I had been hearing so much about ‘Bird Box’ (a movie on Netflix) that I was ready to give in and watch it too, but then I happened across a copy of the book at a used book store. I honestly didn’t realize this movie was based on a book until I saw it for sale:

Bird Box: A Novel

This is not the type of book I would generally pick up (psychological terror!!), but finding the book version of the story everyone is talking about for $2 felt like an amazing stroke of luck. And I just had to read it. My plan was to read it quickly and then watch the movie.

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.

bird box back cover

Five years after this terror hits the world, a handful of survivors remain including Malorie who is pregnant. They wear blindfolds every time they go outside so as not to see the creature or whatever it is that affects people in this way. The book (and I assume the movie from the previews I’ve seen) alternates between her surviving with a group in a safe house to a trip down a river she takes with two young children to attempt to reach a better life.

I burned through this book (which was published in 2014) in fewer than 3 days and thought it was a great read. But now I am not sure I can handle it visually, and I am not sure I want to. The book terrorizes using imagination and the unknown. I don’t see how the movie could be done as well (though I know lots of people liked it).

It should not be surprising that as a book blogger, I am now recommending that if you haven’t yet watched this movie (or even if you have) consider reading the book!

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