The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J Klune – 5/5

Hate is loud, but I think you’ll learn it’s because it’s only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as your remember you’re not alone, you will overcome.

– T.J Klune

Specifics:

Book: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Author: T.J. Klune

Published: 7 Jan 2020

Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary fantasy, Fantasy comedy, Gay Fiction, Occult Fiction

LGBTQIA literature: Yaas!

Publisher: Macmillan Books

Pages: 384

My rating: 5/5

Blurb:

A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. 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.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s 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. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

An enchanting story, masterfully told, The House in the Cerulean Sea is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.

Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.

– T.J Klune

Review:

Have you ever wanted to read a book that makes your heart do all sorts of happy dances? A book that will make you want to leave this awful dustbin of a place and step into that beautiful, heart-warming world of fiction?

I am in awe and I am also on a mission. EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK! I REPEAT! EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!

They say that we are all born innocent and it’s the prejudice in the world that shapes us into something not so nice. We all have good inside of us and it’s the notions that we grow up with, that hides it. The book opens our eyes to this truth, only that the author has done it in the most pleasant way possible.

The author, bless his miraculous soul for sharing his stories with us. The book made me so happy. I am so happy. The book gave me hope. Hope that the world can be a better place if we want it to be. It’ll be hard, yes, but it is not impossible.

If I have to listen to one song while reading the book which is a totally hypothetical situation becasue who can do that together, it would be “STRIP BY LITTLE MIX FT. SHARAYA J”. The lines… ‘Love who you wanna! Don’t give a damn its a man or a woman. Wanna talk about colour? It’s the skin that I’m in, yeah I get from my mama’ were reverberating through my head while I was reading the book.

The book showed that no matter how long it has been that you’ve been exposed to prejudice and how long it has been that you’ve grown around hatred and discrimination, if you are willing to change, you can. Also, no matter how much you hate someone because of the notion that others have instilled in you, give them a chance and you might just see something wonderful unfold.

The book is a breeze read and by breeze I mean fresh air kinda breeze which you pray never stops. I couldn’t put the book down. I didn’t want it to be over. Did I cry? Yes! But I always cry so don’t count that. Happy tears and the feeling of fullness in my heart continued throughout the read.

It is so unique and refreshing. It will bring out the good in you. I think I’ve used all the good adjectives that I know. But it deserves way more. I am gonna  make an exception and go cheesy and say, ‘No combination of the 26 alphabets of the English language can explain how amazing the book is and how everyone should read it.’

For everything that the book opened up inside of me, I rate it 5/5 stars.

A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with. 

– T.J Klune

Spoiler alert:

I think if I get into talking about my favourite parts of the book, I’ll end up quoting the entire book so, I shall talk about the characters and what the kids taught me.

A special mention to the epilogue where a new kid named David is being brought into the house which is also going to see a grand wedding. I am so excited for the amazing lives that the people in story are gonna live.

I really wish the world could be changed bit by bit like it is in the book.

Your voice is a weapon. Never forget that.

– T.J Klune

Coming to the Characters and what they taught me:

Linus Baker: Our man is the reason why this book gave me hope. I didn’t hate him for his ways in the beginning because it’s probably the authors way of writing that made me believe that Linus isn’t what he’s thinking he is. And he obviously proves himself wrong. I love him so much. I love that he cares for everyone and I love that he means every word he says. I want a Linus Baker in my life.

Arthur Parnassus: The father who doesn’t need to birth kids to love them beyond eternity. Having had a terrible time growing up in the same house, he has taken it upon himself to spend his life making the growing years of kids like him as nurturing as he can. He is so giving and he is so thoughtful of everyone. Him being a phoenix has only made him more intriguing and lovable for me.

Lucy: The most innocent and pure little boy who has spent his life knowing more than he should at such a young age, Lucy showed me that no matter what your legacy is, no matter what people tell you that your born for, you can choose to live your life the way you want. There’s good inside of you and you don’t need to hide it because of someone else’s notion about you. I loved every thing that he says in the book. He’s hilarious and he knows it.

Talia: The beautiful garden gnome with a very white and dense beard who was over 263 years old but that only meant she had 237 years to gain maturity taught me how beauty never has any set standards. It doesn’t matter how fat or think you are, it doesn’t matter how your appearance is and that beauty is always what’s on the inside. She was so passionate about her gardening and she did everything that she did with utmost love and care.

Theodore: An endangered species who I believe unintentionally spits or sneezes out fire, Theodore is a Wyvern with a very long pair of wings that keep getting in his way. He’s clumsy just like me but he’s also very kind. He has a language of his own which is easy to pick up on if you spend a little time with him. He taught me how to find happiness and joy in the simplest of things in life.

Phee: The Sprite who is unlucky to have lost her parents but lucky to have found Zoe to teach her more about her kind and her powers, Phee was everyone’s best friend. She learns to grow beautiful flowers and shows us that there’s kindness and love hidden in everyone and it only takes the right amount of care and affection to uncover it.

Sal: The tallest of the lot who is a Ware-wolf kind of a creature that turns into a fluffy 5-pound Pomeranian when he’s scared has been through a lot. With the help of Arthur and the other kids, he’s managed to live in this house for the longest and he has only started to open up. He has a knack for poetry and he’s very attached to Theodore of all. Sal taught me that with the right amount of love and effort, you can heal your heart, no matter how broken it is.

Chauncey: Our very own future bellhop, a creature that is probably a hybrid jelly fish is the cutest of its kind with manners like no other. He is always thinking and wanting to learn more about how he could be a better bellhop once he grows up. He taught me about how persistence and determination in your dream will make sure you get closer to making it happen.

Zoe: The Island sprite who has chosen to open up her land to the kids and Arthur is the reason why they have a home in the first place. She’s done everything to keep the kids safe and also takes time out to cook for them. She personally teaches Phee to love herself and to master her powers.

Helen: The Mayor, I guess who proved that it’s better late than never and tries to make things as normal as possible for the kids. She paves the way for people to become more open minded and she’s also a multi tasker and I love her.

We should always make time for the things we like. If we don’t, we might forget how to be happy.

– T.J Klune

What I liked about it:

1. The book has given me hope
2. The book has made me happy
3. LGBTQIA literature
4. All age groups can/need to read/listen to this story
5. This is the kind of story that the kids need to listen to growing up
6. Heart-warming and beautiful
7. 384 pages of absolute beauty

Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, and learn from it, we can become better people.

– T.J Klune

What I did not fancy:

1. Nothing
2. Not one thing

It’s the little things, I expect. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It’s beautiful, when you think about it.

– T.J Klune