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A review by ojtheviking
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
4.0
I have to say it again, I love Tremblay's writing style. First of all, his stories feature interesting concepts, and he is able to explore them in such an expressive, emotional, and descriptive way, often combining different elements quite effectively.
This story begins as a sort of home invasion scenario, except in a cabin-in-the-woods setting, and the scenario is turned on its head in the sense that the invaders are apparently not there for selfish, greedy reasons, but they claim to be doing it for the greater good. We are also made immediately uncomfortable because of how abruptly the story begins, while the backstories and character development are weaved into things along the way, which is a great way to have us instantly invested.
From there, the tension keeps building. And I have to say, it's a beautiful accomplishment that Tremblay manages to keep things ambiguous throughout the book, making you unsure if you want to believe the claims of the invaders, or write them off as crazed cultists. The clock is ticking, but what really happens when time runs out?
This novel works on several levels. There are themes of the ultimate sacrifice, and a question as to what that looks like; to give one's life, or keep defiantly believing in love. Are you selfish for refusing not to believe strongly enough to want to save humanity, or are you noble for wanting both yourself and your loved ones to live on?
We also explore religious mythology through modern-day lenses. Concepts like global plagues, gods telling humans to make sacrifices, and the inevitable apocalypse ... there are people with strong faith that will to this day blindly believe in this, but the likelihood is that most people would observe someone claiming to be on a mission from their God and think they are mentally ill, or a scam artist. Frankly, so would I, but what if that person was correct?
I loved how these themes were explored open-endedly, allowing the reader to believe in either side of the argument. Either the invaders are trying to save the world, or they are a bunch of lunatics. Either events reported on the news are signs that the end is truly coming, or it's a pure coincidence. Either a sacrifice means everything, or it means nothing. Either a character had a vision, or it was an optical illusion brought on by a severe concussion. The reader decides.
I keep loving every Tremblay story I read, and I absolutely look forward to the next time I pick one of his novels up!
This story begins as a sort of home invasion scenario, except in a cabin-in-the-woods setting, and the scenario is turned on its head in the sense that the invaders are apparently not there for selfish, greedy reasons, but they claim to be doing it for the greater good. We are also made immediately uncomfortable because of how abruptly the story begins, while the backstories and character development are weaved into things along the way, which is a great way to have us instantly invested.
From there, the tension keeps building. And I have to say, it's a beautiful accomplishment that Tremblay manages to keep things ambiguous throughout the book, making you unsure if you want to believe the claims of the invaders, or write them off as crazed cultists. The clock is ticking, but what really happens when time runs out?
This novel works on several levels. There are themes of the ultimate sacrifice, and a question as to what that looks like; to give one's life, or keep defiantly believing in love. Are you selfish for refusing not to believe strongly enough to want to save humanity, or are you noble for wanting both yourself and your loved ones to live on?
We also explore religious mythology through modern-day lenses. Concepts like global plagues, gods telling humans to make sacrifices, and the inevitable apocalypse ... there are people with strong faith that will to this day blindly believe in this, but the likelihood is that most people would observe someone claiming to be on a mission from their God and think they are mentally ill, or a scam artist. Frankly, so would I, but what if that person was correct?
I loved how these themes were explored open-endedly, allowing the reader to believe in either side of the argument. Either the invaders are trying to save the world, or they are a bunch of lunatics. Either events reported on the news are signs that the end is truly coming, or it's a pure coincidence. Either a sacrifice means everything, or it means nothing. Either a character had a vision, or it was an optical illusion brought on by a severe concussion. The reader decides.
I keep loving every Tremblay story I read, and I absolutely look forward to the next time I pick one of his novels up!