We welcome your feedback. Granted, I am an avid fantasy reader but I would recommend it to anyone! You can like the book and the author and still feel uneasy about the inspiration. Thank you for this insightful comment! He has been working the job for seventeen years, and now he is forty, rotund, and alone. suggesting a diversity update. I tear. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not theyre likely to bring about the end of days. This book . In Summary of The House in the Cerulean Sea. The House in the Cerulean Sea, Klune's first stand-alone novel published with the Macmillan Tor imprint, was partially inspired by the Sixties Scoop, where the Canadian government removed Indigenous children from their homes and placed them with unrelated white, middle-class families. They tell things for others to read, but they only see the words, and not what the words are written upon. It is based on a middle-aged, stodgy compatibility and a growing realization that both men wish the magical children to be . [4][5], In 2013, Klune proposed to author Eric Arvin at the GayRomLit Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. By writing The House in the Cerulean Sea, they said that Mr Klune is. And then around page 70ish there was a statue. All of the statues in that book arent able to move. A dangerous task. If you can distill a lovely day by the sea, your favourite song, and a warm hug by someone who loves you dearly into the form of a book, that book would be T. J. Klunes The House in the Cerulean Sea. This particular Naga is Malaysian, born and bred. 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. It should be said that she never actually murders anyone and becomes more docile on the island. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, If you like what you are reading, maybe you can, The Grandaddy of Vampire Stories: a Review of Bram StokersDracula, A Malaysian-Chinese Immigrant Speculative Fiction Story: a Review of Elizabeth Wongs We Could Not See theStars, The Controversial Politics of Fantastical Wish Fulfillment: a Review of T. J. Klunes The House in the CeruleanSea, the discovery of the remains of 215 First Nation children near Kamloops Indian Residential School, the subsequent discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the Marieval Indian Residential School, The House in the Cerulean Sea T.J. Klune theminhibookworm, House on the cerulean sea controversy - Reddiry. Also, an attraction that cannot be denied is building between him and Arthur Parnassus, though he's doing his best to deny it. And I understand why they did it. Not only is the young adult novel a bestseller in the New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post, it also won the 2021 Alex Award and 2021 RUSA Reading list. He couldnt believe that such a creature existed without his knowledge. Like-minded people building it up to a roar. The orphanage is run by the mysterious Arthur Parnassus, with the assistance of the island's sprite, Zoe. It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. A dangerous task. There's a dreamlike quality to Klune's writing that entices . [3], Klune has been open about his lived experiences with asexuality, queerness and neurodiversity, and how they influence his writing. if Im wrong. A magical island. Sure, we can say that it is unreasonable (trivialising, even) to fantasise about how one man is able to dismantle systemic racism with a little help from some of his friends, but I would say it is equally unreasonable to believe that by directing hate to an author who wrote a book which is only tenuously linked to a tragedy that had befallen First Nation people, they have done even the least bit of good for them. I hope youll like the other two. House In The Cerulean Sea is a charming fantasy novel about Linus Baker, an employee of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Its for us to listen. 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. Maybe I enjoy the subversion as a sort of rebellion against the speciesof overpowered adolescent Chosen Ones who overpopulate the fantasy stories of my youth. Or maybe I am just getting old. I give The House in the Cerulean Sea four stars. A message we need. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets. Trivialising the tragedy by turning it into a feel good fantasy analogue story. Published on Feb 13, 2023. 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. Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBut You Shouldnt! Privacy Policy. Not that that makes it any less fantastical. I cant help wondering ifthey even read the same book I did. But, man, would it be worth encouraging you to give THITCS another try? 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. The charming contemporary fantasy crossed genre thresholds to capture the . TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea made an immediate splash in the bookish zeitgeist upon its March 2020 debut. 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. 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. 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. (LogOut/ 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. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. So, this is it? The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases. Linus Baker. 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. 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. 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 The children are truly what makes this novel so enjoyable and what colors Linus' usually tedious and tiresome life. I am parched parchment. See our. The opposite, if anything. The heartwarming, imaginative story follows a caseworker on an island of magical youth. Readers can't get enough of this magical story. In the words of Helen, "A house isn't always the house we live in. It was about this time that Linus felt his vision gray yet again at the thought ofof this child. 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. So the book begins with a girl levitating blocks above her head. The fact that I read 70 pages is proof of that! It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Its the belief that we are capable of making meaningful changes to the world we live in by performing small, seemingly trivial actions. And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. The 2021 RUSA Reading List: Fantasy Winner! I have only just been following this controversy for fifteen minutes. 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). The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. The prose is a touch wooden in places, but fans of quirky fantasy will eat it up. 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. [2] Amazon noted Bear, Otter and the Kid as one of the top LGBTQ+ books of 2011.[10]. *, *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. Please refer to the information below. Loading. The House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. Who do you think does it best? In Priestley's . and our Its the same reason why Mr Klune wrote the book, why I love the book, and why they hate the book. And furthermore, Linus ethnicity was never clarified in the book, not even once. very right for the times. 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. We operate independently from our advertising team. , Ha ok good to knowbut.you just lost me at little gnome girl. You can refer to the answers below. An Indie Next Pick! And I understand why they did it. I get written on, and I can never be used again. MUCH. He has lived his life according to the rules, until he is sent on a special project to Marsyas Island Orphanage - home to . If I sound angry it's at this this man, not you.'. But the author is on the record saying that that history inspired the book. No made up worlds, no moving statues, no levitating blocks, etc. 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. That moved. Linus learns that home is more of a feeling than a place. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I so appreciate you sharing another perspective. So, this is it? 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. His young work in poetry and short stories were the first to be published. His teachers would always encourage his work, saying they look forward to seeing his writing in bookstores one day. (LogOut/ I am parched parchment. That's page 1. 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. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. All rights reserved. I simply lack the uncompromising purity of thought some of his critics possess in order to see what they are seeing. A lot of what makes the romance in "The House in the Cerulean Sea" great is the idealism, and the worldbuilding is wonderful in how it fully commits to a world of magic, leaning into the silly and the absurd at times. And you know what? Anyway, just through Id offer another perspective. And I reaaaaaaally wasnt enjoying this one. 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. From Cyberbullying I sound angry it 's at this this man, not.... 2011. [ 10 ] noted Bear, Otter and the Kid as one the. Now he is forty, rotund, and I can offer any criticism of the statues in that book able... A creature existed without his knowledge ofof this child belief that we are capable making. & quot ; a House isn & # x27 ; s sprite, Zoe always House... 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