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A review by aksmith92
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
adventurous
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
I've decided not to rate this review. It feels bizarre to do this. However, I got this book for free, so I had it just sitting on the shelf, waiting to be read. I know so many of my fellow friend readers loved this book. However, I had also heard the intense controversy around it, where the author came out and said this book was supposed to mimic the schools in the US and Canada that would essentially imprison Indigenous groups and forced them to assimilate into society. I am not Indigenous, and so after reading this, I cannot fathom trying to argue one way or the other. However, enough people of color and Indigenous folks have come out to say that tying the book to those schools is offensive and not handled with much care. I listen to them, so I won't give this book any stars. However, I will share below what I liked and disliked.
The Setup: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is a cozy fantasy exploring acceptance, identity, and found family themes. The novel centers around Linus Baker, a middle-aged caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His job involves inspecting orphanages that house magical children to ensure they are adequately cared for and not dangerous to society. Linus leads a monotonous, lonely life until he is given a highly classified assignment to investigate Marsyas Island Orphanage, home to six dangerous magical children and overseen by the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus.
As Linus arrives at the orphanage, he meets a group of children whose powers and personalities range from a gnome gardener to a boy who is the literal Antichrist. Over time, Linus forms deep connections with the children and Arthur, whose secrets are gradually revealed. What starts as a bureaucratic mission transforms into a journey of self-discovery for Linus, as he realizes that love and acceptance are more important than adhering to rigid rules.
What I Liked: Listen, this novel oozed whimsy, humor, and heartfelt moments. On the surface lies the message of inclusivity and the idea that people (or magical beings) should not be defined by their labels, and there is usually more than meets the eye. The book was intended to tackle issues of prejudice and societal judgment while wrapped in a cozy, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere. It was a feel-good, uplifting story and a lovely little break from reality.
There was also a cute little love story peppered throughout this, which I wholeheartedly enjoyed. The children were adorable, and each had their personalities, which I loved. The children made this story for me, as I liked them better than the main character, Linus, who constantly just talked about his round middle. *Sigh*. The book's idea was lovely and had a significant meaning from a bird's eye view. Overall, it was also an easy read. While predictable, it was a nice little getaway to a fantastical island (literally).
What I Didn't Like: Well, besides the fact that this book has been deemed insensitive to literal genocide, I also felt that it spoon-fed you with "goodness" at times. There was much telling instead of showing when it came to "teaching" the children about good vs. evil. This book aimed to showcase that Arthur was teaching children morals and how people should not be defined by their appearance, but it came across as a bit preachy. Therefore, I was pulled out of the story for some reason. I'm notorious for not enjoying many (subjective) "preachy" books.
I also didn't love Linus. It's hard to pinpoint why, but I don't think it was because he was a grump in this book. It was more that he was self-deprecating and bland, so I didn't see what others saw in him, including Arthur and the children. I may have missed something because I was alone in this assessment, but something was missing.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Once again, at the surface, it was a cute fantasy that showcased human (or magical being) connections and flaws. That said, I take its criticism to heart and understand that it may have shared this book is insensitive to a highly problematic event in the US and Canada.
The Setup: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is a cozy fantasy exploring acceptance, identity, and found family themes. The novel centers around Linus Baker, a middle-aged caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. His job involves inspecting orphanages that house magical children to ensure they are adequately cared for and not dangerous to society. Linus leads a monotonous, lonely life until he is given a highly classified assignment to investigate Marsyas Island Orphanage, home to six dangerous magical children and overseen by the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus.
As Linus arrives at the orphanage, he meets a group of children whose powers and personalities range from a gnome gardener to a boy who is the literal Antichrist. Over time, Linus forms deep connections with the children and Arthur, whose secrets are gradually revealed. What starts as a bureaucratic mission transforms into a journey of self-discovery for Linus, as he realizes that love and acceptance are more important than adhering to rigid rules.
What I Liked: Listen, this novel oozed whimsy, humor, and heartfelt moments. On the surface lies the message of inclusivity and the idea that people (or magical beings) should not be defined by their labels, and there is usually more than meets the eye. The book was intended to tackle issues of prejudice and societal judgment while wrapped in a cozy, almost fairy-tale-like atmosphere. It was a feel-good, uplifting story and a lovely little break from reality.
There was also a cute little love story peppered throughout this, which I wholeheartedly enjoyed. The children were adorable, and each had their personalities, which I loved. The children made this story for me, as I liked them better than the main character, Linus, who constantly just talked about his round middle. *Sigh*. The book's idea was lovely and had a significant meaning from a bird's eye view. Overall, it was also an easy read. While predictable, it was a nice little getaway to a fantastical island (literally).
What I Didn't Like: Well, besides the fact that this book has been deemed insensitive to literal genocide, I also felt that it spoon-fed you with "goodness" at times. There was much telling instead of showing when it came to "teaching" the children about good vs. evil. This book aimed to showcase that Arthur was teaching children morals and how people should not be defined by their appearance, but it came across as a bit preachy. Therefore, I was pulled out of the story for some reason. I'm notorious for not enjoying many (subjective) "preachy" books.
I also didn't love Linus. It's hard to pinpoint why, but I don't think it was because he was a grump in this book. It was more that he was self-deprecating and bland, so I didn't see what others saw in him, including Arthur and the children. I may have missed something because I was alone in this assessment, but something was missing.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Once again, at the surface, it was a cute fantasy that showcased human (or magical being) connections and flaws. That said, I take its criticism to heart and understand that it may have shared this book is insensitive to a highly problematic event in the US and Canada.