The House in the Cerulean Sea
Ratings1,115
Average rating4.3
This book was just so lovely. All of the characters are charming, the setting is delightful, and the plot whisks you along on a magical, little journey. A+ work.
I wasn't expecting a cozy book about gentle parenting kids with powers, but I'm here for it.
It took me a long time to finally listen to this audiobook after seeing it on many "Best of..." lists. I'm glad I finally experienced this warm and perhaps alagorical story - and that I listened to the excellent audio version. Five unique, quirky, mysterious and ultimately endearing children are at the heart. The narrator captured each voice in such a way that the characters became vibrant and real for me far more than simply reading the words on the page would have done. The tale is a useful one in our times as our present realities of bigotry, scapegoating, fear of the other, shunning the unknown and more are central. These are countered by trust, empathy and love of others. The romance which blooms is emblematic of the growth the frumpy, yet remarkably courageous Linus achieves across the story arc. Well recommended - especially the audio version.
Listened to this one. Very enjoyable - the audio production is really well done. Government Social Worker spends a month visiting a group home for unusual children. Really enjoyed the characters. Side character J-Dude was my favorite, though. What a scream.
It was my favorite book I've ever read. Nearly perfect (although I have it 5 stars, there's no option for 4.9).
It is such an AMAZING BOOK. I HAVEN'T FELT AND CRIED AND LAUGHED SO MUCH WITH A BOOK IN A VERY LONG TIME.
LOVELY. It hit me in the feels.b
Es una hermosa historia que la re imagino hecha por Pixar, con un protagonista burócrata en una vida gris, burocrática y aburrida que tiene que ir a una isla llena de magia y encanto por un encargo del trabajo. La historia es hermosa y tierna, hace mucho incapié en no juzgar un libro por una portada y en no encasillarse en lo que la sociedad dice que tenemos que ser. La historia es bastante autoconclusiva, aunque tiene una segunda parte que supuestamente sale este año
Within the pages of this book lies an infusion of pure joy, evoking delightful sensations that flutter like the gentle caress of warm sunrays. It's like going back to the fairytales we all knew and adored, invoking nostalgia that lingers in the soul. Characters, vividly etched, become beloved companions one can't help but fall deeply for.
It is a story about what it means to be alive: To breathe freely and create your own happiness.
It leaves an imprint that wouldn't easily rub off. You sleep happy after reading it. You live better after reading it and you believe in goodness and magic all over again.
Perfect and wholesome in every way.
Mr Baker works for the government and his job is to visit orphanages and check if the kids are safe. But these are not ordinary children, these are magical creatures. He is very good at his job, but that is costing him his personal life, he has no friends, only his cat.
His whole world changes when he has to visit a Top Secret House, filled with dangerous creatures. Including, a Gnome, a Wyvern, a Sprite, a Pile of Goo, A boy who transforms into a Dog, and of course, the son of Lucifer.
Mr Baker, after being scared to dead, ends up falling in love. Forming a new family and filling the loneliness they all felt before.
My only little complain, is that the book is too wholesome. For someone who is not use to books with happy endings, I was wanting for something to go wrong all the time, but it didn't, everything was perfect and happy and warm, as life should be.
I enjoyed this book very much, becoming one of my favorite books of this year, I had the opportunity to listen to it as an audio book and I just couldn't stop listening to it. It made my heart joyful and happy. And Ι am just waiting to get my hands on the 2nd volume of it! The different characters, the storylines, their attributes, their humour and everything this book had to offer!
Is every book problematic? Do we analyze things too much?
Growing up I ve read books and books with hidden meaning, having wars, killings, history as source. If we are cancelling everything, then in a few years, nothing could be a reference. And yes, before I am judged as not understanding, my country had war, refugees, army camps, missing people that have never been recovered and the story was the reference of many books, as long as the book doesn't make fun of the history, the source, the humans, why should I be bothered?
Masterpieces like Narnia, Lord of the Rings and many more, wouldn't have been possible today. Would they?
I liked this. A very wholesome story, though one that I really had to work to leave behind my real world perspective as a social worker and former caseworker (though not in child welfare).
This book has a lot in it about “objectivity” and I sort of wish it were explored a little more. Good boundaries really are important in this line of work, but good boundaries doesn't translate to cold, compassionless work by itself. But, I realize this book wasn't written for that. I can solemnly swear that none of my casenotes read like Mr. Baker's reports.
I found a few characters pretty convenient (Helen), but enjoyed basically everyone. I kept thinking about the X-Men comics and the Mutant Registration Act while reading, another story metaphoric to LGBTQ+ experience.
This was a lovely cozy book, I read most of it in one sitting and am only disappointed there is not more of it.
