Thread: The Birds

While the rest of the class was finishing up on Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury (Who I think is an amazing writer), I was quickly reading through The Birds by Daphne du Maurier.

I thought the book was very strange. It made me feel nervous and tense, and I really couldn't close the book until I finished it. It would be an awe-inspiring sight to behold; hundreds thousands of birds flocking in the sky, blotting out the sun. I shudder at the thought of them trying to get at the people.

I have a lot of questions about this, and I really don't need them to be answered, because I like thinking about them.

First of all, the nature of the birds. What really drove them to insanity? I do not believe the weather would do so. Mayhaps they were not insane, but realizing what must be done to save themselves? I don't know. I'm not to sure about how much animals think, but if these birds started thinking about it, they could band together. I'm not sure how to say this.
The winter was going to be a tough one. The main character, Nat, said it himself that it was going to be a black winter. So maybe, the birds had been plotting this attack awhile before this, and planned to attack when we humans were most vulnerable weather wise. I don't know. Maybe they planned to wipe out the whole human race. But it seemed like in the story it was only happening in Europe.

Second of all, and I don't want to put a damper on the story, but why the heck was Nat smoking in the house after he had made sure all the openings were blocked? The smoke could have killed them all. Never mind.

Next question.
The ending of the story is very open. It doesn't tie up too many loose ends. This bothers me, but not really. It makes me think how long they can wait out this thing. Eventually their supplies will have to run out right?

I haven't seen the movie.

Comments?