So many people would agree with you! 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. Chapter 1. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Imprint Publisher Tor Books ISBN 9781250217318 Reading Guide Organize a Book Club In The News A NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, and WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER! But, man, would it be worth encouraging you to give THITCS another try? 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. It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. 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. There he meets the mysterious Mr. Bellows, who runs the mysterious facility that houses six very quirky kids. I get written on, and I can never be used again. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. The story focuses on Linus Baker, longtime employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider His novel Into This River I Drown won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance in 2014. Linus Baker. See our. I am parched parchment. Harry Potter isnt my thing, but I still enjoyed this book. : r/Fantasy I think it is fun, healthy even, for every child to have a fuzzy idea of what any individual can realistically achieve, because we all get more than our fair share of crippling doubt when we grow upand should dream while we still can. In the following passage, he discovers an unconscious record store clerk, who's been (magically) thrown against the wall by the 6-year-old boy he tried to capture and exorcise: "Linus glanced down at Marty again. This book highlights that real love is non-discriminatory, as well as emphasizes power of basic kindness. The Time Travelers Wife is an example of a book like this and that book is most definitely fantasy! This is a story about being brave, showing up as your true self, and seeing others for who they truly are. As it should be. These scratches are a history. 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. Travis John Klune (born May 20, 1982) is an American author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. Marcus The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. TJ Klune This person is the author of The House in the Cerulean Sea. His task, in theory: look into the well-being of the orphanage's six young residents. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a work of classic children's literature written for adults and children alike, with the perspective and delicacy of the modern day. I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. Right out of the gates, it has a lot about it that I love in fantasy novels: Who is just a regular person in a world where magic exists. Like-minded people building it up to a roar. I read this book for the first time in the early weeks of the pandemic, just after it was published, and found the sweet story to be a simply enjoyable read. experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected placeand realizing that family is. The House in the Cerulean Sea Audiobook Free Online Full. I teach high school emotional support. 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. It is wish-fulfillment. So, this is it? [2] Amazon noted Bear, Otter and the Kid as one of the top LGBTQ+ books of 2011.[10]. I wish that the lesson they took from the book is one of kindness and charity, in giving people the benefit of the doubt. Or maybe I am just getting old. The Nusantara is made up of nusa (island) and antara (between) and describes the Southeast Asian archipelago that includes Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless We operate independently from our advertising team. It is idealistic to a fault. Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it. Are you mad at me?' It is about a downtrodden social worker who gets assigned to review a group home for magical children. This particular Naga is Malaysian, born and bred. 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. ', "Lucy looked up from the Chuck Berry record. Suggesting they are is gaslighting. A magical island. Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. literature, namely Sandra Cisnero's The House on Mango Street and Toni Morrison's Jazz. A burning secret. Unusual, compelling tale sends girl, readers on grand quest. Home is a multi-layered theme in the novel, as it relates to both places and people. Theres a lot more going on with this story than just magical creatures and pixie dust. Great messages about being yourself, family, and courage, with humor and fun along the way! I have lines. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. 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. I dont always like the fantasy type either. This past week, a mass grave containing the remains of 215 children was discovered outside a former residential school in Kamloops BC. are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.An. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBut You Shouldnt! Being queer himself, Klune believes. SO. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Later in his childhood, he began writing original stories. I hope youll like the other two. In fact, its a brilliant piece an of social commentary that insightfully tackles how otherness shows up in the so-called civilized world. Learn more >. 'Marty is so fired, you don't even know. There are many villains in the world, and I remain unconvinced that T. J. Klune is one of them. Due to the prevalence of pen names in M/M romantic fiction, he wrote under the pseudonym TJ Klune. Its estimated that over 20,000 indigenous children were taken, and it wasnt until 2017 that the families of those affected reached a financial settlement with the Canadian government totaling over eight hundred million dollars. The kids in the books house are the outcasts and people try to hide them and forget them. [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy. Id love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! 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. 'I loved it. And then the main character meets a sprite. Follow. If we do not believe these half-lies, these fables, why do we even try? It's the type of book that reminds you of being outside on a sunny day with a cool breeze blowing through. if Im wrong. I love this review so much! About TJ. Btw, I also really enjoyed Midnight Library. Its the belief that we are capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in by performing small, seemingly trivial actions. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. I had promised you my thoughts on The House in the Cerulean Sea last weekhere they are today! Published on Feb 13, 2023. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. 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. I so appreciate you sharing another perspective. 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. Maybe she has old school beliefs. In Summary of The House in the Cerulean Sea. I LOVED The Time Travelers Wife (read my thoughts HERE). Now, I must say that Im disappointed that I just couldnt do it. To begin with, I would like to express some general thoughts on the two books. It was about this time that Linus felt his vision gray yet again at the thought ofof this child. 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. As the home has been visited by caseworkers in the past, its inhabitants are worried about what Linus' presence could mean. [17][18], His stand-alone fantasy novel, The House in the Cerulean Sea, is a New York Times Best Seller and has been named by The Washington Post as one of 2020s Best Feel-Good Reads. 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. (LogOut/ Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. He isnt taking up space, or trying to overshadow the voice of indigenous writers. [19][20] Publishers Weekly calls it a thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy in its starred review. (LogOut/ 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 ', "Linus shook his head. The good news is, instead of a follow-up to the Marsyas residence life, T.J. Klune has two other stand . My absolute favorite part of this book is the appearance of one magical child named Lucy, who is (quite literally) the son of Satan. "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune Courtesy of MacMillan Publishers Jolie Hughes of Morgan Hill Bookstore in New London, N.H. has a recommendation for people who want a summer read that . Sorry it wasnt your thing. [3], Klune has been open about his lived experiences with asexuality, queerness and neurodiversity, and how they influence his writing. Brittle and thin. Does that make sense? I loved this book and could not put it down. 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. *, *Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*, *If you already have a blog, please follow mine*, *Like myFacebook page(and please comment on, like, and share my posts)*, *Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. 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. It is nothing like Harry Potter. 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. Contents 1 Origin That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. Who is just a regular person in a world where magic exists. 400 pp. Kids with emotional needs are treated the same way. We welcome your feedback. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. [2] Klune's writing influences include Stephen King, Wilson Rawls, Patricia Nell Warren, Robert McCammon, and Terry Pratchett. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. In hardened hands, and I remain unconvinced that T. 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