This week we are discussing The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, Chapters 1-5.
Spoiler Warning!!! This post is full of spoilers for The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
Trigger/Content Warning!!! This book has scenes and discussion of such themes as: prejudice, fatphobia, magical violence,
Discussion:
Michaela: Hello friends and welcome to our first discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. This book is drastically different from our last read but I was so ready for that! This book definitely took me by surprise. I was not entirely sure what to expect with this book because every review had been somewhat cryptic about it. Most people just said that they loved it and it was magical. Gee thanks! So far I have been pleasantly surprised by the quirky magicalness of this book, this style of writing is my favorite style and it just sucks me right in. I read this first chunk all in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down.
Jacilyn: The writing is so quirky and whimsical! I also wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it’s been such an enjoyable read already. I’ve found myself chuckling out loud and smiling while reading. I think Linus is charming and sweet, although I feel he’s intentionally naive in regards to DICOMY sometimes. It seems that his compassion for the children is what motivates his hard work ethic (although the awful way in which DICOMY is run probably influences him also) and his resigned love for Calliope is wholesome and sweet. I’m looking forward to following him throughout this story.
Michaela: I really love Linus’ character, he is clearly very caring, sweet, smart, and charming. He cares about people, children especially, and his cat (which that relationship is the best thing ever) but as you said he is intentionally naive, which I’m sure will change by the end of this book. While he doesn’t want to rock the boat most of the time he still questions many things that happen around him or to him or that are said to him. He may not voice them aloud but he thinks about them and that at least is a starting point for growth. I can’t imagine working 17 years in the same job, in an environment like that, and not becoming a silent, easily influenced follower. This job seems to squash all personality and joy out of Linus and I’m sure many others who work there. Underneath everything Linus just wants to help children which is why he is so good at his job, because he cares. This is why he was chosen by Extremely Upper Management for this assignment but I think it’ll come around to bite them in the ass. The fatal mistake made by most villains, don’t choose minions who care.
Jacilyn: I think they chose Linus for this assignment because he seems to do everything by the book… but the reason he does that, is because he cares. He really is proud of the work he does as an individual, while being clearly disenchanted with the organization as a whole. Frankly, the concept of DICOMY (and DICOMA) is entirely too close to the ways that the US government “regulated” the lives of Native folks - which included “residential schools.” If these magical children don’t comply with all the rules and regulations of DICOMY, they are reported and we can only imagine what the consequences of that are. It’s no wonder people like Ms. Jenkins and Gunther are employed in leadership positions there.
Michaela: The DICOMY and DICOMA make me feel so icky. Like I feel completely covered in sludge thinking about them, it’s so familiar and so disheartening and disgusting. I want to know and yet don’t want to know what happens to the orphanages and the children Linus reports on. What made me really upset was Linus kept repeating “that’s above my pay grade”. Sir no. This is what seems to be a very large agency that is controlling the lives of magical beings and you just accept not knowing what they’re doing. No. That needs to be public knowledge or even better it just shouldn’t exist at all. There can be no good reason for this agency at all. They even monitor their own employees while inside the building with numerous huge cameras. The only ones who monitor people that much are the ones with secrets to hide themselves.
Then on top of that they’re a horrible employer who gives no vacation or sick days which is something we are battling in the real world along with registering human beings as if they are not human such as with the blood quantum on Native Americans. It’s incredibly evil and unnecessary, unless you know...you’re the one trying to hide your own secrets and erase history. I have so much emotional energy in this story already because of how it relates to the battles already happening right now in our own country. I always like seeing the parallels between the stories we read and the world we’re living in.
DICOMY really showed their true colors with that fountain in their office. Absolutely vile symbolism, just reminds me of all the confederate statues the US is taking down and many other statues dedicated to colonizers, dictators, and war criminals in the name of “preserving history”. They employ people like Ms. Jenkins (don’t you just want to slap her?) and Gunther, which can we just yeet him out the window. Talk about smarmy. Just ew...I hate him. Then there’s Linus’ neighbor Mrs. Klapper, maybe I’m paranoid but I smell an annoying spy for DICOMY possibly, wouldn’t surprise me. ALSO, I’m so mad guys, can we talk about the FATPHOBIA involved with all these people against Linus who has the body of a regular 40 year old man. I will fight everyone. Then the DESKS, that gives me so many flashbacks to those tiny ass desks we had in high school and college where it’s only half a desk and the tiniest chair humanly possible that is attached so you can’t even adjust it for comfortability. I hate everything about DICOMY and I can’t imagine DICOMA is much different.
