Summary:
“DON’T YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE?”
Linus Baker is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY): stiff, rule-following, and perfectly content with his current life, thank you very much. His only longing is for the beautiful sandy beach on his mousepad at work, which asks, “DON’T YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE?” (To which he responds, “Yes. Daily.”)
Due to his reputation for thorough, unfeeling, and objective reports, Extremely Upper Management gives Linus an important assignment. He must investigate an orphanage for magical youth on an isolated island, which is said to house the six most dangerous magical children in the world — and, conveniently, a beautiful beach just like the one Linus so admires on his mousepad.
As Linus spends time with the children and mysterious master of the orphanage, Arthur Parnassus, he begins to question his beliefs on right and wrong. Are these children truly so dangerous that they can bring about the end of the world? Or has someone made them believe that?
The House in the Cerulean Sea tells the beautiful story of finding where you belong, and in that, finding yourself.
Review:
Wow. I absolutely fell in love with this book. As I was reading it, I was putting off finishing it because I didn’t want it to end. The House in the Cerulean Sea made me laugh out loud, tear up, and feel like my heart was about to burst out of my chest. Even thinking about this story gives me the warm fuzzies.
One of the main sources of said warm fuzzies are the characters. Each character was crafted so intricately that by the end of the novel, I felt as if I knew them. I knew their fears and doubts, their sense of humor, their passions and goals… and I loved them all. Author TJ Klune did an amazing job at not only writing these characters’ personalities, but also naturally revealing them. The relationships between Linus and the children, as well as Linus and the adults (Arthur and Zoe), progressed organically. Each interaction was purposeful, showing the growing bond between characters, how the characters had evolved, and sharing more of their personalities. This made the novel and its characters feel real.
The setting also added an element of reality to the book. I love the way that Klune blended worlds. By using elements from our current world, a dystopian society reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, and fantasy, Klune creates a feeling akin to that of Harry Potter. It is the perfect mix for all readers: it’s realistic and understandable enough for those who don’t typically read fantasy, without losing the transportive magic of fantasy novels.
This blended setting was grounded enough in the reality of our world for Klune to send powerful messages about our society today, turning this book into what I would call a “modern classic.” This is not a term I use lightly. I do believe that this book and its messages will continue to be relevant and enjoyable for decades to come, and that everyone should read this. Klune was able to integrate conversations about important issues without it feeling like he was listing relevant buzzwords or going through a “social justice checklist.” The messages came naturally, yet powerfully, revealing the depth of Klune’s writing talent.
Klune’s writing style is unlike anything I have read before. His descriptions of the setting and appearance of characters made me feel as though I was watching an animated film (side note: if I was a millionaire, I would fund an animated movie of this book, no hesitation). I have never experienced the feeling of watching an animated film while reading a book, and it was so fun. Additionally, the descriptions of the setting were detailed without being unnecessarily descriptive, and the island was vibrantly beautiful. I loved being able to escape there at the end of a long day.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a novel that I will never stop thinking about. It is one of my all-time favorite books, and it has changed the way I see the world. If that isn’t a sign of a good book, I don’t know what is.
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