January 2019 Group Read with Guest Author, Paul Tremblay

[Kasia]

^ This book is giving me heart palpitations, Im only on page 55 but the feeling of dread is so intense that I'm having a hard time reading it at my usual speed, but I do mean it's the best when that happens with a book. I think it's especially due to the quick and deep intimacy we build with the characters, really masterfully done..

[Krystal]

I read both thrillers and horror and I think, personally, the distinction comes down more to a lack of hope. In thrillers, I'm always expecting that the good guys will triumph. In horror stories, I have no such expectation. I'm expecting horrible things to happen, and I'm expecting to ask myself often what I would do in a similar situation.

This book definitely had me thinking hard. It felt dark, and futile, and I never knew whether the outcome would be good or bad. I thought about the horrific choices I would (or wouldn't) make if it were me. Horror has a heavier cloud of darkness over it - you never know what kind of outcome you'll get.

[Rai]

Paul wrote: "To quote Merry of AHFoG: "What does that say about you or anyone else that my sister's schizophrenia wasn't horrific enough?""

This is partially my point though; the real-life situations are horrific. Trust me, I have disabilities and live in our society that would do all the things that happened in AHFoG without thought. To me, classifying those realities in a "horror" fiction genre has the potential to make it more 'other' to those among us who are lucky enough not to have experienced those real-life horrors. This in turn makes those lucky people think that the content in the stories is extraordinary, rather than realising this sort of thing happens a lot (when it 100% shouldn't).

I think you may have misinterpreted my intentions with my questions; I was trying to understand your intention behind writing about real world horror. Did you pick these stories to tell because you wanted to expose the horrors of the real world? That's what I meant; was it an exercise in pointing to reality and saying "Yup, this is scary enough"?

The fact that I don't find it scary is purely because of my situation. I don't have schizophrenia but I sure as hell have experienced some of the batshit nonsense towards my MH that was hinted at in AHFoG. Because I've experienced those things, it has made me cynical and I don't want people to find the story scary or disturbing unless they realise that this sort of stuff happens everyday and they find that horrifying (and ideally want to do something to change that). My question was intended to see whether you were of the same mind as me.

I asked my questions having read nothing about you as a person so if this is something that should be obvious based on your history then I'm sorry that I wanted to come in fresh and ask you directly.

My second question - you didn't really answer - my point was trying to identify whether the criticism of those americanised orangised religions comes from your own personal experiences? Again, a question more about you than the book.

Hopefully I have explained myself a little better this time. I was just trying to gain some insight into your mindset as the writer of these stories.

[Paul]

Ken wrote: "I have to second Paul's thoughts on "what is horror" and I'll go one step further and rail against the tendencies to label stories based off what sells. We touched a little on this topic in Lisa vo..."

In a practical sense I suppose I don't care what the publisher calls it as long as they publish it? Heh. But believe me, I've experience the *look* many times when I answer the question 'what do you write?' A few years ago at a literary festival I was on a shuttle ride from the hotel to the festival and talking to a poet who had won an award the previous night. The poet asked what I wrote, and I said horror. The poet laughed and then turned away from me and started to someone else. Yeah.

The genre vs literary divide is shrinking but there's still a stigma attached to writing/reading horror in the minds of many.

[Paul]

Kasia wrote: "^ This book is giving me heart palpitations, Im only on page 55 but the feeling of dread is so intense that I'm having a hard time reading it at my usual speed, but I do mean it's the best when tha..."

Thank you, Kasia!

[Paul]

Rai wrote: "Paul wrote: "To quote Merry of AHFoG: "What does that say about you or anyone else that my sister's schizophrenia wasn't horrific enough?""

This is partially my point though; the real-life situati..."

Sorry to hear of your struggles with MH.

You had started off your post/question by saying you didn't think the books were horror. And I addressed that.

With AHFoG part of my goal was to treat a possession/exorcism realistically, if that makes sense, while at the same time, treating the supernatural as being ambiguous, and for me, the most horrific parts/scenes of the story are the ones in which it seems the least likely something supernatural was at work.

I'm unclear what you want from me as an answer to the second question. My experience with religion? I was brought up catholic until the age of 8, then my parents stopped going to church and I've never gone back.

[Paul]

By the way, today CABIN is a gold box deal for Kindle. 2.99. Not sure how long that price drop lasts.

https://www.amazon.com/Cabin-End-Worl...

