to some of the points that Tom pointed out: "

(view spoiler)[
Thanks for your reply Robert. I wonder if solar powered panels would have been more plausible, wipe them down when dirty and they should work for many years, just need the batteries to store the power.

I read recently someone worked out a supermarket has 70 years worth of unspoilable food for an average person, would be worth locating one of those in this situation. (hide spoiler)]