Malerman, Josh - Bird Box - Informal Buddy Read; Start: February ??, 2015

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This topic is open for discussion of Bird Box by Josh Malerman



Book 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.

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[VNerdbooks]

Checking in for this one :○)

[Sarah]

I have it a can start in a couple of days.

[K~Terror]

I'm in for this one too!!
Any time later this week onwards is good for me too.

[Sarah]

I have started. I am just trying to figure out the premise right now. All I know about the book is it is in the horror genre. Am confused at this point. I am also doing the audio, sometimes it can make things a little harder to follow.

[Sarah]

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[ Well so far there is one very clear question. How far can a person hear?
So it seems that there is something people are seeing that makes them kill and then kill themself. I wonder if we will get a chance to see what this something is. I am intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

The book has an interesting premise and is keeping me intrigued.

[Sarah]

Done. It was nice discussing.

[Sarah]

I finished. But I would discuss with you if you post anything.

[Justin]

I've read this, but would love to discuss with you all. This book is awesome.

[Justin]

Just finished! This book was eerie and very graphic (about as graphic a book as I've read). Very engaging to say the very least.

(view spoiler)[I found the ending to be almost uncharacteristic of the rest of the book. It seemed to paint the survivors in a different light than a lot of other stories do (a.k.a. The Walking Dead) except Gary. So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there was a haven unpolluted by people that had gone mad.

To me I don't really envision any place being safe. Especially, if there are mad people like Gary running about the streets unchecked by anyone. You have to imagine there has to be more.

Some questions that popped up were:

How do you understand the way animals are affected?

The huskies somehow survived outside the house for so long. As did the birds and wolves encountered on the journey. They eventually do go mad like Victor and the birds.

What do you picture when you picture a "creature"?

I picture like a weird floating serpent for whatever reason. The later chapters lead me to believe it is some sort of humanoid.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I think the creature is (view spoiler)[ set up to be left to the imagination since we never really get to find out. Two imaginings I had would it would be very psychological and individual like people would see something that would make them crazy. I also pictured like a black or smoky vortex floating in the air with glowing red eyes that would look into your soul and kind of hypnotize you. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

Sarah wrote: "I think the creature is [spoilers removed]"

What you are saying is very spot-on. (view spoiler)[It reconciles pretty much how a reader might picture something they don't see with the experience of the characters. If we were to find out it would certainly ruin that effect. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

I think what I liked best about the book was how it was written. The sentences were short and choppy. The dialogue was quick and somber. The whole thing just had this quiet helplessness to it. The characters had minimal development, too, but even that added to the mystery and tone of the book.

[Justin]

Looks like there are two Justins so that's awesome.