The House in the Cerulean Sea | 
pickI think this book embodies the word "delightful". Easy read, good vibes, excellent characters and humor. There is no mystery about how this book will end, and no challenge to its imagery or message. But it is a great message, and a good story. Recommend.
pickIt took me a bit to warm up to this, the fear for the "Antichrist" seemed so unfounded when he's just a kid and the rest of the house didn't seem concerned at all about anyone's safety specially the kids. Just think that people who work with kids must be more used to how they act up, especially when scared. In the end I loved everyone, it is, as one of the critics said "like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket". Feel sad that I have to leave ⬇️
pickLinus Baker, a DICMY (the Department In Charge of Magical Youth) inspector, comes to Marsyas Island to inspect the orphanage there.
There were times when I thought the AUTHOR'S MESSAGE was getting a bit heavy-handed, but the characters worm their way into your heart enough to overcome that and make this book a delight.
pick4⭐️ I felt that the book took a little bit to get into, but once I got to that special place in the book I really enjoyed it. #2024 #fiction #fantasy #youngadult #lgbtqia
My #weekendreads; I am taking a break from Homecoming for a few days because I have to get The House in the Cerulean Sea completed and reviewed by Wednesday afternoon for my Wednesday evening library #bookclub meeting.
pickDelightful! A wonderful story about acceptance and found family!
#bookspinbingo - free space
#pop25 - book about chosen family
#tbrtarot - written by an #lgbtq+ author
#LitsyAtoZ #LetterK
pick#TBRtarot this month was a perfect fit to finally start reading TJ Klune. I know I‘m late to the party but this was soooo good! He‘s easily going to be an author who I read all of their books! Such a heartwarming story of magical children in an orphanage and the idea of found families. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Hay misterios que tal vez nunca se resuelvan,… Y si pasamos demasiado tiempo tratando de resolverlos, podríamos perder lo que está Justo frente a nosotros”
Thanks for the #Two4Tuesdqy tag @TheSpineView 🤗 Sorry I‘m a bit late!
1️⃣ Is it bad to say people if I‘m in HR?‘🤪 I think it‘s especially people who lack common sense and/or think it‘s all about them or that their actions don‘t have consequences or an impact on others. 🤷🏻♀️
2️⃣ I don‘t think Linus started out completely disliking his job but he was stuck in it & then began to dislike it.
Anyone not played yet & want to? You‘re tagged! 😉
pickI'm a bit late to the party on this one, but I held off so I can go right into the sequel which just came out. Another wonderful and imaginative LGBTQ themed story about acceptance and finding what is truly important in life.
#12BooksOf2024 @Andrew65
How did I get behind again? These days are messing with me! 😂
A fantasy story about six magical kids, their loving mentor, Arthur, and dear Linus, the hero of this novel. What didn't I love about this book? Nothing. I laughed, I cried, I got goosebumps in all the right places. 🩵
Thank you, @Catsandbooks for this lovely 2024 #BookBracket.
Myron & Win make me so happy (Think Twice) that I thought they‘d go the distance. But in the end, The House in the Cerulean Sea has stayed with me.
pick26 Nov-14 Dec 24 (audiobook)
Dryly humourous, this is the story of Lionel Baker. Lionel lives a quiet, rule-abiding existence working for the Department of Magical Youth inspecting orphanages which home children with magical abilities until he is asked to inspect an orphanage housing six extraordinary children, including Luci, the actual antichrist.
Heartwarming and funny, Trixie and I enjoyed this audiobook.
pickBook 4 September 2024
Unpopular opinion😬Liked it but not love it. I liked the premise and loved the characters, Lucy and the romance was cute. However, there were parts that I don‘t not know, for me, were disconnected, unnecessary. Pretty much like my experience with Guncle novel. This novel is so hipped that I expected too much I guess. I have that problem with hipped books🤷🏽♀️I still want to read book 2. 3⭐️
Finally starting this one! I‘ve had it forever!
It‘s Chauncy! I found him at BN but he‘s created by https://kingdomofthreads.com
It makes me ridiculously happy to find things inspired by this book.
pickI almost bailed in the beginning, because Linus‘s life working for the Department in charge of Magical Youth was super sad & boring. I‘m glad I stuck with it because his life is supposed to be that way for contrast and makes the ending more delightful. The magical children at the orphanage were hilarious and endearing. This is where the story really starts. Arthur was my favourite character and as the book evolves he only gets even more lovable.
#two4tuesday
1. It‘s hard to have a fave because I love fruit. But I‘ll pick raspberries because they‘re delicious by themselves, in desserts, and in chocolate.
