Poignant, funny medieval tale skewers ignorance, bigotry. A burning secret.Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. literature, namely Sandra Cisnero's The House on Mango Street and Toni Morrison's Jazz. 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. 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. 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. 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. Published on Feb 13, 2023. The House in the Cerulean Sea was published in March of 2020 and made the USA Today bestseller list. I alternated between smiling to myself and tearing up when I read it. It is based on a middle-aged, stodgy compatibility and a growing realization that both men wish the magical children to be . 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. A magical island. Cookie Notice the other 2 fantasy books that I will be (forcing myself?) 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. 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. 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. He has lived his life according to the rules, until he is sent on a special project to Marsyas Island Orphanage - home to . Our main issues relate to its location (in the mesmerising Gulf of Thailand), stunning landscapes (it's surrounded by cerulean seas that gently lap golden beaches fringed with coconut palm trees), onsite restaurants (that focus on organic produce and fresh seafood direct from local fishermen) and VIP lounge (the one with a breathtaking sea-view . Garden Gal Why Kant and Schopenhauer? 'I didn't do anything, really. The book certainly offers some unique contributions within the fantasy and young adult genres, and it is backed . [22] It was named one of Amazon's Best science fiction and fantasy books of 2020. Being queer himself, Klune believes. The charming contemporary fantasy crossed genre thresholds to capture the . 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. to read? I tear. [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. 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? Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. It is short, accessible, and easy to get through. [1] He was eight years old when he first began to write fiction. (LogOut/ The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, published 2020 *Mr. And you know what? Privacy Policy. 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. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. 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. It has become one of my favorites of al time. Reblogged this on Salvation and Shenanigans. 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. Like-minded people building it up to a roar. Browse titles with similar subject matter. Its the same reason why Mr Klune wrote the book, why I love the book, and why they hate the book. 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. Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. He isnt taking up space, or trying to overshadow the voice of indigenous writers. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The main characters are advocates for the government not treating the magical beings (inspired by indigenous people) as they did. 'I loved it. So, this is it? It is wish-fulfillment. 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. Please tell me (warn me?) more Tor Books Paperback December 2020 400 Pages 9781250217318 Buy the Book $18.99 About the Author Praise Discussion Questions Excerpt I read the first 2 Harry Potter books and just couldnt read any more. It is a power fantasy birthed by our own sense of powerlessness. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. I share your distaste for fantasy novels, and, for that reason, also considered stopping at the 70-page mark. What damage had The House in the Cerulean Sea done to indigenous people? All rights reserved. I had promised you my thoughts on The House in the Cerulean Sea last weekhere they are today! Seeing the similarities of this event take place in the current-day Southern United States, Klune felt a need to write a story celebrating children's differences and to show the positive effects of giving children a safe and supportive place to be themselves. ', "Lucy looked up from the Chuck Berry record. . 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. "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 . Theyre a story. I have holes. It was a little gnome girl named Talia that he mistook for a lawn ornament. Both, in their own ways, are different forms of wish fulfillment. Light me on fire, and I burn. 'I loved it. ISBN: 978-1-250-21728-8. I tear. Not for this. 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. Or maybe I am just getting old. The heartwarming, imaginative story follows a caseworker on an island of magical youth. In order to compare the two books I will first analyze them separately before taking a look at them side by side. But, man, would it be worth encouraging you to give THITCS another try? As Linus Baker reaches the house in the Cerulean Sea, he meets the magical children who call it home. 'Why do you sound like that? But the author is on the record saying that that history inspired the book. The Big Idea: TJ Klune by T. J. Klune on John and Athena Scalzis site Whatever. This particular Naga is Malaysian, born and bred. 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). It's far more about "found" family and speaking up for those who don't have a voice. " The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Why bother? Kids with emotional needs are treated the same way. This book is amazing and delightful. I am 100 percent positive that this book gives a beautiful message but unfortunately I just couldnt get past all of the fantastical elements to find it. In the words of Helen, "A house isn't always the house we live in. Second, to ask what damage did this book do to indigenous people is to trivialize indigenous peoples generational trauma. 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. And all of that can be true, and you can still like the book and the story. It was about this time that Linus felt his vision gray yet again at the thought ofof this child. I also liked the narrative tone that exaggerates the foibles of the world and minor characters to great effect. 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. These scratches are a history. 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 Maybe she has old school beliefs. I listened to it on audio, where the voiceover artist gave each character their own voice. Id love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! 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. 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). You are looking : the house in the cerulean sea controversy Contents 1.So, about that 'House in the Cerulean Sea' controversy? 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. We used to have a rescue, a Siberian husky, whom we named Lucy. It was about this time that Linus felt his vision gray yet again at the thought ofof this child. 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. There are so many messages in this beautifully written story. 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. And I understand why they did it. The House in The Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune is a multi-award winner. 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. 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. 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. The messages about acceptance, loyalty, and tolerance are beautiful, as are the themes about embracing diversity and valuing people for their character. ISBN-13: 9781250217288. A burning secret. ', "'Like you're mad. One common thread I see is that many who are angry at Mr Klune did not even realise that he was drawing inspiration from the Sixties Scoop initially, with some even saying that they adored the book before they learned about that unseen aspect of it. 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. and our It is idealistic to a fault. Here are three reasons "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is just as great as everyone says. I am but paper. The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. By this point, I was reaaaaaaaally struggling to continue reading but forged through in hopes of expanding my literary genre comfort zone. I am parched parchment. Loading. Pick a magical being and create the story of that person's discovery - how the person came to the notice of the Department. Maybe one of them doesnt like fantasy books and everyone else does lol. I teach high school emotional support. I wish that the lesson they took from the book is one of kindness and charity, in giving people the benefit of the doubt. Change). How dare people read strong connections between crimes against indigenous people into a book that was admittedly inspired by those crimes! Linus Baker is a man leading an ordinary, boring life slaving away at his job as a case worker for orphanages under the care of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. The parents' guide to what's in this book. There's a lot of ignorant prejudice directed against the kids in this story. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The two had met for the first time in person one year earlier at the 2012 GayRomLit Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. Have you read this book? At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. Get me wet, and I melt. The House in the Cerulean Sea is brilliant and gentle, the narrative slipping on like a well-worn sweater while performing a certain magic that makes it all feel fresh. For more information, please see our Oh, he understood why there was secrecy and could even comprehend the need for it. 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. What do you think is the enduring appeal of this theme, which sometimes takes the shape of magical kids in a school? 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. I am but paper, and though there are many like me, none are exactly the same. So many people would agree with you! TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea made an immediate splash in the bookish zeitgeist upon its March 2020 debut. The opposite, if anything. Brittle and thin. A Naga is a divine dragon from Eastern Hindu-Buddhist tradition. 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. 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 House in the Cerulean Sea is an adult fantasy novel, originally published on March 17, 2020. This book . 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. You can like the book and the author and still feel uneasy about the inspiration. By Chad Armstrong The House in the Cerulean Sea is available now. 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. I have Midnight Library in my kindle queue! I recently picked it up again to revisit the comfort of the magical house in the Cerulean Sea and fondly discovered once more why it comes so highly recommended by readers on TikTok. And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. I didnt see anyallusionsin the texteitherand read it as an allegory for discrimination against queer people. The Alex Awards are given to books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults. Travis John Klune (born May 20, 1982) is an American author of fantasy and romantic fiction featuring gay and LGBTQ+ characters. 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