I discovered this book all on my own, a little unknown unassuming book at the library. (Jk. This book is everywhere). Unless you’ve been gone in some remote location you have heard of this book, or at least, heard of the Netflix movie of the same name, starring America’s favorite FBI beauty contestant, the delightful Sandra Bullock. Sandra is having a pretty bad time though, in his post-apocalyptic dystopian nightmare, where the sight of something, some unknown creature, drives people almost instantly mad and violent to the point of murder and suicide.
The novel starts at the beginning, with ur protagonist Malorie, who lives with her sister, as they try to make sense of rumors of people becoming violent in far reaches of the globe, and what threat this poses to them. At the same time, Malerman jumps ahead five years, as Malorie and the “boy” and the “girl” are alone, and working to survive. This book is interesting, well-written, and truly scary, and a fascinating study of humanity and, as good apocalyptic books do, pushes the reader to decide who they would be in this brave new world.
Though I have only seen the trailer for the movie and not the movie itself, after reading the book it seems they have taken some incredible liberties. If anything I can see how the main elements of the story are there, but the movie seems like a “ripped from the headlines” type of Law and Order: SVU homage than a direct adaptation. As much of the book is Malorie and the two children, it makes sense to beef up the plot a bit, but I think the book stands alone and is a fascinating study of the human condition, and what survival means in a world in which you cannot open your eyes.