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. It has become one of my favorites of al time. Do you see anything similar happening in your own day-to-day life? I am but paper. An Indie Next Pick! A magical island. This book reminds me of Harry Potter in so many ways. I dont always like the fantasy type either. Forty-year-old Linus Baker, career bureaucrat in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, is a gray, shriveled, downtrodden soul when his latest assignment from Extremely Upper Management sends him to THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA, aka Marsyas Island Orphanage. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. The two had met for the first time in person one year earlier at the 2012 GayRomLit Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have lines. Calliope isn't the tamest of cats and he thought it was crucial that you know that. He'd probably wake up with a headache and nothing more. While people do gravitate towards colours for subjective reasons, and some don't even notice what colour they are wearing, it has become increasingly hard to distance yourself. One of Publishers Weekly's "Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020" I alternated between smiling to myself and tearing up when I read it. I love this review so much! 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. But there arent any moving statues in this book. enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound. Fantasy and sci-fi reviews by a Malaysian book wyrm. On the long side for some middle grade readersbut a great choice for other kids who are reading above grade level but not ready for typical YA/adult content. The Big Idea: TJ Klune by T. J. Klune on John and Athena Scalzis site Whatever. Today, #thehouseintheceruleansea has over 3.9 million views on TikTok, over 22,000 dedicated posts on Instagram, and a staggering 4.45 average rating across over 292,000 reviews on Goodreads. This is why we have driven this gay man tothoughts of suicide? "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is a beautiful fantasy story that begins with Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who has just been assigned a top-secret. This message is at the heart of The House in the Cerulean Sea. [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. He was breathing. I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. [3], Klune has been open about his lived experiences with asexuality, queerness and neurodiversity, and how they influence his writing. 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. As it should be. But I prevailed, and am now at the halfway mark. The story focuses on Linus Baker, longtime employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. 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. Brittle and thin. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. There is a particular passage in The House in the Cerulean Sea that stuck with me and after everything that had transpired in the past few weeks for Mr Klune, it had taken on new significance. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free. 'Likely to cause heart-swelling' - Washington Post 'A modern fairy tale . Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. very right for the times. are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.An. Linus is the protagonist of this novel. The story follows Linus Baker, a 40-year-old Case Worker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youths as he travels to this highly classified location, burdened with the task of figuring out if the children are being adequately cared for (and if they, particularly Lucy, are likely to bring about the end of the world). Who is just a regular person in a world where magic exists. Its one of the best books Ive read in quite awhile. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? You can help us help kids by I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. You can like the book and the author and still feel uneasy about the inspiration. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he's never even heard of. That's page 1. Not that that makes it any less fantastical. This is why we have driven this gay man tothoughts of suicide? Travis John Klune (born May 20, 1982) is an American author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. These scratches are a history. About the author (2021) TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries and more. It is idealistic to a fault. Thank you so much for sharing . A burning secret. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBut You Shouldnt! Linus and Arthur are both queer characters, but this isn't a central plotline of the story. And furthermore, Linus ethnicity was never clarified in the book, not even once. 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. 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. Without spoiling anything, it's so tremendously written that you don't realize small hints had been left throughout the story until all the pieces harmoniously come together. Ive heard such BEAUTIFUL things about this book! An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. One common thread I see is that many who are angry at Mr Klune did not even realise that he was drawing inspiration from the Sixties Scoop initially, with some even saying that they adored the book before they learned about that unseen aspect of it. As for the charge of trivialising an actual tragedy, I think one has to decide for themselves if a story can trivialise something it literally does not reference in the text at all, even though the author may have drawn inspiration from it. In order to compare the two books I will first analyze them separately before taking a look at them side by side. and our It was a little gnome girl named Talia that he mistook for a lawn ornament. Cookie Notice Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. 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. Linus isn't the first hero to be transformed by his experiences on an island. Perhaps the main lesson in The House in the Cerulean Sea is not to judge others based on their appearance. That moved. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. A message we need. Summary. (LogOut/ 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. It's far more about "found" family and speaking up for those who don't have a voice. We won't share this comment without your permission. 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. Now, I shant go too deeply into the history of it all because there have been reams enough written about it but basically, Mr Klune said that while he already figured out the general plot about an Orwellian world where magical children face bigotry and discrimination just for merely existing, the story didnt become clear to him until he learned about the Sixties Scoop in Canada: beginning in the 1950s and continuing through the 1980s, indigenous children were taken from their homes and families and placed into government-sanctioned facilities, such as residential schools. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It may play in a well-trodden arena but it does so with an element of charm and joyfulness that feel ripe for adaptation to the screen. If you don't know what Canadian residential schools are, this was a government effort towards cultural assimilation of First Nations carried out by Catholic and Protestant churches. It was my favorite part of the whole week and Im missing it today . The kids in the books house are the outcasts and people try to hide them and forget them. I am 100 percent positive that this book gives a beautiful message but unfortunately I just couldnt get past all of the fantastical elements to find it. The whole alternate universe where things arent what they seem is NOT something I enjoy. Lucy frowned. Trivialising the tragedy by turning it into a feel good fantasy analogue story. Change). 