The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
(Format used for this book: Audiobook)
Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
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 place – and realizing that family is yours.
OMGGGGG.
I just ADORED this book SO VERY MUCH!
Honestly, it’s probably the BEST audiobook I’ve listened to in a looonnngggg time.
I know I have said that multiple times before… but it was just STUPENDOUS!
Daniel Henning was the sole narrator but the fantastical way his voice uniquely inhabits each eccentric and wonderful character is a MARVEL, yall.
The story itself is just charming and lovely on it’s own…but listening to it with his narration just makes it EVEN MORE SO.
GAAAHHHHHH…so freaking GOOD, my friends!
Just SOOOO freaking good.
I loved the main character, Linus, instantly.
He is kind of a boring, middle aged square who has accepted his mundane life as agreeable.
He’s working for a government agency that regulates orphanges that house magical children (who are basically ostracized from “normal” society)–he takes his job very seriously and upholds all rules and regulations with rigid certainty.
Linus and his mean cat Calliope just go about their days–surviving daily life really, not truly thriving— with commentary from their old crochety neighbor.
UNTIL…..
He gets called in by the higher ups for a top secret assignment.
And you KNOW something is about to go down that will shake his little simple, boring, lonely life ALL KINDS OF UP!
I mean…you just can not help but like Linus.
He is kind and thoughtful and just has this way about him…and he is clueless to his greatness. He is so much more tremendous than he thinks he is….and you’re just waiting for him to realize it.
The characters he encounters on his assignment are just SO FASCINATING….I don’t want to say too much because I just want you to relish in meeting them for the first time…. you can’t help but love them TOO!
Like I said, the narration is SPECTACULAR and his voices create crystal clear pictures in your head of what the characters look like. It’s WONDERFUL.
My favorite voice of his was the one he did for Chauncey….I don’t think I would have pictured him the same in my head without his characterization!
This story is just absolutely CHARMING–it is filled with humor and hope amidst heartache, and has fabulous eccentricities and it just touches your heart in a very unique way.
This story is about challenging biases and long held stereotypes…and realizing that when you open your mind and heart to learn about those who are different from you, the world grows in multiple and marvelous ways.
How when you truly get to know people you realize how incorrect and harming misconceptions can be.
The driving force behind so much hatred and prejudice is really just plain ignorance— living in a homogenous bubble of a community can give you such a severely limited view on the world….and you miss out on so much wonder and loveliness.
This book reminds us that it is NEVER too late to change your life or your perspective….growth and change and evolution are ALWAYS possible.
This is also a story about how there is no such thing as “normal” or “good”–those things are just perceptions based on individual’s beliefs and experiences.
The characters remind us that love and family looks different and is experienced different for everyone….and what matters the most is feeling accepted and safe and loved and cared for…THAT is what makes a person your family.
I laughed and cried and felt all my feels in this book—which isn’t unusual because I type that sentence probably every other book I review 😆
But I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much!
It’s one I didn’t want to end but felt so lovely when it did.
I know yall totally know what I mean.
I miss the characters already!