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A review by aforestofbooks
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
5.0
Be prepared to witness me gushing about this book for the next few paragraphs...
But first. I need to start off by thanking Mackenzie over at colourmeread.com for writing and posting a review of this book a couple weeks back. I literally ran to netgalley.com immediately after to see if I could request it and got approved the next day! Without Mackenzie, I would have missed out on such a great book and my life would be boring and colourless and just plain depressing.
For those of you currently in social isolation, this book will lift your spirits and give you the hope that you need to get through the next few months. The story is beautiful, the characters charming. It's funny and lighthearted, yet deals with some serious topics that are super relatable. There's more than a touch of magic, but what really sticks with me is the message of hope that the book ends off with.
In other words, it's just so good I'm djslkfjlsdk. I have nothing at all to say on how it could be better. It can't. Because it's absolute perfection. I NEED EVERYONE TO READ IT. I also need a movie adaptation right now. Preferably tomorrow. I spent most of the book imagining James Corden as Linus Baker because he's the only cute egg-shaped actor I know of who could pull off the somewhat terrified-anxious-but-also-super-loving caseworker. Someone needs to buy the movie rights today. WE NEED HAPPINESS AND RAINBOWS AND A CUTE ANTICHRIST.
If you're looking for a non-spoiler description of this book, the best way I can say it is...A Series of Unfortunate Events meets Howl's Moving Castle meets Umbrella Academy (but actually good).
Anyway...this is a character-driven book, so it makes sense for me to talk about all the characters. I loved them all, which comes as no surprise, but here's a little bit of my thoughts for each one.
Arthur Parnassus gave me major Dumbledore vibes. The classic twinkle in his eye, his overall demeanour and patience when it came to the children, his colourful socks, and the other aspect of him that is spoilery but just fits so well. T. J. Klune took what we knew of Dumbledore, got rid of the whole I'm-using-you-to-kill-Voldemort character flaw, and created something beautiful. I love Arthur Parnassus. He is such a good dad and you guys know how big a fan I am of dads in books. We need more father-figures who love and care for their children, whether their own or adopted. It makes me emotional.
Linus Baker, our main character, is the softest, most anxious, round egg I have ever met. He is adorable, and gets scared super easily. He hates going outside and doesn't like to exercise. He's all proper and loves rules. And he has a sassy cat named Calliope who I adore. I loved loved loved seeing the journey Linus went on throughout the book. From a shy, timid kind of character, to someone strong and firm in his beliefs. He overcomes his own prejudices and preconceived notions and learns that you can't judge someone based on how they look and that just because something is done a certain way doesn't mean it's right. He also loves ignoring his feelings which makes for some great slow-burn romance. I actually died at so many scenes, everything was too cute, and the way things concluded almost made me cry.
As for the children...Talia, the gnome, is such a cutie. I love how badly she wants to bury Linus in a grave with her shovel. And her relationship with Helen was so soft and perfect. Theodore, the wyvern, and his obsession over buttons melted my heart. I loved seeing how Linus goes from not understanding both gnomish and Theodore, to fully communicating with them by the end. I really hope Chauncey gets to follow his dreams. He's so young and innocent and such a refreshing character. Sal and Linus' interactions later on in this book made my heart cry out. Like I mentioned earlier, this book does deal with tougher issues like physical and emotional abuse, and seeing Linus go from trying to be objective and impersonal, to really connecting with each child, was wonderful to see. Phee and the flower she grew still makes me emotional. I also love how much the kids and Zoe ship Linus and Arthur together. Everyone is rooting for them, but Linus is a clueless idiot for most of the book. And lastly...we got Lucy. My favourite little devil. He was the comic relief I needed, and his attempts at scaring the daylights out of Linus made me laugh out loud.
The world itself is very interesting and unique. I loved how at the end we're left with the hope that things will improve, though the changes are slow. A part of me wants more. I just love the characters and the setting. The island sounds like such a magical place to live. And overall, the book just feels good. It makes you feel a lot of emotions, but it's the kind of sadness that's mixed with hope and love and happiness. It's the perfect combination.