[Robin]

i started reading this yesterday and i am excited to get to talk about it with everyone else and to see if others are thinking some of the same things i have been about it. will come back after i have read more!!!! :)

[Shay]

I just picked this up from the library. Going to start reading soon.

[Feli]

I just finished my current read and will start Cabin tomorrow. Can't wait and good to see I am not alone starting this one late.

[Lisa]

I'm about 100 pages in. I'm enjoying the level of descriptiveness. The grasshopper-catching scene evoked visceral memories of doing the same thing as a kid; I could practically feel one in my hand. I'm looking forward to reading more later today - I'm eager to find out what's going on.

[Melanie]

Just started this last night and the grasshopper scene had me immediately back in my 8 year old self - particularly the scientific 'categorizing' and naming of them. My own kids do that now with every creature we find in our garden.

I did notice the number reference of the grasshoppers ,the shirt colours, and the Lenny reference. Sadly, I'm probably the only person I know who utterly despises Of Mice and Men. At the time when I read it, my older disabled and beloved cousin was still alive and Lenny could have been based directly on him. The thought of that happening to him distressed me hugely and I don't think I've ever really got my head around that book.

For this reason Merry's question in AHFoG of wasn't her sister's schizophrenia horror enough? really resonates with me. I'm one of those readers who does prefer their horror on the supernatural side. There's enough slicing and dicing in the real world today without me needing a fictionalized version. My processing abilities work better when I'm dealing with a 'super'natural element rather than a real one.

[Kirsten]

****[SPOILERS]****

I have just finished Cabin! What a gripping read!

My initial feeling at the end was disappointment, mainly because I’m a sucker for detail and revel in the relief of having closure with stories. However, I love that my mind was reeling all throughout the book. I was desperate to know if Eric’s Catholicism would sway him to commit unspeakable things, or if Andrew’s strong sense of rationale would rule supreme.

I could relate to Eric is the sense that I do fear God due to faltering beliefs, finding it difficult to place my own feelings with the four strangers and how I would deal with the intrusion and ultimate dilemma.

Do we honestly think we could sacrifice our significant other to save the world? Would we believe it if we were submerged to the same horrors?

Paul, I loved this book and how it leaves the reader open to two endings, which they would conclude based on their interpretations of the events. Was it always your intention to leave it open ended, or did you play with alternate endings during the creative process?

[Paul]

Ending talk (reposting what I wrote way back in an earlier comment)

(view spoiler)[Let me start by saying while I wrote an ambiguous ending, one that I hoped would also fit nicely (thematically speaking) with my previous two novels making for a three book arc, I assumed that most US readers--given their religious proclivities--would assume the world was going to end/was ending. I was and continue to be surprised by the group of folks who hate/don't get the end.

Anyway, some of the below will appear in the 'liner notes' section of CABIN's paperback (I'll also post this stuff online at some point so hardback readers can see it too). I'll only add that I considered almost every possible ending and I couldn't be happier with the one it has because it's the right one. ;)

"When I conceived of Cabin and during the first quarter of its life in my head, I had a much bleaker ending in mind. But for a variety of reasons including the presidential election, I couldn’t do it and didn’t want to do it. It wasn't right for the story; I needed to go out on a note of defiant hope. The movie The Terminator, of all things, helped me reshape the end of the book. That movie ends with Sarah Connor/Linda Hamilton in the desert, fleeing south, and a boy takes the Polaroid picture the nice man from the future (the father of her son) would then carry around with him in the future and bring back with him to the past. She’s sad because he’s dead and sad because Skynet is going to blow up the world, but… But. She’s still a badass. And she’s still going to fight. That’s defiant hope.

I could be petulant and say if you must admit you failed the book’s empathy test, feel free to add a line of your choosing to the end: “Then the world ended” or “Then the world didn’t end.” But I won’t be petulant. My defiant hope for you is that this book ultimately becomes about the choice Eric and Andrew make and not whether or not the world is actually ending. I mean, shit, their world has already been definitively shattered, don’t you think? The book is about the choice: do they and do WE choose fear or that most defiant of all hopes, love?" (hide spoiler)]

[Kasia]

I'm reading "FIVE" (69% in)... and legit have tears in my eyes for the first time even though this book never lets up from page one....

[Paul]

Yeah...(view spoiler)[Poor, Wen. If it's any consolation it was difficult to write. (hide spoiler)]

[Kasia]

Paul wrote: "Yeah...[spoilers removed]"

Finished the book a few minutes ago...my poor heart, this is why I love horror the most.