I enjoyed the first quarter of this book. Then I unhappily came across the Goodreads discussion of the author's controversial genesis for the story, something I wish I didn't know. Having to wrestle with the whole question of “cancelling” art or artists took much of the pleasure out of it. (I had just finished Monsters, a Fan's Dilemma, so I guess it was good timing?) In any case, I took a break, and then returned .... and decided I just had to skim to the end because I was getting a bit stressed out overall – not wanting bad things to happen to the child-characters – and trying to put the author out of my mind. The story itself is funny and playful, a sort of Harry Potter story of extraordinary children whose existence threatens the ordinary adult powers that be. It reads like a Young Adult or Youth story. I listened, which was nice.
This is a difficult book to rate. The story at face value is delightful, heartwarming and inspiring. I fell in love with these characters and their stories. I laughed and teared up in so many moments! I think this story will stay with me forever. The writing and tone of the book reminded me of reading a children's story, while also being incredibly profound.
While reading it, I thought it was quite effective at discussing the harms of queerphobia, xenophobia, and the power of found families. However, I have read that the author took inspiration from The 60s Scoop to develop this plot, an abhorrent period of indigenous genocide in Canada. The final text is not really about that, but it does feel a bit icky to use events from that period as plot points of a feel-good fantasy book.
Ultimately, my rating reflects my experience and enjoyment of the book in its final form, not the author's sources of inspiration. You're free to take that context into account when choosing wether or not to read this book.
This book was so beautiful and sentimental. Linus Baker, a social worker, is working for a satirically capitalist company ruled by “Extremely Upper Management.” Linus assesses orphanages for magical children in a world where those with magic are discriminated against. When he's assigned a month-long investigation with a highly classified orphanage, he discovers that life can be so much more than the grey world he's grown comfortable with.
“He dreams. Is that understood, I wonder? He dreams of a future that he may never have. And while his dreams may seem small, they are still his and his alone.”
This heartwarming book holds surprises beyond what meets the eye; I never anticipated it would move me to tears.
5 stars — Oh, wow. It's been some time since a book has made me so full of feelings- like I feel like crying and sobbing. Not because this book is sad, not at all, but more because this is such a beautiful novel.
One of the author reviews describes this book as ‘wrapped up in a big gay blanket'. I've never seen a more apt description of a book. The story is about Linus Baker. He's an everyman, with a good office job and getting older by the minute. He's content with his life, or so he says, but for a job assignment he sent to inspect a magical orphanage (think like an Ofsted worker).
I really like characters like Linus. He reminds me of Bilbo Baggins or Arthur Dent. Those characters who are content with their lives, are a tad pompous and set in their ways, but against their wishes are sent on magical journeys. Linus learns a lot. The character development is rife, all of the characters here grow and develop. It's beautiful to watch.
It's very much a book of being ‘different' but learning to cherish differences and who you are. I think it's interesting that the most common criticism with this book is that it's actually too wholesome. It is, but that's why I love it, so much happiness and comedic moments. It tackles discrimination and has a message of embracing difference. It is a simple message at it's core, but turned into a wonderfully cozy story.
Oh gosh, I don't know what is left to say, this is 5/5, on the favourites list for me. There are times that I laughed out loud- Linus character is endearing but also downright funny (reminds me a little of my own dad). The children are wonderful and the development of every character makes my heart warm. The magical creatures are wonderful. The queer relationships was a beautiful touch. All in, love this book so much, literally made me sob and all emotional at the end.
——
(And in terms of the controversy with the Sixties Scoop. It's not a good thing. But I don't think it's enough to purely hate this book- this book is trying to promote good values and it's clear it had a very surface level impact on the story. But despite this, I think there is a more nuanced conversation needed around the topic and its fair to make criticism.)
This book is SO sweet - maybe just a tad too much in that direction? It is also, however, entirely delightful and so refreshing to read a book that has me smiling the whole time. Predictable? Almost entirely. Am I still a sucker for stories about remarkably gifted children who live in weird little communities? Until I die.
Oh, how I needed this book in my life! This is the most wholesome and heartwarming story I've ever read. From the writing, through the characters, to the ending (that made me tear up, of course). Each character was amazingly described and their stories so beautifully developed. A story about choosing your own family that resonated with me so much! But also choosing our own happiness! Lucy, Chauncey, Phee, Talia, Theodore, Sal, Zoe, Linus and Arthur (and Calliope) will forever live in my heart.
I didn't know what to expect when starting this book, but I loved it. 6 year old Lucy easily is my favorite character, so sweet but also a little twisted. But overall I am a huge fan of not judging someone until you really know them, because people are so much more than what you see on paper.
Just lovely!
It did take me a while to get a feel for Linus, I will admit–I found the intersection between ‘company man' and ‘optimist' and ‘wry humor' a little tough to keep up with at first. However, as soon as he gets to the island, things snap into place. The children are, after their various first impressions, wonderful; and the adults are intriguing. I loved their Saturday adventures and trips into town especially! The dialogue deals often and very directly with issues of prejudice, stereotypes, etc; but it was the relationships between the characters that really left a lasting impression on me. The ending was perfect!