Reading Glasses - Fan Group discussion

Has anyone read Bird Box? I just finished it and need to discuss it with someone else, as all my friends just groan about another post-apocalyptic book.

Yes! I read it a couple months ago. Loved it! It was sooo creepy and tense. What did you want to discuss about it?

I have read it. Quite fascinating isn't it? I like that you never know what is happening.

I actually just started it. I'll check in when I've finished it. Hopefully you'll still be burning for a discussion. ;)

I listened to the audiobook...very creepy!

*potential spoilers*

Overall, the book had a great interpretation of the lovecraftian "things/creatures that drive man insane just by appearing" motif and the atmosphere was excellently built.

Personally the flashbacks became a bit of a drag at one point, mostly because I felt them unnecessary - I would have preferred if the book retained the tight focus on the woman herself and not showing us other POVs.

Some things that stuck with me (have read the book 2 years ago, I think, possibly 3?): the opening scenes, the encounter with the man on the boat (especially the part with him talking about tearing her eye cover off), the fact there are children growing up effectively blind from birth, those tidbits of the start of things we get from her reminiscences.

All in all, will reread at some point, have recommended it.

Igor wrote: "*potential spoilers*

Personally the flashbacks became a bit of a drag at one point, mostly because I felt them unnecessary - I would have preferred if the book retained the tight focus on the woman herself and not showing us other POVs."

While I agree that I would have preferred more of a focus on the terrifying journey that the woman was taking, I'm not entirely sure I understand the complaint about the flashbacks. They were all from her POV, there was a tight focus on the woman, it's just a difference of timeline. Still, like you I'm a fan of the Lovecraftian/horror of the unknown element to the book. I did find myself somewhat impatient to get back to her journey, but even so, I enjoyed the backstory quite a bit. I think it did add a layer of long term emotional trauma that would have left the story lacking in some ways. I think that I would have had a hard time swallowing the children's hearing abilities without some of that. In a short, I'd take it at face value, but not a novel.