The situations in the story were so unusual that my brain had very few ways of finding escape because in a way there were no good choices. Sorry I'm rambling, its that walking out of a movie theater mode and you think you can fly or do whatever was on the big screen for a few minutes when the air hits your face, kinda book drunk right now haha.

[Krystal]

Paul, I'd like to know a little more about the symbolism of the masks?

[Melanie]

Hi Paul, I'm 35% through (view spoiler)[ the four 'horsemen' have just told the family about their expected sacrifice (hide spoiler)] and I hope I'm not asking a question that's already been covered but have had to avoid some posts due to spoilers.
I was wondering about the choice to have a same sex couple as the parents. I live in NZ and we're pretty liberal here and same sex marriage is legal. However, after the earthquakes a few years ago that half destroyed our city and killed over 160 people, a lot of people expressed some seriously fucked up strong opinions about 'why' it happened. Incredibly, this included the view that God was punishing Christchurch because of all gay people who live here! I was wondering if these sort of extremist views influenced your choice of characters?

[Lisa]

Kelly B wrote: "I just finished the book, and really enjoyed it (if it's possible to enjoy a book where things like this happen;-).

I liked how the book ended. One thing I did wonder about was [spoilers removed]."

Kelly, I wondered the same. (view spoiler)[ I was so worried about Wen and so preoccupied by the mental toll this must have all been taking on her, that I was almost relieved, for lack of a better word, when she died. That was such an interesting way to take the story, and not what I expected. It left her dads in an entirely different position, and really shifted things for the reader. I liked how Andrew and Eric continued forward with love for each other intact, rather than being shattered apart by this tragedy.

I liked how well the story was woven, allowing the reader to continue to entertain both possibilities - that the world may or may not be ending. I thought the ending was perfect, and was heartened by the characters’ perserverence, also unexpected given the darkness of the book.

I missed one thing in the discussion and can’t find it - what is the significance of the shirt colors? I thought of the 4 intruders as the 4 horsemen of the apocalyse, and our 3 protagonists as the holy trinity, maybe? Sacrifice of one to save the world? (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

I am loving this book! If this were to happen to me, I would be more like Andrew. Pissed off!! I have read about 37% now.

[Paul]

Kasia wrote: "Paul wrote: "Yeah...[spoilers removed]"

Finished the book a few minutes ago...my poor heart, this is why I love horror the most.

The situations in the story were so unusual that my brain had ver..."

Thank you, Kasia!

[Paul]

Krystal wrote: "Paul, I'd like to know a little more about the symbolism of the masks?"

(view spoiler)[Part of the idea of the masks came from playing with the trope of masks in home invasion/slasher flicks. Usually the killers wear a mask when terrorizing their victims. I thought it would be a cool twist/tweak to have the invaders only put on the featureless masks when or after they've been sacrificed. Putting on the white masks sort of blanks out their identity, yeah? Kind a metaphor for what happens when you give yourself over to a cult/extreme religion, etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Paul]

Melanie wrote: "Hi Paul, I'm 35% through [spoilers removed] and I hope I'm not asking a question that's already been covered but have had to avoid some posts due to spoilers.
I was wondering about the choice to h..."

(view spoiler)[ Oh that kind of hate-think absolutely inspired or informs my creating the intruder characters or their motivation, for at least on of the invaders (Redmond) specifically. I think that's important in understanding why Andrew (aside from not believing that a higher power is pulling the strings) is rightfully so skeptical of the intruders and their motivations for being there.

I hope the book works on a horror/entertainment level, but I also hope the book works as an allegory for our current socio-political climate. (hide spoiler)]

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Kelly B wrote: "I just finished the book, and really enjoyed it (if it's possible to enjoy a book where things like this happen;-).

I liked how the book ended. One thing I did wonder about was [sp..."

Thank you, Kelly B!

(view spoiler)[The color of the intruders shirts reflect a color associated with the four horsemen. Also, each intruder has seven letters in their names (and the meaning of their names corrollate to their shirt colors too), an echo of the seven seals perhaps? ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Thanks, Paul. And many thanks for the fantastic book, as well as being here for discussion.

[Paul]

Lisa wrote: "Thanks, Paul. And many thanks for the fantastic book, as well as being here for discussion."

Whoops, sorry, Lisa. Thank YOU for the read, comment, and question!

[Lisa]

My pleasure - I'm looking forward to reading your other works!

[Char]

Paul wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Kelly B wrote: "I just finished the book, and really enjoyed it (if it's possible to enjoy a book where things like this happen;-).

