The Cabin at the End of the World

The Cabin at the End of the World is the third book I've read by Paul Tremblay. One of the things I admire about Tremblay is his ability to write books in very different sub-genres (and even different genres) and still allow his voice and his unique style and prospective to shine through. Cabin is the most esoteric of the three of his books I've read (the other two being A Head Full of Ghosts and Survivor Song). Wen, the adopted daughter of a gay couple, is playing outside the family's rented cabin when a stranger approaches. Things quickly become very bizarre as the novel combines elements of cult and locked door horror to tell a story about the (maybe) end of the world. Like A Head Full of Ghosts this book is filled with nuance and possibility, as well as heavy allusions to Christianity. I do think Tremblay may leave more up to reader interpretation in this one, which some readers will love and others will hate. For me, I often crave resolution and clarity, but I was also able to appreciate the power of denying the fulfillment that desire, especially in the context of this particular story. I found myself thinking, this book would make a really interesting play. I don't know if Tremblay has any interest in writing a stage adaptation, but I think this would be a tense, weird, thought provoking THRILL RIDE in a 90-minutes-without-an-intermission format for live theatre. Could also be an interesting movie. At any rate, back to the novel, I rate this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Ultimately I wanted a little bit more explanation or resolution, but I still enjoyed it overall.