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. Loading. A dangerous task. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I didnt see anyallusionsin the texteitherand read it as an allegory for discrimination against queer people. Hiiii! The House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. The story focuses on Linus Baker, longtime employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Follow. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world. I am not a fantasy genre reader either and read it for a challenge. [2] The book is about a man named Linus Baker who travels to Marsyas Island as a representative of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. 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. 'Did he hurt you? Are you mad at me?' There is a particular passage in The House in the Cerulean Sea that stuck with me and after everything that had transpired in the past few weeks for Mr Klune, it had taken on new significance. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea {TJ Klune}But You Shouldnt! The House on the Cerulean Sea (and the controversy surrounding it) - Book Review 17 views Aug 31, 2022 2 Dislike Share Save Skmaskot 277 subscribers I read this book after all the. A burning secret. I listened to it on audio, where the voiceover artist gave each character their own voice. Nor are people reading whatever they like into the book. It's the type of book that reminds you of being outside on a sunny day with a cool breeze blowing through. Published on Feb 13, 2023. 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. 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. A downtrodden bureaucrat goes a remote island populated by magical kids and their mysterious teacher, where his heart begins to unshrivel in unexpected ways, which is a treat to see. If we do not believe these half-lies, these fables, why do we even try? 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. What a beautiful and insightful comment! With heartwarming characters, a comforting aesthetic, and a mind-blowing ending, it's a thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with" (281). Its for us to listen. I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. I am but paper, and though there are many like me, none are exactly the same. Fuck realism. In Summary of The House in the Cerulean Sea. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. 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. Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. Linus isn't the first hero to be transformed by his experiences on an island. So I stopped reading. The parents' guide to what's in this book. The message is strong and the subtle character nuances make it very fresh and important for our time. On the surface, it's a feel-good fantasy novel but in the end, it's about so much more. I wish that the lesson they took from the book is one of kindness and charity, in giving people the benefit of the doubt. (LogOut/ Linus suggests that perhaps some type of "extreme emotion state" triggered her powers. 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). A dangerous task. Linus is charged with a special assignment by Extremely Upper Management. All rights reserved. I hope youll like the other two. Some indigenous folks may, and others may not, take issue with the book. 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. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. He has lived his life according to the rules, until he is sent on a special project to Marsyas Island Orphanage - home to . And it was quite apparent to all who met him that Lucy is a boy and because we live in a deeply gendered society, people naturally wondered why we named him thatand I, naturally a troll, enjoyed everyones bafflement so much that I was not always forthright with the explanation. It has become one of my favorites of al time. I also liked the narrative tone that exaggerates the foibles of the world and minor characters to great effect. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It is a power fantasy birthed by our own sense of powerlessness. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. [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. Linus faints dead away on reading the first file, belonging to Lucy (short for Lucifer), the 6-year-old reputed to be the child of Satan, but as time passes and he investigates further, he starts, for the first time, to question some of the things Extremely Upper Management has been telling him about these kids. I believe that Mr Klune wrote this book with the sincere hope that he would be adding something good and positive to the world. No made up worlds, no moving statues, no levitating blocks, etc. Just like I always tell all of you to do! The Time Travelers Wife is an example of a book like this and that book is most definitely fantasy! Like-minded people building it up to a roar. So the book begins with a girl levitating blocks above her head. Unusual, compelling tale sends girl, readers on grand quest. The following summaries about the house in the cerulean sea controversy will help you make more personal choices about more accurate and faster information. 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. What damage had The House in the Cerulean Sea done to indigenous people? So its not an accident, and its impossible to give him the benefit of the doubt that it is an accident. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. It is nothing like Harry Potter. very right for the times. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: turkeyproperties4you.com, +905524485635 BEST TURKEY PROPERTIES|Turkey Properties/Villas in Fethiye-Ka-Kalkan This story is adorable and quirky and heartfelt. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? 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. Being queer. Your privacy is important to us. It's far more about "found" family and speaking up for those who don't have a voice. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. Profiting from both the cultural and literal genocide of indigenous people. 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. And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. 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. These scratches are a history. The House on Mango Street and Jazz are first and Great messages about being yourself, family, and courage, with humor and fun along the way! 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. AvaChannary. 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. Linus and Arthur are both queer characters, but this isn't a central plotline of the story. I cant help wondering ifthey even read the same book I did. 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. The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. 