And Mr Klunes detractors believe they are combating some harm that he is doing with his little fantasy novel. If you can distill a lovely day by the sea, your favourite song, and a warm hug by someone who loves you dearly into the form of a book, that book would be T. J. Klunes The House in the Cerulean Sea. The argument for that accusation, if I follow their logic correctly, is that since Linus is a regular human interacting with an underclass of magic beings, he is a stand-in for white people (even though he has as much a chance of being white as Talia or Lucy, who are magical children). Please refer to the information below. ', "'He didn't,' J-Bone said. Its for us to listen. It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea {TJ Klune}But You Shouldnt! His fantasy novel The House in the Cerulean Sea is a New York Times best seller and winner of the 2021 Alex and Mythopoeic Awards.Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. I listened to it on audio, where the voiceover artist gave each character their own voice. 'I loved it. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. He'd probably wake up with a headache and nothing more. In much the same way, I think the people who have picketed and railed against The House of the Cerulean Sea in recent weeks probably also hold the sincere belief that they are doing something good and positive. [2], Klune's first book, Bear, Otter and the Kid, was published in 2011. The argument for that accusation, if I follow their logic correctly, is that since Linus is a regular human interacting with an underclass of magic beings, he is a stand-in for white people (even though he has as much a chance of being white as Talia or Lucy, who are magical children). But the fact that there was a weapon of mass destruction in the body of a six-year-old and the world wasnt prepared was simply shocking. People say that this book is WONDERFUL! We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. The good news is, instead of a follow-up to the Marsyas residence life, T.J. Klune has two other stand . The House in the Cerulean Sea Travis Klune 2021-09-16 An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place - and realizing that family could be yours. To begin with, I would like to express some general thoughts on the two books. The story focuses on Linus Baker, longtime employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. For more on this challenge and why Im forcing myself to do it, read THIS POST**. Casting the romantic leads as two gentlemen in their forties gives the story something new and jaunty, but The House in the Cerulean Sea otherwise treads the tried-and-true household of magical misfits theme. In fact, its a brilliant piece an of social commentary that insightfully tackles how otherness shows up in the so-called civilized world. So many people would agree with you! The House in the Cerulean Sea was published in March of 2020 and made the USA Today bestseller list. A Naga is a divine dragon from Eastern Hindu-Buddhist tradition. What do you think is the enduring appeal of this theme, which sometimes takes the shape of magical kids in a school? The orphanage is run by the mysterious Arthur Parnassus, with the assistance of the island's sprite, Zoe. ', "'Like you're mad. Its estimated that over 20,000 indigenous children were taken, and it wasnt until 2017 that the families of those affected reached a financial settlement with the Canadian government totaling over eight hundred million dollars. The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. Thats page 1. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. Who do you think does it best? Linus and Arthur are both queer characters, but this isn't a central plotline of the story. SO. It was really well-written and heartfelt. It wasnt easy to say goodbye to Lucy and leaving him with his newfound family when we moved our entire household from one island to another last year, and I cannot help but think of him as I read the explanation for Lucys name in T. J. Klunes The House in the Cerulean Sea. " The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. View all posts by bookcoffeehappy. So I am going to say something nice (and true) about Mr Klunes book because I think we can be kinder to this paper man. Email us at reviews@insider.com. This book . In Priestley's . [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. Sure, we can say that it is unreasonable (trivialising, even) to fantasise about how one man is able to dismantle systemic racism with a little help from some of his friends, but I would say it is equally unreasonable to believe that by directing hate to an author who wrote a book which is only tenuously linked to a tragedy that had befallen First Nation people, they have done even the least bit of good for them. Linus isn't the first hero to be transformed by his experiences on an island. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. Linus thought about giving him another bump on the head with a well-placed kick, but his shoulder hurt, and he had exerted enough energy for the time being. And it isnt even a particularly original idea (I mean, its practically just X-Men) and if he didnt talk about his inspirations, no one could even tell. My absolute favorite part of this book is the appearance of one magical child named Lucy, who is (quite literally) the son of Satan. Here are three reasons "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is just as great as everyone says. Linus Baker This character is the main character; he is a caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Linus Baker. #2 I think I actually might feel differently about them that I do about this book because although they are clearly fantasy, I do think they are a different TYPE of fantasy. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, 10 Magical Reads for Kids Who Love Harry Potter. [19][20] Publishers Weekly calls it a thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy in its starred review. I tear. It was my daughters Spring Break and while I had every intention of still blogging, spending that extra time with my kids just felt so good. So I stopped reading. The writing itself was good! Once I got acquainted with the characters, their situation, and Linus Baker's mission, the book took a bit of a leisurely pace. Klune was born in Roseburg, Oregon. It was my favorite part of the whole week and Im missing it today . I so appreciate you sharing another perspective. Pub Date: March 17, 2020. In Summary of The House in the Cerulean Sea. I wish that the lesson they took from the book is one of kindness and charity, in giving people the benefit of the doubt. I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. Have you read this book? Though he isn't given many details about the home or its residents, Extremely Upper Management tells Linus he must carefully observe all activities and behaviors of the children and their foster parent, Arthur Parnassus, and report back. In practice, it's more like assessing how dangerous they are, and taking a hard look at the methods of Arthur Parnassus, the headmaster. What damage had The House in the Cerulean Sea done to indigenous people? This exclusive trade paperback edition of The House on the Cerulean Sea includes gorgeous full-color stenciled edges matching the beautiful cover design.. A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER! I wonder if you changed it to be metaphorical (not really a gnome, but maybe she looks or acts differently) and society views her as an outcast. At the end of the day, this is a fantasy novel that can satisfy many readers, even if they're not usually fantasy fans. Harry Potter isnt my thing, but I still enjoyed this book. The pacing is the point:though it takes some time to get there, the story seems to suddenly crescendo into a climax and conclusion that I never anticipated. As Linus Baker reaches the house in the Cerulean Sea, he meets the magical children who call it home. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he's never even heard of. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he's never even heard of. The proud defense of their home and foster parent made me care for their well-being even more. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Travis John Klune (born May 20, 1982) is an American author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. Follow. I wonder if that could make the story more tolerable for you? I read the first 2 Harry Potter books and just couldnt read any more. I loved this book. But, man, would it be worth encouraging you to give THITCS another try? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. It follows the story of a government worker who is assigned to an orphanage to see if it is still worth running, or should be closed down. What age is The House in the Cerulean Sea for? I am not much of a religion guy but I think it is important to have faith that no matter how unlikely it is, we can be anything we want. *, *Leaving a positive review on myFacebook page*, The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE, The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE, I'm the blogger behind www.bookcoffeehappy.com! I really liked the children characters, especially Lucy who could be both mischievous and vulnerable. So does ambition when it interferes with kindness. This book highlights that real love is non-discriminatory, as well as emphasizes power of basic kindness. [9] His motivation for this first book came from a realization of the poor, often offensive stereotypes of queer characters within stories. While the kids have often been abused and terrorized in the past, and their powers are sometimes dramatic, no one comes to real harm in the story. I get written on, and I can never be used again. Not to mention that a reveal in the story directly contradicts the core principle of the Sixties Scoop (which is based on the belief that these kids should be removed from their own people). His teachers would always encourage his work, saying they look forward to seeing his writing in bookstores one day. Due to the prevalence of pen names in M/M romantic fiction, he wrote under the pseudonym TJ Klune. Not only is the young adult novel a bestseller in the New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post, it also won the 2021 Alex Award and 2021 RUSA Reading list. Later in his childhood, he began writing original stories. A 2021 Alex Award winner! Right out of the gates, it has a lot about it that I love in fantasy: Maybe I just find the idea of fantasy heroes being no different from you and I to be appealing, and can identify better with a protagonist who isonly able to do things that I can do. Thank you so much for sharing . I am but paper. 'I could never be mad at you. [2] Amazon noted Bear, Otter and the Kid as one of the top LGBTQ+ books of 2011.[10]. A burning secret. Tom Doherty Books. Or maybe I am just getting old. Our main issues relate to its location (in the mesmerising Gulf of Thailand), stunning landscapes (it's surrounded by cerulean seas that gently lap golden beaches fringed with coconut palm trees), onsite restaurants (that focus on organic produce and fresh seafood direct from local fishermen) and VIP lounge (the one with a breathtaking sea-view . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. So what if I, an adult, want to indulge in a daydream in which my Sword of Destiny is my good intentions, and believeeven for just a few hundred pages that if I wield it sincerely and earnestly enough, I can defeat deeply entrenched systemic issues of bigotry and discrimination in just a couple of weeks? Linus is chosen for his strict rule-following and thorough reports, so he's charged with investigating a peculiar foster home of magical children. As the narrative utilizes a limited third-person perspective, the reader's understanding of the world of the novel is filtered through him. That moved. And then the main character meets a sprite. Great messages about being yourself, family, and courage, with humor and fun along the way! It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider And I feel thatthose who said he glamourised residential schools in the bookare doing so in incredibly bad faith since the whole point of the book tries to make is that such state-run facilities are bad. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. They only knew because he informed them, and I daresay some of his haters only learned about the Sixties Scoop and residential schools because he chose to use his platform to talk about it. Well, 2 things actually: #1 I wasnt excited to read them before but now Im REALLY not exited to read them.but I will! With humor and fun along the way sometimes takes the shape of magical.. Precisely what we need are three reasons `` the House in the Cerulean Sea was published in 2011 [. Wave of sweetness and hope world, and courage, with humor and fun the... 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