Bird Box

By: Josh Malerman

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Something is out there....

Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.

Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, Malorie has long dreamed of fleeing to a place where her family might be safe. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: 20 miles downriver in a rowboat blindfolded with nothing to rely on but Malorie's wits and the children's trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?

Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey - a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motley group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside and confront the ultimate question: In a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?

Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman's breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page.

©2014 Josh Malerman (P)2014 HarperCollinsPublishers

Masterful book paired with outstanding narration

Excellent blend of SF and horror. The author's ability to bring alive this story without revealing the unseen horror (or, more accurately, the creature that must be left unseen lest the viewer plunges into madness marked by homicide and then suicide). Malerman carefully construct the narrative, bouncing from events 4.5 years earlier with the present-day effort of Mallory to find some measure of safety for the two, unnamed children in her care. The opening chapter plunges the reader into an altered world, where windows are anathema, blindfolds are protection, and answers are out of reach. Society seems crippled and mostly dead, and unknown creatures walk the world - but these creatures do not seem to physically assault or stalk humans, but simply by existing and being seen inflict madness. The author then expertly jogs back in time to the early days when scattered and unsubstantiated reports trickle in of people going mad and killing others then themselves. We know immediately from the present-day chapters that Mallory is now alone with two children, but we don't know how she came to be sole parent in these dreadful times. We know she believes she must brave a 20 mile river passage blindfolded to try to find safety. In flashback, we find Mallory and her sister living unremarkable lives. Mallory finds she is pregnant as the news stories come faster and inexplicable events creep ever closer to their Detroit home. The flashback chapters depict a world falling apart, first slowly and then with extreme rapidity. We follow Mallory as she tries to find refuge with others, life in a new house, pregnancy waxing as we know that time in a this cooperative house with support and help are waning. As we move ever closer to the unknown catastrophe that leaves her alone. The story is well-balanced and beautifully crafted, melancholy and frightening, suspenseful and heart-breaking. Well worth the time, though you may find it difficult to gaze out a window while doing so.

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

Exceptional

This format was possibly the best way to experience this novel given the subject matter. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be terrified and inspired by an audio book experience.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Don't look!

Malorie and her sister have moved into a house together when reports start to come in from all over the world: normal people are glimpsing something that instantly turns them into crazed killers. While the Internet boils with theories, people gradually stop driving, stop shopping, and finally they just barricade themselves in their homes with the doors and windows blocked. Society eventually falls apart, yet Malorie finds hope and musters the strength to go on. But she can't live like a prisoner forever, so she begins a terrifying blindfolded journey to what she desperately hopes will be enduring safety.

I have to say it took me a good half-hour to get into this one. The narrator didn't really do it for me, with uneven reading volume and more angst than seemed necessary. It didn't help that Malorie imbues even the most boring object with intense dramatic feelings.

But I'm really glad I spent the time, because Bird Box turned out to be one of the best books I've listened to for a while. After the first chapter or two, we meet the real Malorie (not just the dramatic one) and hear her story--which is compelling, to say the least. By midway through, I completely understood the feelings those objects brought up, and the angst, too.

The real star of this book is the author's handling of his themes: fear, bravery, putting faith and trust in others and yourself. All those things can be scary, but sometimes you just have to face them anyway, even when you're blindfolded. Malorie and her friends give it their best, with varying results, in an evocative illustration of what it's like to be part of a group of survivors.

Throughout the book, Malorie's memories of the past alternate with her frightening present, creating suspense that made it really hard to stop listening. I did the last three hours in one go, putting off bedtime again and again.

There isn't a lot of how-and-why here, and logic nitpickers ("That couldn't possibly happen! It'd be more like..." etc) will probably be driven insane. But if you're looking for real horror, Bird Box is a sustained scare that will keep you thinking long after the book is over.

71 of 79 people found this review helpful

Compelling

couldn't stop listening, The Birdbox is so very different than any Apocalypse you've ever read. I enjoyed it till the end and than never wanted it to end. I would like to hear how the characters handle their new life and new world.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Some things are better left unseen

This novel carries an air of foreboding from beginning to end. The thrills and suspense never let up, and the reader will recognize yhat yhe yhing that goes bump in the night is most often best left unseen. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Holy damn WOW!

I can't say enough good things about this story. Its so good.

What to expect:
This is a quiet slow book. Its told both in present tense and via flash backs.
A sense of terror surrounds every word. I haven't read anything so dreadful since Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Not much in the action department. But you will be on the edge of your seat due to Malerman's excellent delivery.

I'd completely recommend this story. I was expecting less. Thought it could have fallen apart at any time. But it works all the way to the end. Out of the many hundreds of audible books I have listened to, this is up there with the best of them.

39 of 45 people found this review helpful

Very, very, meh.

I first heard of this book years ago, while I was hunting for fresh authors producing novel horror and thriller books, and then later downloaded it this summer. About 1/4 of the way through, I was disappointed, and by the time I was 3/4 of the way there I stopped listening. With the hype surrounding the (possibly even worse) Netflix remake, I wanted to leave a review to hopefully save another Audible member’s monthly credit.

While an interesting concept (despite one that is rapidly losing originality), the loss of a sight and near isolation from the outdoors that plagued the characters in this novel was not pushed to its fullest potential. There are plenty of build up scenes-one in particular involving a well-that seems to lead something incredible, but quickly deflates. Repeat ad nauseam, and you have a book with only flat characters featuring frustrating quirks/motivations, many poorly or completely unexplained plot holes, and a lackluster rehash of themes and concepts we’ve seen before.

The narration was fine and only became grating later on, which is completely a result of the characters she was required to portray.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Couldn’t Stop

I could not stop listening to this book! I binged the book am getting ready to start Unbury Carol. I think I found my new favorite author!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

May have enjoyed the physical book more

The narrator gave me a tough time with this one. The rhythm she used while speaking didn't mesh with the story. Malory sounded very weak and a little whiny, which I understand given her situation, but she had overcome so much it would have been nice to hear a little more strength from her. The story is good, I just think the narration didn't do it justice.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Keeps you guessing

I usually stay away from "scary" books but this was downright enthralling. I couldn't wait for the work day to end so I could listen on my way home.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful