There he meets the mysterious Mr. Bellows, who runs the mysterious facility that houses six very quirky kids. I am but paper. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is an uplifting, heart-warming fantasy tale that's become a New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post bestseller. 'I loved it. As far as I can tell, Mr Klune is not fronting a specific story about First Nation people and neither is it marketed that way at all. 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. 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. When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management hes given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. There are so many messages in this beautifully written story. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I dont always like the fantasy type either. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBut You Shouldnt! A Naga is a divine dragon from Eastern Hindu-Buddhist tradition. I didnt see anyallusionsin the texteitherand read it as an allegory for discrimination against queer people. From the moment Linus steps onto the island, the story takes on a soft and warm aesthetic as we meet heartwarming characters who have found a safe haven from people who not only misunderstand them, but often lash out with prejudice, aggression, and fear. The fact that I read 70 pages is proof of that! His task, in theory: look into the well-being of the orphanage's six young residents. He isnt taking up space, or trying to overshadow the voice of indigenous writers. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. Families can talk about the setup of of kids with unusual powers gathered together in an orphanage in The House in the Cerulean Sea. The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. 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. He wrote a general story about discrimination and kindness using magical children as his allegorical stand in for marginalised people, a concept he conceived of even beforehe stumbled on the history residential schools. My absolute favorite part of this book is the appearance of one magical child named Lucy, who is (quite literally) the son of Satan. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. 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. Why do you think so many such tales involve islands? How dare people read strong connections between crimes against indigenous people into a book that was admittedly inspired by those crimes! Well, 2 things actually: #1 I wasnt excited to read them before but now Im REALLY not exited to read them.but I will! Just for the record, it wasnt actually a moving statue. If we do not believe these half-lies, these fables, why do we even try? Now, I must say that Im disappointed that I just couldnt do it. A dangerous task. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. Ive heard such BEAUTIFUL things about this book! Yes! I have lines. The message is strong and the subtle character nuances make it very fresh and important for our time. [22] It was named one of Amazon's Best science fiction and fantasy books of 2020. Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it. Maybe I will give it another try one day. 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. As a kid, I loved those stories of some random farm boy discovering that he is literally chosen by fate to brandish earthshaking magic to vanquish evil. I loved this book. Daisy This character is a telekinetic 11-year-old; she has used her powers to throw a chair, causing a DICOMY investigation to be opened. 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. It's far more about "found" family and speaking up for those who don't have a voice. But its not on white people to tell them how they should feel about it. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. [6] Arvin endured many years of health struggles and passed away on December 12, 2016. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. to read? We must believe that all of us are, by and large, good people. 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. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. The opposite, if anything. 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. It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Klune was born in Roseburg, Oregon. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. I so appreciate you sharing another perspective. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, published 2020 *Mr. This book is amazing and delightful. 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. If you love (can tolorate?) 'I loved it. A great story on so many levels and so right for the time that we are living in. I share your distaste for fantasy novels, and, for that reason, also considered stopping at the 70-page mark. This is why we have driven this gay man tothoughts of suicide? I have Midnight Library in my kindle queue! Linus isn't the first hero to be transformed by his experiences on an island. Follow. Already I wasnt into it but I decided to keep reading. *, *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! The heartwarming, imaginative story follows a caseworker on an island of magical youth. By Chad Armstrong The House in the Cerulean Sea is available now. Who do you think does it best? Travis John Klune (born May 20, 1982) is an American author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. It is a power fantasy birthed by our own sense of powerlessness. 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. But, man, would it be worth encouraging you to give THITCS another try? I loved this book and could not put it down. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. As the narrative utilizes a limited third-person perspective, the reader's understanding of the world of the novel is filtered through him. An Indie Next Pick! When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. This is a story about being brave, showing up as your true self, and seeing others for who they truly are. What did you think? 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. Garden Gal Why Kant and Schopenhauer? There's a lot of ignorant prejudice directed against the kids in this story. Not for this. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. Thank you so much for sharing . Linus is charged with a special assignment by Extremely Upper Management. Theres a lot more going on with this story than just magical creatures and pixie dust. 400 pp. Anyway, just through Id offer another perspective. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. Maybe one of them doesnt like fantasy books and everyone else does lol. Again, I am not opposed to anyone wanting to read whatever it is they want into any text but I just want to spend a minute here to ask ourselves: what harm are we averting, mitigating, or neutralising here exactly by attacking Mr Klune? 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. Reblogged this on Salvation and Shenanigans. The House in the Cerulean Sea is so bursting with perfectly placed imagery, it manages to be a visual experience even though you're reading it. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's importantnow more than everto have accurate, positive queer representation in stories. I didnt see anyallusionsin the texteitherand read it as an allegory for discrimination against queer people. Who is just a regular person in a world where magic exists. Pick a magical being and create the story of that person's discovery - how the person came to the notice of the Department. *Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends! Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. 'Marty is so fired, you don't even know. By this point, I was reaaaaaaaally struggling to continue reading but forged through in hopes of expanding my literary genre comfort zone. And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. I put to you that not even Mr Klunes harshest critics believe that a reasonable person reading this book would come away with the idea that indigenous children should be forcibly adopted by white parents or placed in residential schools. Also easier to follow than some other fantasy books Ive read. Please tell me (warn me?) It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. The House in the Cerulean Sea. I hate books in this genre, I hate television shows in this genre, I HATE movies in this genre. That's page 1. I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. Published on Feb 13, 2023. Great messages about being yourself, family, and courage, with humor and fun along the way! 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. The book certainly offers some unique contributions within the fantasy and young adult genres, and it is backed . I alternated between smiling to myself and tearing up when I read it. Like-minded people building it up to a roar. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not theyre likely to bring about the end of days. With heartwarming characters, a comforting aesthetic, and a mind-blowing ending, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover. As Linus's adventures at The House in the Cerulean Sea continue, both he and the reader are drawn into its world, delighted by its residents, and more and more inclined to doubt the prejudice that finds them so dangerous. It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. 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. Linus learns that home is more of a feeling than a place. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. Suppose he wrote a story that is more openly inspired by the Sixties Scoop, featuring actual indigenous children as opposed to magical beings, I would actually find that more objectionable, profiteering, and ghoulish. On its own. 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. 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 is sad, but I guess there's no point to morose. 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. In practice, it's more like assessing how dangerous they are, and taking a hard look at the methods of Arthur Parnassus, the headmaster. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. Klune's characters are vibrant and visceral in the most wonderful way I couldn't help but love each of their personalities and look forward to the pages where I'd learn more about their histories and hobbies. 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. Sold. [11] Other novels written by Klune include the queer werewolf series Green Creek, the queer superhero series The Extraordinaries, the contemporary romance How to be a Normal Person and the comedic fantasy series Tales from Verania. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is yours. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. Linus Baker is a social worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. 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. The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner! . It is wish-fulfillment. Linus Baker. very right for the times. 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. It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. Poignant, funny medieval tale skewers ignorance, bigotry. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. 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. Strong spin-off is more violent than the others. This particular Naga is Malaysian, born and bred. Instead, what I see is a mostly white mob being outraged on indigenous peoples behalf and the only tangible thing that is harmed is Mr Klunes mental health. The House in the Cerulean Sea Audiobook Free Online Full. It offers up the absurd fantasy that one man doing small, achievable acts of kindness in the right place at the right time can change the world. Fuck realism. (LogOut/ I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. I have only just been following this controversy for fifteen minutes. As such, Linus's compassion, courage, and journey to overcome feelings of worthlessness and a lack of belonging are at the forefront of the story. But the author is on the record saying that that history inspired the book. Cookie Notice 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. His novel Into This River I Drown won the Lambda Literary Award for . if Im wrong. Now, while I am not white, I am also not an indigenous First Nation person either, and I dont think anyone should listen to me but just in case you are, I wish to say I believe one has to be deeply uncharitable to read such heinous crimes into Mr Klunes book. 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 As James Baldwin wisely noted "Children have never been very good at . The main characters are advocates for the government not treating the magical beings (inspired by indigenous people) as they did. Linus himself is a lovable protagonist despite his prickliness, and Klune aptly handles his evolving feelings and morals. [4][5], In 2013, Klune proposed to author Eric Arvin at the GayRomLit Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. What honesty! in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. He couldnt believe that such a creature existed without his knowledge. Theyre a story. See our. Some indigenous folks may, and others may not, take issue with the book. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Katherine Fiorillo is a freelance content writer specializing in books, lifestyle, and e-commerce.Katherine has a B.A. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. As it should be. 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. And I understand why they did it. So I stopped reading. Brittle and thin. It is idealistic to a fault. The House in the Cerulean Sea isn't really a gay romance, though the cover quote describes it as "like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket." There is attraction, yes, but it is not particularly physical or sexual. It is wish-fulfillment. The two had met for the first time in person one year earlier at the 2012 GayRomLit Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. It's the type of book that reminds you of being outside on a sunny day with a cool breeze blowing through. Sent to report on a remote boarding school, its unusual master, and its even more unusual students (one of whom is believed to be the 6-year-old son of Satan), Linus soon learns there's quite a bit he hasn't been told. