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hawklin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Confinement
ruthmoog's review against another edition
4.75
A real story feeling to this, and great for a non-scary Hallowe'en read.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gore, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
rebeccarudisill's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming and Fatphobia
The main character is a case worker for what is essentially magical CPS. He deals with, directly and indirectly, with multiple children who has been abused and/or neglected in some way.sockandkey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Death of parent
sohva's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying and Death of parent
valeria_guercini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
La storia da cui è stato ispirato tutto il libro tuttavia, è all'antitesi. Ciò che è successo negli anni '50/'60 in Canada a bambini indigeni strappati alle loro famiglie, per poi essere buttati in orfanotrofi e scuole controllate dallo Stato è rivoltante. Questo è ancora più disturbante durante la lettura contando che Klune non ha mai inventato un'altra vera e propria storia su come e perché i bambini della storia finiscono negli orfanotrofi o perché la magia è così discriminata.
"Inoltre, a proposito di eufemismi, per amor del cielo, volete piantarla di chiamarli orfanotrofi? [...] Sono vere e proprie case. Sono sempre state case."
Chiedere al lettore di gioire dell'improbabile famigliola creata da questi ragazzini in un orfanotrofio quando come autore sai ciò che probabilmente è successo alle case e famiglie dei ragazzini da cui questa storia è stata ispirata è ipocrita.
Ignorando l'ispirazione dietro il libro (a volte è necessario, lo riconosco), il resto dei motivi che mi ha portato a dare questa valutazione è puramente soggettiva.
Dallo stile di scrittura più "show" che "tell", alla caratterizzazione dei personaggi, persino al messaggio forse un po' troppo superficiale del romanzo, niente mi ha entusiasmato.
I bambini venivano trattati come fossero angioletti nonostante facessero e dicessero cose abbastanza preoccupanti (dopotutto siamo tutti buoni e gentili anche quando non sembra!), la storia d'amore non mi ha appassionata, la trama aveva poca sostanza ed era priva di plot twist o altri elementi interessanti e i personaggi erano divisi in "buoni" o "cattivi". Questo specialmente è stato deludente, visto che il messaggio del libro era quello di buttare giù questi pregiudizi superficiali.
Menzione speciale come personaggio che non ho sopportato da inizio a fine va a Arthur Parnassus, che poteva sforzarsi almeno un po' per non parlare come un post motivazionale di instagram.
Questo libro non ha funzionato per me. Però l'ambientazione fantastica del libro e la dolcezza dei temi e dei personaggi possono appassionare chi cerca qualcosa del genere. Non io però, io torno ai miei libri deprimenti perché la felicità è sopravvalutata.
Moderate: Body shaming and Child abuse
briochebun's review against another edition
- 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
”The world is a weird and wonderful place. Why must we try and explain it all away? For our personal satisfaction?”
Gosh — my heart is as full as can be!
I can confidently say that this novel was everything that I hoped that it would be and more! :)
(I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m absolutely enamored with the world that TJ Klune crafted for us to in “The House in the Cerulean Sea” — since his “Green Creek” series is one of my all time favorites!)
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“The House in the Cerulean Sea” has two major components that I cherish greatly in novels: a heartwarming found family trope, and a slowburn romance that will make your heart sing!
I adored the cast of characters that this world had to offer (including David — even though we never got the chance to meet him)…I wanted to reach into the pages of the novel and give everyone a good hug (I feel as though they all needed them at at least one point in the story).
I loved everything about “The House in the Cerulean Sea” (which is reflected in my rating). The world building? Breathtaking. The romance between Linus and Arthur? Soul-moving. The character growth? Rewarding. The mutual love and respect between Arthur and all of the children? Heartwarming. Zoe’s character and her mentorship with Phee? Inspiring.
TJ Klune certainly did not disappoint with this one! :)
I can’t wait to dive into “Under the Whispering Door” when I get the chance! ♡
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Song That I Listened to on Repeat While Reading “The House in the Cerulean Sea”: “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” by Lizzo.
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, and Fatphobia
marthadude's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Xenophobia
Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, and Death of parent
lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Fatphobia, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment