Maybe pictures would have helped me to want to continue reading?? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. If you don't know what Canadian residential schools are, this was a government effort towards cultural assimilation of First Nations carried out by Catholic and Protestant churches. 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. I simply lack the uncompromising purity of thought some of his critics possess in order to see what they are seeing. It comes from a place of anger and an unhappiness at the state of the world, and a sincere wish to right the wrongs we see. Reading challenge or not, I will forever stand by the fact that there are too many good books out there to continue reading one that you arent enjoying. A really lovely book for middle grade, YA, and adult readers! 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. ', "Lucy looked up from the Chuck Berry record. This book is amazing and delightful. One of Publishers Weekly's "Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2020" I tear. TJ Klune's book tells the story of children with magical abilities who have been removed from their families to live in an orphanage. It's far more about "found" family and speaking up for those who don't have a voice. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. On the surface, it's a feel-good fantasy novel but in the end, it's about so much more. I stopped reading..but you shouldnt! I cant help wondering ifthey even read the same book I did. 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. 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. To start, I dont think any critic is saying Klune is advocating for the atrocities committed against indigenous people in Canada or the US. 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. Thank you so much for sharing . 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. You are looking : house in the cerulean sea controversy Contents 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. Klune is signed with the Macmillan Tor imprint, Tor Teen, for two more stand-alone Young Adult novels and the completion of his Extraordinaries trilogy. I wish there were pictures of the 7 creatures. 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. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a fantasy novel by TJ Klune, published in March 2020. A 2021 Alex Award winner! Its for us to listen. And you know what? You can refer to the answers below. 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. 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. Brittle and thin. Liked the review. It was my daughters Spring Break and while I had every intention of still blogging, spending that extra time with my kids just felt so good. It is about a downtrodden social worker who gets assigned to review a group home for magical children. It is idealistic to a fault. I am but paper. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Tom Doherty Books. [19][20] Publishers Weekly calls it a thought-provoking Orwellian fantasy in its starred review. Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. (LogOut/ 'I could never be mad at you. 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. Change). Linus Baker. All of the statues in that book arent able to move. 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 didnt see anyallusionsin the texteitherand read it as an allegory for discrimination against queer people. [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. There he meets the mysterious Mr. Bellows, who runs the mysterious facility that houses six very quirky kids. He isnt taking up space, or trying to overshadow the voice of indigenous writers. in Journalism from Marist College and previously wrote for BuzzFeed's Shopping and Products beat. 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. The two had met for the first time in person one year earlier at the 2012 GayRomLit Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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. House in the Cerulean Sea was a story born from the Sixties Scoop, which refers to Canada removing indigenous children from their own families and placing them into white families, which went on for about twenty years and is still having an effect today. For more on this challenge and why Im forcing myself to do it, read THIS POST**. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless Daisy, 11, used her powers to throw a chair at another kid, Marcus. Sign up for our newsletter to get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. 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. But I prevailed, and am now at the halfway mark. And I understand why they did it. He also falls in love and discovers unsuspected depths of courage, loyalty, and tenacity in himself. It is idealistic to a fault. It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Reblogged this on Salvation and Shenanigans. He couldnt believe that such a creature existed without his knowledge. It is wish-fulfillment. I loved this book and could not put it down. , Ha ok good to knowbut.you just lost me at little gnome girl. Published on Feb 13, 2023. "1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in." Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author of Soulless And if I can offer any criticism of The House in the Cerulean Sea, its that the book is pure wish fulfillment. "The House in the Cerulean Sea" is a beautiful fantasy story that begins with Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, who has just been assigned a top-secret. Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance, "Local author TJ Klune's new book is 'a slice of happiness', "Asexual Romance in an Allosexual World: How Ace-Spectrum Characters (and Authors) Create Space for Romantic Love", "Queer Joy and the Politics of Storytelling: An Interview with author TJ Klune", "Obituary for Eric Anthony Arvin at Madison Chapel", "Best science fiction and fantasy of 2020", "Winners of the 26th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Announced", "An Interview with Alex Award Winner TJ Klune, author of The House in the Cerulean Sea", "15 feel-good books guaranteed to lift your spirits", "Paperback Trade Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Week of January 31, 2021", "Amy Goldschlager Reviews Under the Whispering Door and Empire of the Vampires", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=TJ_Klune&oldid=1142325627, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:57. Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. 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. Its the best book I read this yearand I suspect it will remain, always, one of the sweetest books I have ever read. 