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. Take me in hardened hands, and I crumple. At the end of the day, this is a fantasy novel that can satisfy many readers, even if they're not usually fantasy fans. What damage had The House in the Cerulean Sea done to indigenous people? Third, because the author is on the record about the inspiration of the book, the link isnt tenuous. This is why we have driven this gay man tothoughts of suicide? Ive heard such BEAUTIFUL things about this book! 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. To answer questions about The House in the Cerulean Sea , please sign up . I give The House in the Cerulean Sea four stars. [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. The characters he meets there will steal your heart. The story follows Linus Baker, a 40-year-old Case Worker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youths as he travels to this highly classified location, burdened with the task of figuring out if the children are being adequately cared for (and if they, particularly Lucy, are likely to bring about the end of the world). Klune was born in Roseburg, Oregon. The messages about acceptance, loyalty, and tolerance are beautiful, as are the themes about embracing diversity and valuing people for their character. Pick it back up and please finish it! 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider You can like the book and the author and still feel uneasy about the inspiration. [21] Kirkus praises Klune for his art of creating enduring characters. The whole alternate universe where things arent what they seem is NOT something I enjoy. So does ambition when it interferes with kindness. And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. He isnt taking up space, or trying to overshadow the voice of indigenous writers. Set in a world much like our own ('50s music plays a big role), it's the tale of Linus Baker, a downtrodden, dutiful middle-aged bureaucrat who's spent his entire career toiling for DICOMY (Department In Charge of Magical Youth), which, in theory, is the government agency in charge of protecting assorted gnomes, sprites, wyverns and the like from mistreatment, violence, and death at the hands of humans. I have only just been following this controversy for fifteen minutes. 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. They only knew because he informed them, and I daresay some of his haters only learned about the Sixties Scoop and residential schools because he chose to use his platform to talk about it. I cannot recommend it highly enough." Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart a Doorway "Is it possible to fall in love with someone's imagination? So I am going to say something nice (and true) about Mr Klunes book because I think we can be kinder to this paper man. 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. more Tor Books Paperback December 2020 400 Pages 9781250217318 Buy the Book $18.99 About the Author Praise Discussion Questions Excerpt Garden Gal Why Kant and Schopenhauer? I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. *, *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! Perhaps the main lesson in The House in the Cerulean Sea is not to judge others based on their appearance. 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. to read? People say that this book is WONDERFUL! The House in the Cerulean Sea Travis Klune 2021-09-16 An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place - and realizing that family could be yours. We welcome your feedback. Brittle and thin. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless Linus Baker. Also easier to follow than some other fantasy books Ive read. " The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. Already I wasnt into it but I decided to keep reading. There's a lot of ignorant prejudice directed against the kids in this story. His teachers would always encourage his work, saying they look forward to seeing his writing in bookstores one day. Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. #2 I think I actually might feel differently about them that I do about this book because although they are clearly fantasy, I do think they are a different TYPE of fantasy. We must believe that all of us are, by and large, good people. Light me on fire, and I burn. The children are truly what makes this novel so enjoyable and what colors Linus' usually tedious and tiresome life. Linus Baker is a case worker who has been assigned by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth ("DICOMY") to investigate an incident at an orphanage. Yes I went in with a nervous energy but I really dont think that hindered my acceptance of any of it. All of the statues in that book arent able to move. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. So true. It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Archived post. Linus learns that home is more of a feeling than a place. This past week, a mass grave containing the remains of 215 children was discovered outside a former residential school in Kamloops BC. The goal was for primarily white, middle-class families across Canada, the US, and even Europeto adopt these children. The argument for that accusation, if I follow their logic correctly, is that since Linus is a regular human interacting with an underclass of magic beings, he is a stand-in for white people (even though he has as much a chance of being white as Talia or Lucy, who are magical children). Does that make sense? 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. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 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. The orphanage is run by the mysterious Arthur Parnassus, with the assistance of the island's sprite, Zoe. 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. And I understand why they did it. Families can talk about the setup of of kids with unusual powers gathered together in an orphanage in The House in the Cerulean Sea. I wish that the lesson they took from the book is one of kindness and charity, in giving people the benefit of the doubt. 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. Get me wet, and I melt. How dare people read strong connections between crimes against indigenous people into a book that was admittedly inspired by those crimes! This Lucy. I think Im out on this one although I wish I wasnt! 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. He has been working the job for seventeen years, and now he is forty, rotund, and alone. They only knew because he informed them, and I daresay some of his haters only learned about the Sixties Scoop and residential schools because he chose to use his platform to talk about it. Why bother? [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. Its the best book I read this yearand I suspect it will remain, always, one of the sweetest books I have ever read. 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. Its a fantastical story but one that has its feetsomewhatrooted in reality, compared to THITCS. 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. See our. 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