Review: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, 2018

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, 2018
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Review: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, 2018

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

"They expect us to believe that Wen's death isn't a good enough sacrifice for their god," says Andrew. "So you know what? Fuck them and their god." 

A Frustrating and Aggravating Read: Ambiguity Overload. "The Cabin at the End of the World" left me feeling frustrated and aggravated throughout my reading experience. The characters' reasoning and actions often seemed irrational when simpler and more straightforward choices were available. This lack of sensibility made it challenging to connect with the story and its progression, even considering the possibility of supernatural influences on their decisions.

However, there were a few redeeming qualities in the novel. The portrayal of the family unit, consisting of two men and their adopted daughter, added an element of relatability, particularly in terms of the LGBT aspect. 

I understand that the author probably intentionally used ambiguity to create tension and that without all the irrational, aggravating actions and ways the characters behaved, there probably wouldn't be a draw to read the book. However, the use of ambiguity at every single plot point is just too much for me. This approach might be okay for others, but it was not enjoyable for me. At several points, I found myself wanting to slam the book shut or throw it across the room.

While "The Cabin at the End of the World" has its moments, my overall experience was marred by aggravation and frustration due to the excessive use of ambiguity to create tension. The characters' irrational actions and the book's pacing made it a #HateRead for me, even with the potential for supernatural influences on their decisions.

I rate this book 1 out of 5 stars.

#TheCabinAtTheEndOfTheWorld #PaulTremblay #BookReview #FrustratingRead #AmbiguityOverload #SupernaturalInfluences #LGBTRepresentation #HorrorNovel #PsychologicalThriller #Horror #fiction #Thriller #Suspense #LGBT #PsychologicalHorror #HATEREAD

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Review: A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, 2015

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, 2015

The Barret family from Massachusetts comes under financial and emotional strain when their fourteen-year-old daughter, Marjorie, exhibits signs of severe mental illness or demonic possession. They decide to allow a production company to film and air the events in their household as a reality tv show.

Roshomon in full effect! Without a doubt, the author intended for us never to know the truth of what happened the night of the central premise the novel is written around. We get three perspectives from the same narrator, all unreliable; when she was eight (8) years old, then as an adult after the trauma had been processed, and from her alter-ego blogger persona. I feel that the blogger persona "breaking the fourth wall" can be distracting, but in this case, it was not only necessary to achieve the Roshomon effect but was done pretty well. It was "Meta" just enough.

It took me a couple of false starts to get going with the book, but once I got about a quarter of the way in, I could not stop. I looked up, and several hours had passed, and it was past midnight when I reached the story's climax. While the book isn't much of a horror, I got goosebumps and frights at the climax and the final twist at the end. 

Typically not the type of book I would read, but I was glued and enjoyed it very much. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

#AHeadFullOfGhosts #PaulTremblay #RoshomonEffect #FourthWall

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