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea {TJ Klune}But You Shouldnt! . Home is a multi-layered theme in the novel, as it relates to both places and people. A burning secret. [1] A supernatural tale about grief and love in a small town, it won the 2014 Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance. As to why there is a delay between the publishing of the book last year and the outrage this year, its because it was dredged up in the wake of the discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children near Kamloops Indian Residential School last month and then the subsequent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School a few days ago. 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. 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. The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. Please refer to the information below. And then around page 70ish there was a statue. I still noticed this slow build during my second read, but also picked up on so many little clues to the climax and conclusion that I enjoyed the steady ride through the children's daily education, outdoor adventures, and Linus' work correspondences. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless At least Ill TRY. Here are three reasons "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is just as great as everyone says. Now, while I am not white, I am also not an indigenous First Nation person either, and I dont think anyone should listen to me but just in case you are, I wish to say I believe one has to be deeply uncharitable to read such heinous crimes into Mr Klunes book. TJ Klune's book tells the story of children with magical abilities who have been removed from their families to live in an orphanage. SO. Btw, I also really enjoyed Midnight Library. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. Third, because the author is on the record about the inspiration of the book, the link isnt tenuous. 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. In Priestley's . Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. , Ha ok good to knowbut.you just lost me at little gnome girl. [9] His motivation for this first book came from a realization of the poor, often offensive stereotypes of queer characters within stories. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. 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). He wanted to be able to write a novel that had an accurate representation of queer relationships, that were not stereotypical, instead were seen as relatable and positive. His teachers would always encourage his work, saying they look forward to seeing his writing in bookstores one day. We operate independently from our advertising team. In order to compare the two books I will first analyze them separately before taking a look at them side by side. Like-minded people building it up to a roar. and our Promise. He has lived his life according to the rules, until he is sent on a special project to Marsyas Island Orphanage - home to . If you can get past the weirdness, its such a cute story of found family and love. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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). I have holes. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. As to why there is a delay between the publishing of the book last year and the outrage this year, its because it was dredged up in the wake of the discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children near Kamloops Indian Residential School last month and then the subsequent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School a few days ago. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in . As a kid, I loved those stories of some random farm boy discovering that he is literally chosen by fate to brandish earthshaking magic to vanquish evil. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. His novel Into This River I Drown won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance in 2014. I had promised you my thoughts on The House in the Cerulean Sea last weekhere they are today! So its not an accident, and its impossible to give him the benefit of the doubt that it is an accident. 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. Here, even the pudgy, dreary person finds love. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. T. J. Klune's latest title could be the lovechild of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Ransom Riggs) and a Nora Roberts' second chances, found family romance. MUCH. I suspect I am liable to dislocate a shoulder if I try to reach as far as that. 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. Or maybe I am just getting old. Love wins in this book. Maybe pictures would have helped me to want to continue reading?? Again, I am not opposed to anyone wanting to read whatever it is they want into any text but I just want to spend a minute here to ask ourselves: what harm are we averting, mitigating, or neutralising here exactly by attacking Mr Klune? Contents 1 Trigger Warnings 2 Representation 3 Tropes 4 Controversy 5 References Trigger Warnings Abuse (mentioned) Anxiety (trauma-related) Bigotry Body shaming Bullying Child abuse (backstory) Fatphobia (internalized) Homophobia Microaggressions 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. Light me on fire, and I burn. 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. The island is home to six magical kids, including Lucifer aka "Lucy" - the son of the devil. 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.. Librarian insisted that this descriptor be added. 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). The House in the Cerulean Sea is an uncomplicated feel-good book that is full of fantastical creatures and tells a well-meaning, upbeat story about acceptance and inclusivity. And I reaaaaaaally wasnt enjoying this one. He wrote a general story about discrimination and kindness using magical children as his allegorical stand in for marginalised people, a concept he conceived of even beforehe stumbled on the history residential schools. Astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess he! 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Just a regular person in a world where magic exists, positive queer representation in Stories about Martin Luther Jr.. He gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess he. College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed 's Shopping and products beat his into. As everyone says ok good to knowbut.you just lost me at little gnome.! You do n't have a voice island is home to six magical kids, including Lucifer aka `` ''. Things for others to read, but I guess there & # x27 s.