Jacilyn: I totally agree. The entire entity shouldn’t exist. There’s no way they’re actually up to any good. I’m thinking Mrs. Klapper is either a spy, or just a nosy busybody who likes to pick on Linus cuz he doesn’t really pick back. And yes, the fatphobia was infuriating. Linus is a normal middle-aged man, and clearly everything at DICOMY is meant to make you uncomfortable. You’re exactly right of it being similar to those awful desks from school. They were my literal nightmare and often left me covered in bruises.
This is one of those stories where I feel like I can guess what’s going to happen, but not in a bad way. I bet Linus and Arthur will fall in love and Linus will realize that these supposedly dangerous and “most unusual” children could potentially be hurt if DICOMY learns the truth. I’ve been told many times that this book is like a hug, and I’m already feeling that way. It seems meant to be that Linus would get this special assignment somewhere where he’s near the ocean, something he always wanted to see. My heart almost burst when he saw the sea for the first time with Ms. Chapelwhite.
It’s clear that the village on the mainland was full of people who held deep fear of the inhabitants of the island. I wonder if the other orphanages that Linus visited caused the same sort of fear and hatred as Arthur’s, or if it was the particularly unique kind of children housed on the island that caused that intense of a reaction.
Michaela: We know literally nothing about Arthur yet but I already ship it, anyone who chooses to care for the children who are shunned can keep my heart forever. I think this house will be full of rambunctious magical children and a man who loves them, or at least I hope so. This book really does feel like a hug, as I started reading it felt like I was sinking into a familiar world and a familiar story even though I’ve never read it. Something about this author’s writing style and this story combines into this fantastic feeling of belonging and being comfortable. It’s really hard to describe but I’ve only gotten that feeling with maybe two books or series before. It doesn’t happen often and I’m really excited to keep reading to see how that feeling evolves.
I hope to see Linus and Arthur bring down DICOMY and DICOMA. Especially after meeting Ms. Chapelwhite, we know nothing good comes from that agency. Linus finally seeing the sea after 17 years of no vacation opportunity broke my heart in the best way. The first time I saw the ocean up close was in Ireland and I felt so similarly to how Linus did, it just shocks you with how beautiful and vast it is. I’m so grateful that he gets to spend time at this house that sits right on the ocean. I know he’ll find a special kind of peace in being near the ocean, something he’s longed for. It was such a beautiful moment to read, it might seem like a small moment to some people but I don’t think I could forget it.
But of course somewhere so beautiful has to be charred by hatred emanating from the people in the village. I’m curious to know if the whole world is aware of magical children or not, it hasn’t been made very clear yet. There is clearly a lot of prejudice against magical beings though which is also something I’m interested in learning more about where that comes from. Is it all people who are prejudiced or specifically this town because of these specific magical children? This house is full of some of the most intriguing magical children I’ve ever read about and I already love them. Talia is so spunky, Phee is very mysterious, Sal is so sweet, Theodore can have every shiny thing I own, and Chauncey stole my heart with his bellhop routine. I can’t stand how amazing these characters are already and we haven't even met Lucy yet, I’m not sure what his character will be. I’ve read and watched a few stories with an “Anti-Christ” character and they’re all very different.
Jacilyn: I feel the same way about the ocean. Every time I see it, I still get that feeling. I started reading this book right after getting back from the Oregon coast, too, so that scene was extra special. I also hope that Linus and Arthur take down DICOMY and keep these children safe for forever. They’re all so charming and have such different personalities. I love that Talia is over 200 years old! And I can’t wait to meet Lucy. I’m guessing he’ll be full of demon-esque threats, but all bark no bite. As the section ended, he was clearly about to make a grand first appearance!
Thank you all for joining us in our first discussion of The House in the Cerulean Sea. We’re so excited to keep reading this lovely book and learn more about the characters. Will Linus and Arthur fall in love? Will Calliope become a sacrifice to the roots of Talia’s garden? Will Lucy destroy the world? We’ll find out!
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