What. The. EFF. Is. Going. On…. ?!?!?!?!!?!? This is what kept playing in my head as I kept reading Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World.
Because this book is INSANE. In the best possible way. Definitely one of the best btyooks I have read all year. I greedily consumed this novel with the same intensity as I did Bird Box, which I actually finished in one day. I wanted to inhale this book, but I settled for reading it in great, big gulps over three days.
What’s The Cabin at the End of the World about?
The Cabin at the End of the World throws you in the trenches with main characters Eric, Andrew, and their daughter Wen. This family’s faced with an impossible decision in a nightmare scenario. Their terror and their confusion is unbelievably palpable, and you can’t help but identify with them. You can’t help but wonder if how they react is how you might react — if you were *gulp* caught in their situation.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you too much more about The Cabin at the End of the World. So much is locked away in its pages. While I’m tempted to reveal a few key points to pique your interest, I simply can’t. To do so would ruin the beauty of how the story unfolds.
What scared me in The Cabin at the End of the World
When I first read the synopsis for The Cabin at the End of the World, it didn’t seem supernatural-y enough to tempt me. It also sounded alarmingly like something from that movie The Strangers with Liv Tyler and Ben-from-Felicity. (Which I have not watched. Which I will never watch. I mean The Strangers, not Felicity, because Felicity is fantastic. Moving on.).
The whole home invasion premise is so not for me. I can think bad thoughts all on my own, thanks.
Then, I started hearing 1) rave reviews about Tremblay’s book, and 2) that the story doesn’t follow the usual home invasion plot. I’m happy to confirm the rumors. While The Cabin at the End of the World is a perfect example of why I’ll never vacation at a remote cabin in the woods, it goes worlds beyond the cliché home invasion tale.
For those of you worrying about the gore factor: There are some unsavory scenes, but not so much that I had to stop reading. And that’s saying something considering I have a hard time stomaching about 50 minutes of each 60-minute Game of Thrones episode. I would say the gory moments are relatively mild, and not at all gratuitous. Plus, they’re crucial to the story. Take a deep breath, skim a few paragraphs if you need to, and continue reading. It’s worth it.
Why I loved The Cabin at the End of the World
The classic theme of “what do you believe” runs through The Cabin at the End of the World. Andrew, Eric, and Wen are told something at the beginning of the novel that seems ludicrous. As events unfold, the validity of the claim is called into question. Faith goes up against science; superstition against skepticism; logic against paranoia; right against wrong; the possible against the improbable, etc.
The main characters are assaulted by timeless questions and themes. They’re forced to ask themselves what they believe, and what they should believe. As they question themselves, so does the reader. It’s impossible not to when faced with a decision of this magnitude.
Let’s talk writing…
The Cabin at the End of the World contains some masterful writing. Excuse me while I put on my English Major Hat for a few moments. The way that Tremblay builds tension is a thing of beauty. He tightens it throughout the book like a violin string until you feel you’re ready to snap. This really brings you into the action and emotions that the characters are feeling, making their stakes your stakes.
Secondly, the dichotomy that repeatedly shows up in this novel is masterfully done. For example, the story starts off on a sunny day in an idyllic location; it seems impossible that anything bad would happen there. Most novels (and movies and TV shows) teach us that we have nothing to fear during the day. It’s only when night falls and the shadows lengthen that we should begin to look over our shoulders for the bogeyman.
This treasured notion of safety is dashed to smithereens when the bogeymen turn up during that sunny afternoon. The juxtaposition of light and dark is repeatedly reinforced as the characters continually note the sunlight coming through curtains during upsetting moments, or the fact that the bright light actually hurts one of the characters instead of comforts him.
We all try to find something to hang on to during our darkest moments. Turn on the light; the monsters will disappear. The Cabin at the End of the World forces you to wonder what you can do when the lights are already on and the monsters are still in front of you.
‘
Should you read The Cabin at the End of the World?
In case you can’t tell from my insanely long book review, YES, you need to read The Cabin at the End of the World. Especially if you’re as much of a Tremblay fan as I am. I loved his previous novel¸ A Head Full of Ghosts.
The only part of this novel that bothered me was the ending. All I’ll say about it is this: Tremblay, I get why you did it. I really do. I probably would have done the same thing if I were writing this book. But I’m still really irked, on a personal level, that you decided to go with that ending.
You’re still brilliant. Just irksomely so.
What’s the book-inspired recipe for this novel?
The book-inspired recipe for The Cabin at the End of the World is Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Ice Cream with Mini Marshmallows!
Oh, there is NOTHING better than discovering a book like this that you just want to devour like a delicious meal when you’re starving 😍 and the parallels with The Immortalists you mention interest me, I totally wouldn’t have guessed that from the synopsis and blurbs. Thank you so much!!
Yeah, it’s hard to give more info on the parallels without giving away so much more of the plot, but they definitely stood out to me. I like books that really question your beliefs and superstitions. 😊