2. Tagged
pickI was offered (and took) an ARC of the sequel to this, and since this one was very popular I figured it was time to read it. I am glad I did. This is a wonderful story about people who do not fit in, filled with morality messages. It nicely teaches lessons on all types of prejudices and the lessons seem particular apt these days. I really enjoyed all the characters, both the children and the adults. 4.5/5 stars!
pickThis was a reread before starting the second book, and I loved it all over again. It just hit me again, like the first time I read it. The kids went straight to my heart, again. And I went all Awwww, again. All the ❤❤❤❤
And my monthly wrap-up for September. One of the 17 books was a manga (loved it!) and one was a really good short story.
And it's my #bookofthemonth once again. Who would've guessed? 😄
#botm
Finally got to read this one and it was cute!
I loved the character development of the MC and I really enjoyed the children. There were some parts that I thought were cheesy, but hey it was still heartwarming. 4 ⭐️
#authoramonth2024 @Soubhiville
#BookBracket @CSeydel
Tagged with a bonus pick of The Spellshop.
pickWhat a sweet story about hapless, rule-abiding Linus Baker who gets sent on a four week assignment by the Department in Charge of Magical Youth to an island with a most unusual orphanage. As he observes and engages with the island‘s unique denizens he finds unexpected joy, acceptance, and himself. The messaging is heavy handed at times, but I fell in love with the characters and this feel-good story of found family and choosing the life you want.
Seven books read in September. I finished the #LitsyAtoZ challenge this month with the #letterU! Two books read for #authoramonth, 3 for #foodandlit #Malaysia, 2 for #readingOceania #Australia and #Samoa. @Soubhiville @Catsandbooks @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB
#bookbracket #bookbracket24 #bookbracket2024 @CSeydel
August: THE GOD IN THE WOODS
September: THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA
I've decided for the rest of the year that I'm not going to include rereads (so no Shardlake or Sherlock) in order to give the other books a chance. 😂
#bookbracket #bookbracket24 #bookbracket2024 @Catsandbooks
August: THE GOD IN THE WOODS
September: THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA
I've decided for the rest of the year that I'm not going to include rereads (so no Shardlake or Sherlock) in order to give the other books a chance. 😂
pickWhat a charmer! Linus Baker, a government flunky, is tasked with determining whether an orphanage for the scariest of magical children (one is the son of Satan)is safe, or if harmful should be closed. Linus‘s gray world becomes so colorful when he learns and grows to love the children and their island, which is magical in different ways. The nearby town is antagonistic to these scary kids. Linus has many life decisions to make. A fantastic story.
pick#AAM I needed a distraction today and couldn‘t settle on anything, so in the end I decided I‘d revisit this before picking up the sequel. I found reading it a second time around a less all consuming experience that I got swept up in, and a more analytical one that had me noticing new details. But it was just as funny, charming, and heartwarming as I remember it. @Soubhiville
pickIs there anything better than slipping back into the pages of a Klune book? Whenever I'm wary or simply downcast, I find myself re-reading this book; my little refuge. The experience was made all the better knowing that the sequel was finally in my possession. This was delightful, as always. These characters never fail to feel like long-lost friends. The pages always feel like home. Klune is my safety blanket whenever I need a comfortable read.
This 🫶.
“Ornery” is one of my favorite words. But I‘m wondering how y‘all pronounce it. I‘ve always pronounced it “awn-ree” but assumed I was saying it wrong. So I just looked it up and apparently I‘m not alone. How do you pronounce “ornery”?
#authoramonth @Soubhiville
My next book for #authoramontb @Soubhiville even though I‘m only halfway through Wolfsong. My library hold for the ebook came in so I‘m starting it.
#weeklyfavorites
@Read4Life
I think quite a few of us chose this one this week. 🧡🩶🧡
#WeeklyFavorites
The only book I finished this last week but that doesn‘t mean it isn‘t a gem.
@Read4life
pick#readtheceruleansea @CBee
What don't I love about this book? Nothing. I laughed, I cried, I got goosebumps in all the right places. Then I read a bit more about the background, and it was partially inspired by the Sixties Scoop, where the Canadian government removed Indigenous children from their homes and placed them with unrelated white, middle-class families. What they endured was beyond horrific, so perhaps Klune felt the need to show ⬇️
pickEasily my favorite book of the week. And I enjoyed all of the books I read. This one is just that good.
#WeeklyFavorites
#5JoysFridayonSaturday
1) Wonderful reread of the tagged book.
2) A couple of small home maintenance tasks checked off the list
3) Flare up symptoms abated in time to go see
4) Sum 41 last night and
5) get introduced to The Interrupters
Never too late to share your joys!
@DebinHawaii
