by Josh Malerman
294 pages
I just want to start by qualifying this book. Josh Malerman is the lead singer and songwriter for a band called High Strung. Not going to lie, I haven't heard of them, but I was really excited that this book fit ANY category. (Also, my favorite band's lead singer is releasing a children's book in a few months, and I even bumped it for this one!)
I'm sure you have heard something about Bird Box. The movie version is all over Netflix right now, but I haven't seen it yet. My friend, a school librarian, posted the book a few weeks back and write that it wasn't her typical genre choice, but that she couldn't put it down. A week later, the movie was released. This past weekend I read the book, finishing it this morning. If you haven't read it or seen the movie, read carefully, there might be spoilers here (I don't know yet).
This book tells the story of our world in shambles. It is told in two different story lines. In the first chapter we are introduced to Malorie, Boy, and Girl. We believe Malorie to be the mother of Boy and Girl, both 4 years old. She wakes them in the morning and tells them that it is time to leave. They will be making a 20 mile journey down the river, blindfolded.
The next chapter goes back in time to Malorie discovering she is pregnant. In this past, Malorie and her sister are living together and news of horrible tragedies are spreading across the world. While Malorie is preoccupied with her pregnancy, her sister, Shannon, grows afraid of the world outside.
The news reports conclude that something that is seen is causing people to go crazy and take their own lives. While there is so much mystery surrounding these "attacks," it is concluded that if you don't see it, it can't affect you. If you do see it, you lose your mind and kill yourself. Some, in their psychotic states, even kill others. People begin shutting up their homes, blocking windows with blankets and cardboard.
One day, Shannon peaks outside, and that's all it takes. Pregnant, and without anyone close to her, Malorie decides to answer an ad she saw in the paper, and make a trip to what appears to be a safe-house. It is here that she meets Tom, Jules, Don, Felix, and Cheryl. It isn't long before Olympia shows up - also pregnant. More of the book focuses on what is happening in the house. We do still get chapters throughout that go back to the trip down the river. They are always interesting because you are trying to figure out how Malorie and the kids got from the safe-house to a trip down the river.
As time in the house passes, Tom decides they need to go on a supply run. They will be out of food soon, and the babies will be coming soon. They devise a plan to go on a search for dogs. The theory is, unsure of how the creatures affect animals, they can train the dogs as seeing eye dogs. On the first venture out, they bring back two Huskies and a box of birds. The box of birds were found in a garage and will act as an alarm system. The box is hung outside the house and the birds start cooing whenever they sense someone or something near by.
More time passes, and the house is disrupted by another member, Gary. Gary arrives with a story of a house he used to live in with his brother and some others. The story is one of escape from a bad situation. Initially the housemates are sympathetic towards him, but Malorie begins to grow suspicious. What is he hiding? What will happen to the house? What will happen to the people Malorie has grown to care for? What will happen to the babies, when they come?
All of these questions are eventually answered, but the one thing that remains unanswered is what the creatures are. I don't know if that's really a bad thing though. I mean, as I finished up the book, I thought it reminded me a little of The Walking Dead (no zombies though); but I don't remember being outraged about not knowing exactly what was happening. It was written in a way where it was okay. I mean, it is just accepted. I liked it.
I'd say, read it if you don't mind a little gore. Or even if you do mind a little gore, but like a suspenseful story.
4.5 Stars