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Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

1 review

sinsandscares's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Some books leave a mark so deep, you can’t imagine life without having read them. For me, Bird Box is one of those books. It’s a terrifying, masterfully written story that has quickly secured a spot among my all-time favorites. I can’t believe it took me this long to pick it up—but maybe, just maybe, it arrived in my life at the perfect moment.

From the very first page, Bird Box grips you with its unsettling atmosphere and doesn’t let go. The alternating timelines were a stroke of genius. Even though you know from the beginning that Malorie ends up alone with her two children, I found myself desperately hoping for a different outcome for the earlier timeline. Spoiler: it doesn’t end well.

What makes this book so terrifying isn’t any single “scary moment.” Instead, it’s the not knowing. Malerman taps into the most primal of fears—the fear of the unseen, the unknown. Every noise, every shadow becomes a threat. Is it a creature that can drive you mad with a single glance? Or is it just a harmless leaf brushing against the window? You never know—and that’s where the true horror lies.

This ambiguity is also what seems to divide readers. The fact that the creatures are never revealed, never described, leaves much to the imagination. For some, this might be frustrating. For me, it was perfect. No author could craft something scarier than what my own mind conjured up while reading. It’s this brilliant use of the reader’s imagination that makes Bird Box such a standout piece of horror.
The open-ended conclusion may also polarize readers, but I found it fitting. This isn’t a story that wraps everything up neatly with a bow—it’s raw, unsettling, and reflective of the chaotic world Malerman has created.

Malorie, the protagonist, is another highlight. She’s cold, determined, and impossibly strong. Her love and dedication as a mother navigating an apocalyptic world with two small children were both heartbreaking and inspiring. Despite everything she endures, she still finds room for love and hope.
If you’re a fan of psychological horror, post-apocalyptic stories, or books that leave you questioning everything, Bird Box is a must-read. Josh Malerman has crafted a chilling masterpiece that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page. 
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