Review: Bird Box

Bird Box by Josh Malerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. Just wow.

Well, more than "just".

When I started this, I was immediately confuzzled and didn't see where it was going, what was happening, nor why any of it was happening in the first place. I was concerned that it might not be a book for me.

However, there was a thread of curiosity which piqued, a thread that was created by the tension described in that chapter. I was blind, but I could feel the horror already. Much like the main character, I imagine.

So I kept going, and soon I was well and hooked. Only real life (that annoying thing sometimes) kept me from flying through this book obsessively.

I won't go into the particulars, as it's meant to be learned gradually. And rest assured, all the pieces and threads do come together. It's rather impressive how it all merges from a series of timelines to a single thread.

I considered giving this a full 5-star review, but didn't for two reasons. One, though I didn't dislike the ending, it could have been better considering how good it was to that point. And two, the suspense and not-knowing is a big part of the effect, and I don't think a re-read would be able to capture that. Much like The Blair Witch Project, once you know how it plays out, most of the tension is gone. To me, a 5-star book is one you'd want to revisit a few times.

But that said, this is a great thrill-ride. If you like a quick paced freaky scare, it's a good one to pick up. It'll stay in your mind for a little while too, so be warned. You might not want to read this too close to bedtime. Or any open windows.....



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