5/5 stars!! Highly, highly recommend!
But first. I need to start off by thanking Mackenzie over at colourmeread.com for writing and posting a review of this book a couple weeks back. I literally ran to netgalley.com immediately after to see if I could request it and got approved the next day! Without Mackenzie, I would have missed out on such a great book and my life would be boring and colourless and just plain depressing.
For those of you currently in social isolation, this book will lift your spirits and give you the hope that you need to get through the next few months. The story is beautiful, the characters charming. It's funny and lighthearted, yet deals with some serious topics that are super relatable. There's more than a touch of magic, but what really sticks with me is the message of hope that the book ends off with.
In other words, it's just so good I'm djslkfjlsdk. I have nothing at all to say on how it could be better. It can't. Because it's absolute perfection. I NEED EVERYONE TO READ IT. I also need a movie adaptation right now. Preferably tomorrow. I spent most of the book imagining James Corden as Linus Baker because he's the only cute egg-shaped actor I know of who could pull off the somewhat terrified-anxious-but-also-super-loving caseworker. Someone needs to buy the movie rights today. WE NEED HAPPINESS AND RAINBOWS AND A CUTE ANTICHRIST.
If you're looking for a non-spoiler description of this book, the best way I can say it is...A Series of Unfortunate Events meets Howl's Moving Castle meets Umbrella Academy (but actually good).
Anyway...this is a character-driven book, so it makes sense for me to talk about all the characters. I loved them all, which comes as no surprise, but here's a little bit of my thoughts for each one.
Arthur Parnassus gave me major Dumbledore vibes. The classic twinkle in his eye, his overall demeanour and patience when it came to the children, his colourful socks, and the other aspect of him that is spoilery but just fits so well. T. J. Klune took what we knew of Dumbledore, got rid of the whole I'm-using-you-to-kill-Voldemort character flaw, and created something beautiful. I love Arthur Parnassus. He is such a good dad and you guys know how big a fan I am of dads in books. We need more father-figures who love and care for their children, whether their own or adopted. It makes me emotional.
Linus Baker, our main character, is the softest, most anxious, round egg I have ever met. He is adorable, and gets scared super easily. He hates going outside and doesn't like to exercise. He's all proper and loves rules. And he has a sassy cat named Calliope who I adore. I loved loved loved seeing the journey Linus went on throughout the book. From a shy, timid kind of character, to someone strong and firm in his beliefs. He overcomes his own prejudices and preconceived notions and learns that you can't judge someone based on how they look and that just because something is done a certain way doesn't mean it's right. He also loves ignoring his feelings which makes for some great slow-burn romance. I actually died at so many scenes, everything was too cute, and the way things concluded almost made me cry.
As for the children...Talia, the gnome, is such a cutie. I love how badly she wants to bury Linus in a grave with her shovel. And her relationship with Helen was so soft and perfect. Theodore, the wyvern, and his obsession over buttons melted my heart. I loved seeing how Linus goes from not understanding both gnomish and Theodore, to fully communicating with them by the end. I really hope Chauncey gets to follow his dreams. He's so young and innocent and such a refreshing character. Sal and Linus' interactions later on in this book made my heart cry out. Like I mentioned earlier, this book does deal with tougher issues like physical and emotional abuse, and seeing Linus go from trying to be objective and impersonal, to really connecting with each child, was wonderful to see. Phee and the flower she grew still makes me emotional. I also love how much the kids and Zoe ship Linus and Arthur together. Everyone is rooting for them, but Linus is a clueless idiot for most of the book. And lastly...we got Lucy. My favourite little devil. He was the comic relief I needed, and his attempts at scaring the daylights out of Linus made me laugh out loud.
The world itself is very interesting and unique. I loved how at the end we're left with the hope that things will improve, though the changes are slow. A part of me wants more. I just love the characters and the setting. The island sounds like such a magical place to live. And overall, the book just feels good. It makes you feel a lot of emotions, but it's the kind of sadness that's mixed with hope and love and happiness. It's the perfect combination.
5/5 stars!! Highly, highly recommend!