Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I am reviewing Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World.
Content warning for the book:
This book is a horror story and contains a lot of violence and aggression and some anti-gay sentiments.
The Cabin at the End of the World was first published in 2018 by Titan Books and is 336 pages long.
The Plot
The novel follows Eric, Andrew, and their daughter Wen, who decide to vacation in a secluded cabin in New Hampshire. When four strangers intrude on their calm and peaceful getaway, they present a horrifying ultimatum that rocks the family to their core.
Characters
It’s hard to talk about any of the characters without giving away major plot points, which I don’t want to do. So, I will do my best to give the jist of each player in the story.
Andrew
When the intruders arrive at their cabin and explain that they have been chosen to give Andrew, his husband Eric and their daughter, Wen, a chance to save the world, Andrew immediately doesn’t believe them. In fact, he thinks they are an extreme religious group trying to punish them for their homosexuality. Having deep-rooted trauma from a homophobic attack years prior, Andrew believes the intruders to be similarly minded. Especially when he thinks he remembers one of them, Redmond, as Jeff O’Bannon, the guy who attacked him all those years ago.
He quickly becomes the voice of reason, constantly questioning the intruders’ claims and trying to get his husband to see through their end-of-the-world rhetoric.
Andrew is also fiercely protective of his family; he loves them immeasurably but fears he won’t be able to protect them.
Eric
Eric is a mostly relaxed and laid-back guy regarding everything but parenthood. He’s overanxious about making sure he teaches Wen that the world can be a scary and treacherous place.
He is a lot more cautious than his husband and voices concern when he learns Andrew has brought a gun on the trip – a concern which proves to be warranted when events lead to a horrifying tragedy.
When the intruders attempt to gain access to their cabin, Eric is hurt when he is thrown to the floor. With a concussion, he begins to see things that he isn’t sure are real – and being a church-going catholic, he begins to question whether or not the intruders might be telling the truth – especially when catastrophes start occurring around the world.
Wen
Wen is Andrew and Eric’s seven-year-old daughter, and she is the first character we meet. She is a delightful child with an inquisitive nature and an intelligent mind. Born in China with a cleft pallet, Wen underwent many surgeries, leaving her with a scar she is self-conscious about.
Wen is the first of her family to meet the intruders, with Leonard, their de facto leader, attempting to gain her trust from the get-go. You can’t help but feel for her throughout the story as she struggles through the situation unfolding before her family. Her innocence is a stark contrast to the horror that begins to develop around her. Slowly, she begins to withdraw into herself as she is witness to ever-increasing violence, becoming traumatised as she contends with the fact that her dads may not have the power to protect her.
Leonard
Leonard is the leader of the quartet of intruders. He shows up first, alone and approaches Wen outside the cabin, catching grasshoppers. He tries to gain her trust, but Wen is unconvinced, running to get her parents.
Throughout the story, Leonard’s initial calm and steady demeanour diminishes each time Eric and Andrew refuse to decide to sacrifice one of themselves.
Redmond
Redmond appears to be the most aggressive of the bunch. While the other intruders are relatively calm and apologetic about their actions, Redmond is not.
As events progress, Andrew becomes more and more convinced that Redmond is, in fact, Jeff O’Bannon, the man who physically assaulted him in a homophobic attack, throwing even more suspicion on the fact that the intruders have an agender that has nothing to do with the end of the world.
Adriane
Adrien initially presents herself as a calm, non-threatening person. She quickly becomes nervous, however, even threatening to inflict violence on the family unless they choose to sacrifice one of themselves so that she might save her own life.
Sabrina
Sabrina initially comes across as friendly and calming. She is a nurse in her day-to-day life and even treats Eric’s head injury. While at first trying to convince Andrew and Eric that they must sacrifice one or the other, Sabrina slowly begins to question the true reason for her group being there. Throughout the book, she becomes heavily conflicted; she believes fully in her group’s apocalyptic rhetoric but, at the same time, does not want to hurt the family, even going so far as to try and help them escape.
Writing Style
I loved this book. It was so twisty. Just when I thought I had my finger on what was going on, something else happened that made me rethink.
Tremblay’s writing is lyrical and evocative, creating a very vivid sense of not only place and character but also danger. His skilful storytelling and rich thematic depth make this a novel that will resonate with readers and spark conversation and debate long after they have it. It’s an unsettling read at times and often left me wondering about the very nature of what it is to be human.
His characterisations are masterfully executed, with each family member bringing their unique inner world and thought processes to the plot.
Their varying perspectives and personalities create a rich and complex dynamic that makes the story all the more engaging, especially when the intruders are added to the mix, helping the tension build slowly but surely, culminating in a stunning and unforgettable (if unexpected) ending.
The novel is a fantastic commentary on the fragility of modern life and the complex nature of morality and ethics; Tremblay does not shy away from tackling difficult and uncomfortable questions and themes, including those of fear, sacrifice, reality and non-reality.
Final Thoughts
I was initially drawn to this book after watching M. Night Shyamalan’s 2023 film adaptation ‘Knock at the Cabin’. The film was great: it has all the classic Shyamalan hallmarks: dark, atmospheric and with a twist ending – an ending that diverges quite a lot from the book. In fact, I would say that the events in the last quarter of the book differ heavily from the film.
This book has kept me gripped. I have enjoyed the ride immensely, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who loves a slow burn, twisty tale.
I am giving this book a 9/10.
Have you read the book or seen the film adaptation of The Cabin at the End of the World? What are your thoughts?
Thank you, as ever, for stopping by to read my review. It really means a lot.
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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