I liked how the book ended. One thing I did wonder ..."

Oooh, I didn't know that about their shirts and names!

[Alan]

Char wrote: "Oooh, I didn't know that about their shirts and names! ."
I got the shirt part. .....OK, I Googled it and THEN I got it. I did not make the name correlations though. This book has just layers and layers of depth and symbolism. I love it!

[Krystal]

Alan wrote: "Char wrote: "Oooh, I didn't know that about their shirts and names! ."
I got the shirt part. .....OK, I Googled it and THEN I got it. I did not make the name correlations though. This book has just..."

It's such a great experience being able to unravel all these small little details!

[Patrick]

I'm afraid it'll have to be a three star read for me, the story just didn't click for me looking at this thread I'm in the minority. But the writing was great and I loved the interaction between the characters. I've bought your two other books and I plan on reading them soon.

[Char]

Patrick wrote: "I'm afraid it'll have to be a three star read for me, the story just didn't click for me looking at this thread I'm in the minority. But the writing was great and I loved the interaction between th..."

You're not required to love it, Patrick. Thanks for participating and for being honest. I hope one of the other books works better for you. :)

[Patrick]

Char wrote: "Patrick wrote: "I'm afraid it'll have to be a three star read for me, the story just didn't click for me looking at this thread I'm in the minority. But the writing was great and I loved the intera..."

I know Char I think it's daunting when your the only one that the book didn't click for. But I bought this one and his two other books so I'm still supproting the author :). I've seen on some reviews people annoyed about the ending but I actually liked the open ending.

[Kasia]

^ I'd probably put a spoiler tag on the end of your last line :)

[Aubrey0904]

This is going to sound stupid. I haven’t done a group read before, and I’m done. I really want to read the comments with spoilers and can’t figure out how -particularly the question about the names and the masks. I feel very silly asking but...help? 😬

[Krystal]

Aubrey0904 wrote: "This is going to sound stupid. I haven’t done a group read before, and I’m done. I really want to read the comments with spoilers and can’t figure out how -particularly the question about the names..."

You should be able to just click on the hyperlink that says 'view spoiler'? It may be different if you're using the app, I'm not sure.

[Michael]

Patrick wrote: "Char wrote: "Patrick wrote: "I'm afraid it'll have to be a three star read for me, the story just didn't click for me looking at this thread I'm in the minority. But the writing was great and I lov..."

Honesty is still the best policy, Patrick. Seems likes odds are always in favor of the author with group reads. It just makes sense - - the people signing up are the readers most interested in reading the book or already fans of the author. I liked the book a lot, but I respect your different opinion. You're not the only one who doesn't think it's great. I doubt there is any single work that is universally loved by all. Out of all the group reads/discussions that I've joined in on, I can't remember a single one that didn't have a few dissenting opinions. Don't feel bad about not liking the book -- Tremblay manages to raise feelings of doubt in everything I've read by him. I think it's part of his style. I'm getting used to it and it's one of the major reasons I appreciate his work so much.

[Lisa]

Aubrey0904 wrote: "This is going to sound stupid. I haven’t done a group read before, and I’m done. I really want to read the comments with spoilers and can’t figure out how -particularly the question about the names..."

Aubrey, you can't view spoilers in the app. It's a pretty big flaw, if you ask me. Go to the full site, and you can click on spoilers to view them.

[Aubrey0904]

Thank you!! (I see I can’t reply on the app, either!) I’ll get to the full site ASAP!

[Char]

Yeah, unfortunately the GR app has some serious issues when it comes to spoilers, comments on your profile and missing words in posts.

[Atlanta]

I gotta try it again, got triggered by the opening, Will try to borrow it again

[Melanie]

Just finished this morning, thank you so much Paul for being a part of this.



Your writing is amazing, my only criticism for this was the cutting of past/present tense, and the use of third person singular/first person plural. At times it took me out of the narrative and I had to go back and re-read passages.

I loved the characters too, I was totally invested in them, although at the beginning of chapter 6 I had to take a bit of a breather for a couple of days...

I thought the ending was spot on and (view spoiler)[ I think the 'ambiguity' was summed up

- when Leonard, after promising not to lie to them, lies to Wen about releasing the grasshoppers,

and later,
- when Sabrina says "They are not Leonard's words to begin with. The four of us were given them and you can not trust who gave them to us." (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

Melanie, great observation. So, do you think that (view spoiler)[ Andrew was right, and this was all the behavior of lunatics? I was also very bothered by the grasshopper lie. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]