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). "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is a 2020 fantasy book that's still a popular bestseller. ', "Lucy looked up from the Chuck Berry record. These scratches are a history. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with" (281). (LogOut/ 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 . His novel Into This River I Drown won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance in 2014. It's the type of book that reminds you of being outside on a sunny day with a cool breeze blowing through. [22] It was named one of Amazon's Best science fiction and fantasy books of 2020. (LogOut/ The messages about acceptance, loyalty, and tolerance are beautiful, as are the themes about embracing diversity and valuing people for their character. An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. There's some building, subtly expressed sexual tension between the two middle-aged male main characters, similarly subtle suggestive humor and innuendo on occasion, and they eventually share one kiss. I get written on, and I can never be used again. I tear. Hardcover - 17 March 2020. In the words of Helen, "A house isn't always the house we live in. Coincidentally, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about found families and islands, and it features someplace called the Marsyas Island Orphanage which is the home of an orphan named Lucyshort for Lucifer, for he is the Antichristwhere he lived with five other dangerous children: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, a were-Pomeranian, and a bellhop (which is just about the only aspect of Chaunceys identity that is clear to us). 3 answers. 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've read it twice and understand why Goodreads and TikTok readers love it so much. Thank you for this insightful comment! We operate independently from our advertising team. I have holes. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. Learn more. It is sad, but I guess there's no point to morose. 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. Linus Baker is a case worker who has been assigned by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth ("DICOMY") to investigate an incident at an orphanage. Some indigenous folks may, and others may not, take issue with the book. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. Get me wet, and I melt. He also falls in love and discovers unsuspected depths of courage, loyalty, and tenacity in himself. [1] A supernatural tale about grief and love in a small town, it won the 2014 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. ' The House in the Cerulean Sea' is a fantasy - romance novel written by TJ Klune. By Chad Armstrong The House in the Cerulean Sea is available now. I think it is also important to believe that no matter how imperfect or flawed we are, we are still capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. Whatever it is, I find it amusing that when I was younger, heroes are the people I want to be and now, in my thirties, I want heroes to be like me. The charming contemporary fantasy crossed genre thresholds to capture the . Profiting from both the cultural and literal genocide of indigenous people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, If you like what you are reading, maybe you can, The Grandaddy of Vampire Stories: a Review of Bram StokersDracula, A Malaysian-Chinese Immigrant Speculative Fiction Story: a Review of Elizabeth Wongs We Could Not See theStars, The Controversial Politics of Fantastical Wish Fulfillment: a Review of T. J. Klunes The House in the CeruleanSea, the discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children near Kamloops Indian Residential School, the subsequent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School, The House in the Cerulean Sea T.J. Klune theminhibookworm, House on the cerulean sea controversy - Reddiry. No made up worlds, no moving statues, no levitating blocks, etc. As the narrative utilizes a limited third-person perspective, the reader's understanding of the world of the novel is filtered through him. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A 2021 Alex Award winner! People say that this book is WONDERFUL! I am parched parchment. This book . And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. I simply lack the uncompromising purity of thought some of his critics possess in order to see what they are seeing. Locked post. So true. This particular Naga is Malaysian, born and bred. Readers can't get enough of this magical story. In the epilogue of The House in the Cerulean Sea, the author seems to be setting up a potential sequel, and frankly, because of this, I'm a bit annoyed after finding out there's no sequel planned for the book.. That trauma may be impacted by the author expressly taking the crimes against their ancestors and turning them into a whimsical story where the victims (the magical beings/indigenous people) are happy in their boarding home. 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. 'Did he hurt you? Granted, I am an avid fantasy reader but I would recommend it to anyone! I am but paper, and though there are many like me, none are exactly the same. I am but paper. It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. ISBN: 978-1-250-21728-8. Being queer. Does that make sense? A dangerous task. What do you think is the enduring appeal of this theme, which sometimes takes the shape of magical kids in a school? Love wins in this book. Hiiii! By writing The House in the Cerulean Sea, they said that Mr Klune is. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. This story is adorable and quirky and heartfelt. This Lucy. I usually blog each morning while my son takes an online class but last week I traded that in for daily breakfast in bed with my daughter while we snuggled up to watch iCarly. Linus faints dead away on reading the first file, belonging to Lucy (short for Lucifer), the 6-year-old reputed to be the child of Satan, but as time passes and he investigates further, he starts, for the first time, to question some of the things Extremely Upper Management has been telling him about these kids. 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? This ultimately resulted in T. J. Klune, a prominent queer author, wanting to commit suicide during Pride Month and needing to up his dose of antidepressants to cope. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. 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. The girl isnt levitating anything, its a metaphor for a hobby or belief that society doesnt approve of, or something she would get made fun of. But the children arent the only secret the island keeps. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. Later in his childhood, he began writing original stories. I have only just been following this controversy for fifteen minutes. 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. Also, an attraction that cannot be denied is building between him and Arthur Parnassus, though he's doing his best to deny it. & services delivered weekly to your inbox even once of Amazon 's Best science fiction fantasy! Shape of magical Youth travis John Klune ( born may 20, 1982 ) is an adult fantasy novel originally... Like the book review website Goodreads in 2017 on their appearance the Best books Ive read in awhile! & services delivered weekly to your inbox in 2017 ; ( 281 ) (! 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