Review for The House in the Cerulean Sea: Boundless, Chosen Love

After months of reading novels that brought me to sad tears, though the books and their authors were exquisite, I think I might’ve been much overdue to read something wholesome and fulfilling. TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea is that and everything more. On the cover of my paperback edition is a quote by V.E. Schwab (an author I’ll hopefully be reading in the coming weeks) which says, “It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect.” And I couldn’t agree more! I’m one of those people who has comfort movies that make me feel safe (like Brad Bird’s 2007 Ratatouille and Andy Tennant’s 1998 Ever After amongst many others), but aside from a few years with Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy, no novels have become true comfort reads as I know Klune’s novel immediately has.

The story opens to our main character, Mr. Linus Baker, who lives in a dreary, rainy city and works for a big government organization called DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magical Youth) as a caseworker. He regularly visits orphanages that are supposed to care for and shelter young people with magical abilities and writes meticulous reports and suggests whether these orphanages and their caretakers remain suitable for the children’s wellbeing. In seventeen years, it is all Linus has done, with no promotion or even a desire for one. Certainly a quaint life, but it is all Linus knows. That is until he is summoned to a meeting with Extremely Upper Management for a level four classified conversation that sends him on a level four classified assignment to a level four classified location. It’s all overtly official and impossibly quick as Linus swiftly finds himself on a train the next day towards a whirlwind month of investigation at the Marsyas Orphanage into some pretty miraculous children and an even more special caretaker, Arthur Parnassus.

Klune’s biggest talent in the creation of this story doubtlessly lies within his character design. From a sassy teenage gnome with a tendency to threaten people with a shovel, to a tentacled young mystery of a boy who may or may not have elements of jellyfish and sea cucumber in his genetics, to the literal son of the Devil who, at the end of the day, is just a six year old boy prone to nightmares and a love for Chuck Berry and Little Richard, it’s clear that Klune nurtures his inner child with his vibrant imagination that spills effortlessly on to the page. And though I loved the characters, the real charm of this novel comes from Klune’s constant words of affirmation towards those with a chosen family.

For decades, it’s been well known to those of us in the 2SLGBTQ+ community that, often, family does not just come from blood but rather from love. These bonds may form in a legendary house that competes for trophies in the ballroom scene, or simply with the friends and mentors that grow to take up the space of parent or sibling, or in the Marsyas Orphanage’s case, with the gaggle of extraordinary young people who happen to share the same home. Klune's novel then, to me, resonates as a story about the queer community’s version of family, and his purposeful positioning of gay authority figures over the children cements this. I would also be amiss if I didn't note that some inspiration for this story came from the ongoing housing crisis for Indigenous children, in which the foster system reflects over 40% Indigenous children, when the population across Canada reflects less than 10%. So, it's certainly an all-inclusive story of beating prejudice and finding love amidst forced isolation, while also exemplifying that, often, same-sex couples are better parents to their children than some (not all!) heterosexual couples are.

Now, don’t get upset with me. Think about it. Think of all the loops and hoops that same-sex couples must jump through to have a baby. All the screening questions they must face in the adoption process, or the long ordeal of either finding a surrogate or sperm donor, and then the expenses towards all these processes on top of it all. These kinds of couples want to be parents just as Arthur Parnassus wants to take care of the children in the orphanage. Klune spells it out in such a blatant, yet charming and interesting way, that I would be sorely surprised if any reader didn’t immediately fall in love with the sincerity of it all.

Long story short, I want the movie, a sequel of short stories, and then I want the TV show based off the short stories. I know Klune has other works available, but something about The House in the Cerulean Sea is so special that I believe it will hold space in my heart for years to come. I could go on forever about how adorable and well written the story is but I don't want to run the risk of spoilers for any who might be interested in this magical, quirky piece of writing that captures exactly what home feels like. And of course, it makes it even easier to love when the colour cerulean means so much to those of us who worship David Frankel’s 2006 The Devil Wears Prada (and how appropriate considering the son of the Devil is featured in the story!). Regardless, go read this beautiful novel and feel the warmth of the big gay blanket!