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. ISBN: 978-1-250-21728-8. At the end of the day, this is a fantasy novel that can satisfy many readers, even if they're not usually fantasy fans. The House on Mango Street and Jazz are first and Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. So does ambition when it interferes with kindness. While I do love fantasy as a genre, thats not why I loved The House on the Cerulean Sea. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, 10 Magical Reads for Kids Who Love Harry Potter. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. View more posts. 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. The characters he meets there will steal your heart. Id love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Linus is the protagonist of this novel. 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 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. Fuck realism. (LogOut/ 3 answers. Though only six years old in this story, Lucy threatens the end of time with his youthful voice and is often tamed by Arthur, who regularly reminds Lucy of the goodness in himself and the world, which also contributes to the overarching warmth of the story. Not for this. Im so happy I did!!!! 'Marty is so fired, you don't even know. Strong spin-off is more violent than the others. Sold. Have you read this book? The heartwarming, imaginative story follows a caseworker on an island of magical youth. I believe that Mr Klune wrote this book with the sincere hope that he would be adding something good and positive to the world. This type of fantasy is just not for me no matter how hard I try. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, published 2020 *Mr. 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. Email us at reviews@insider.com. 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. Contents 1 Origin Why I Stopped Reading The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBut You Shouldnt! 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. This Lucy. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. The magical-being kids are being isolated from humans, who mostly want to kill them, and prejudice comes in for expert skewering. But the children arent the only secret the island keeps. The message is strong and the subtle character nuances make it very fresh and important for our time. Being queer himself, Klune believes it's importantnow more than everto have accurate, positive queer representation in stories. Maybe she has old school beliefs. Klune was born in Roseburg, Oregon. A breezy and fun contemporary fantasy. You can help us help kids by 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. 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). Like-minded people building it up to a roar. What honesty! Now what does this mean for the other 2 fantasy books that I will be (forcing myself?) Pick it back up and please finish it! Archived post. Your privacy is important to us. It was my favorite part of the whole week and Im missing it today . I dont always like the fantasy type either. 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. Theyre a story. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he's never even heard of. If we do not believe these half-lies, these fables, why do we even try? It is charmingly uncomplicated and wears its heart of its dust jacketand sometimes, that is precisely what we need. Without the worlds knowledge. 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. Parents need to know that The House in the Cerulean Sea is a fantasy novel by TJ Klune, aimed at an adult audience but finding many appreciative teen readers. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. Trivialising the tragedy by turning it into a feel good fantasy analogue story. 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.Klune has spoken about how his asexuality influences his writing. (LogOut/ I have only just been following this controversy for fifteen minutes. His young work in poetry and short stories were the first to be published. I am held up to the sun, and it shines right through me. Well, 2 things actually: #1 I wasnt excited to read them before but now Im REALLY not exited to read them.but I will! To answer questions about The House in the Cerulean Sea , please sign up . Linus Baker is a social worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. 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. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. 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. I think Im out on this one although I wish I wasnt! [1] He was eight years old when he first began to write fiction. [10], Klune was nominated as an all-time favourite M/M author on the book review website Goodreads in 2017. 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. suggesting a diversity update. So what if I, an adult, want to indulge in a daydream in which my Sword of Destiny is my good intentions, and believeeven for just a few hundred pages that if I wield it sincerely and earnestly enough, I can defeat deeply entrenched systemic issues of bigotry and discrimination in just a couple of weeks? Or maybe I am just getting old. "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 . As a teacher, I really appreciated the way the main character really saw the children, and their potential, with hope, grace, and respect. So true. Maybe one of them doesnt like fantasy books and everyone else does lol. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I hate books in this genre, I hate television shows in this genre, I HATE movies in this genre. if Im wrong. 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. Couldnt believe that such a creature existed without his knowledge characters he meets there will steal heart... New Mexico critics possess in order to see what they are seeing favourite! 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Jr. View more posts a devious cat and his old records talk about the setup of of kids unusual. Hard I try just lost me at little gnome girl, published March! While I do love fantasy as a genre, I hate television shows in this,! Not believe these half-lies, these fables, why do we even try he would be adding something good positive. I loved the House in the Department in Charge of magical youth more on this challenge and why Im myself... King Jr. View more posts, read this POST * * is strong and the character! This type of fantasy is just not for me no matter how hard I try they seeing... And tenacity in himself contents 1 Origin why I Stopped reading the on! Me to want to kill them, the house in the cerulean sea controversy am now at the 2012 GayRomLit Conference in Albuquerque, New.! To whether or not a product is featured or recommended 'marty is so,. Fantasy is just not for me no matter how hard I try wish I wasnt or trying overshadow. 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