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mlwizenberg's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
A sweet and fun story, though its positive messages — however welcome! — were delivered with a very heavy hand.
I was also disappointed with the book's espousal of diet culture and anti-fat bias. We're frequently reminded that Linus is "rotund," that he should lose weight, that his body is a problem, that he shouldn't eat ice cream, etc. It seems like a real blind spot for the author, especially given that the whole book is about affirming people for who they are…
I was also disappointed with the book's espousal of diet culture and anti-fat bias. We're frequently reminded that Linus is "rotund," that he should lose weight, that his body is a problem, that he shouldn't eat ice cream, etc. It seems like a real blind spot for the author, especially given that the whole book is about affirming people for who they are…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Body shaming
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Representations: https://trello.com/c/8wNj7gDc/79-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea-by-tj-klune
Oh man oh man how I wish I picked up this book so much sooner! It's been sat on my shelf now for a good couple years, knowing I'd love it but never quite having the moment to grab it. I now really regret not doing so sooner, and will most certainly read the other books of his I own too as soon as I can!
Linus is stuck in life. He lives in a rainy city. He has a very strict job. The only things keeping him going are his cat and a motivational mouse pad depicting the sea with the saying "don't you wish you where here". Until one fateful day, Extremely Upper Management calls him for a meeting and ships him off to a remote island that no one knows about..
I absolutely adored this book. It's message about love and acceptance, while also learning to love yourself in the face of adversity. The characters where all so incredibly sweet and adorable, I just wanted to pick all of them up and give them a big hug <3
There's not too much plot, it's mainly just about the relationship between Linus and the residents of the island. A lot still happens however, there's trips to the village, adventures and more!I wouldn't really call it a romance though, while yes there is a romantic relationship, it doesn't feel like an absolutely major piece of the story, nor is it a main focus until essentially the very end. It's just a sweet additional story to the overall book.
The inspiration is being pointed out as being "problematic" but in all honesty.. I'm not sure those people have read the book. The book doesn't glorify or glamorise abusive residential "schools" or anything similar to that. In fact it's incredibly explicit about how abusive the system at its roots is. Arthur's home isn't a "if it's ran by someone good then it's ok" excuse. Arthur's home is a tale about strength together, found family and fighting injustice and abuse together. His home lies outside the system.
Additionally if you read the entire interview, the book was already pretty much done by the time he found out about Canadian residential schools so like. What are you all even on about lmao.
Last point, what are y'all on about that it sounds like the author is trying to be English lol. I'm from the UK and it sounded pretty American to me.
Oh man oh man how I wish I picked up this book so much sooner! It's been sat on my shelf now for a good couple years, knowing I'd love it but never quite having the moment to grab it. I now really regret not doing so sooner, and will most certainly read the other books of his I own too as soon as I can!
Linus is stuck in life. He lives in a rainy city. He has a very strict job. The only things keeping him going are his cat and a motivational mouse pad depicting the sea with the saying "don't you wish you where here". Until one fateful day, Extremely Upper Management calls him for a meeting and ships him off to a remote island that no one knows about..
I absolutely adored this book. It's message about love and acceptance, while also learning to love yourself in the face of adversity. The characters where all so incredibly sweet and adorable, I just wanted to pick all of them up and give them a big hug <3
There's not too much plot, it's mainly just about the relationship between Linus and the residents of the island. A lot still happens however, there's trips to the village, adventures and more!I wouldn't really call it a romance though, while yes there is a romantic relationship, it doesn't feel like an absolutely major piece of the story, nor is it a main focus until essentially the very end. It's just a sweet additional story to the overall book.
The inspiration is being pointed out as being "problematic" but in all honesty.. I'm not sure those people have read the book. The book doesn't glorify or glamorise abusive residential "schools" or anything similar to that. In fact it's incredibly explicit about how abusive the system at its roots is. Arthur's home isn't a "if it's ran by someone good then it's ok" excuse. Arthur's home is a tale about strength together, found family and fighting injustice and abuse together. His home lies outside the system.
Additionally if you read the entire interview, the book was already pretty much done by the time he found out about Canadian residential schools so like. What are you all even on about lmao.
Last point, what are y'all on about that it sounds like the author is trying to be English lol. I'm from the UK and it sounded pretty American to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Child abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, and Hate crime
Minor: Homophobia
Fantasy bigotry (hatred from humans towards magical beings for being non-human), Gore descriptionsmegb64's review against another edition
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, and Fatphobia
heini's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement
Minor: Child abuse and Body shaming
hales_1243's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cannibalism, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Cursing
Minor: Drug use
There was no explicit drug use, but there was reference to drugs briefly by a side character.silverhill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Go with the audiobook. I usually prefer print, but the audio was a delight with all the different voices!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, and Body shaming
Minor: Confinement
phvntomstvrs's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Child abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia, Confinement, and Body shaming
teslis's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the fifth book-club book me and my friend's read this year. I think that this book were the first book all four of us really enjoyed.
This book is both cute and gets your brain thinking. The main character gets an assignment to visit a children's home for magical children. I think that the children are my favorite characters in this book instead of the main character and the adults.
I liked Klune's writing, it's easy to read and understand, but also lively and vivid. I like when books languages are easy and direct witch made me interested to read a second book by Klune.
It's over a month since I finished this book so I don't have so much to say right now :(
Quotes I liked:
"A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with." - Helen, p. 281
"What's the point of living if you only do it how others want you to?" - Zoe, P. 339
Took me 10 hours and 32 minutes to read.
This book is both cute and gets your brain thinking. The main character gets an assignment to visit a children's home for magical children. I think that the children are my favorite characters in this book instead of the main character and the adults.
I liked Klune's writing, it's easy to read and understand, but also lively and vivid. I like when books languages are easy and direct witch made me interested to read a second book by Klune.
It's over a month since I finished this book so I don't have so much to say right now :(
Quotes I liked:
"A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with." - Helen, p. 281
"What's the point of living if you only do it how others want you to?" - Zoe, P. 339
Took me 10 hours and 32 minutes to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Body shaming
mitchelljohnson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Not as much plot as I typically prefer, but it was such a good story. TJ Klune is a wonderful storyteller. I cried multiple times reading this, and not just at the ending. Just wait 'til Pixar gets their hands on this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Xenophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Body shaming
bookbrig's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
So many friends have recommended this to me, and I finally found the time to listen to it. I loved the audiobook reader, and the writing did such a wonderful job of drawing me into the story. It was sweet and cozy, kind of like a big gay hug, as one of my friends put it. It was a lovely choice for a summer read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Confinement