Apparently, I'm doing an author study. I just finished In the Lives of Puppets and have another Klune novel from Edelweiss, and I am on hold at the public library for the followup for House in the Cerulean Sea. I like how he makes me think. He creates interesting and unusual characters who stay with me.

Wallace lacks sympathy, emotion, and kindness toward his fellow man, living a selfish but successful life as a lawyer. Then, he dies. Heart attack. Alone. He attends his funeral and learns that no one really liked him. Only one person can hear his comments at the funeral: the reaper sent to retrieve him. Mei handles Wallace's demanding personality, notices the lack of people and care for him as she leads him to the next destination: the Ferryman. Hugo runs the odd tea shop where he helps the dead cross over. He's alive. He cannot touch the dead, but there is a hook in the dead that connects to Hugo to keep them safe. If they stray off the grounds of the tea shop, the dead begin to disintegrate. As each person is ready, Hugo takes them to the door to move on. Wallace isn't interested in the door. He's angry. Bring him back to life; he has things to do. He's demanding. No one at the tea shop is intimidated. Nelson and Apollo are also dead, seemingly content to stay with Hugo, for they haven't crossed over and have been with Hugo for years. Wallace is lucky--they are all there to help him come to terms with his death.

Wallace learns what living means while, ironically, dead. Wallace slowly comes to accept his death and watches the people who come to the tea shop. He listens to Nelson, Mei, and Hugo, learning what kindness and care mean. He fears the door but the door isn't frightening; the murmurings pull the dead to it. Wallace hasn't reconciled his life yet. His lawyer brain processes a lot of information, so he needs to understand completely before choosing to go through the door. There are two customers at the tea shop and one former dead person whom Hugo tries to help. When Wallace sees the selflessness of Hugo and the pain he experiences helping people, Wallace begins to change. He gets closer to being family. Hugo offers everyone a cup of tea--he somehow knows the perfect one for each. Wallace has his first cup--peppermint tea, which acknowledges him as a welcomed stranger. His second cup makes him a friend. By the end, Wallace will be family with his third cup. In this process, the reader laughs and cries. Every character matter, for each lead the reader to contemplation and truth. Life is to be lived in community.

This novel was hard to read in some ways because my father passed away from a sudden, unexpected heart attack 3 1/2 months ago. I do believe in heaven, and I don't think there's a reaper and ferryman. Although the characters don't believe in God, there's an after life of love and joy with those who have passed before presented in the novel. Isn't that heaven? I really liked the characters. Each was good and unique, caring and sacrificing their lives for others. Hugo doesn't judge; he listens and helps. Perhaps we should all be ferrymen to our fellow humans. Help people. Offer tea. Listen. ( )

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/_Btgdg-gvk8

Enjoy! ( )

Overall, this was a calm and fun book to read. It felt paced, measured, and relaxed. Nothing about it really felt too important or pressing for the majority of the book, which isn't to say it was bad or boring; it was a GREAT read. I fully expected Wallace to be brought back to life, but as the story progressed, I started coming to terms with the idea that maybe the story wasn't meant to go there, to the stereotypical happy ending. I sobbed through most of chapter 21, and I knew the book couldn't end with Wallace coming back to life because it would completely undermine his sacrifice, his journey. It was my absolute favorite chapter of the entire book. I think if the book had ended after chapter 21, I wouldn't have minded. Or maybe I would have, but I think the story after chapter 21 detracted, rather than added. If you've watched the movie Stranger than Fiction, I think this book suffers from the same problem as the main book in that movie. It could have been a masterpiece, but instead, it was okay; but I think that's okay. I am absolutely going to read it again, regardless of the ending. ( )

TJ Klune is a fascinating writer. Like I said with The House in the Cerulean Sea, these are NOT my go-to genre books AT ALL! But there is something that caught me in both and didn’t let go until the very last page! They are stories of love, not in your face LOOOVEEE, but subtle, deep, reflective, fantastical, sweet love. I believe that the stories rise above the conversation of class, diversity and sexuality, even though they are meant to bring diverse characters to its readers. I believe this is the beauty of it.

And then the story around the journey of death…I found it all very interesting to think about. I am sure there are very strong thoughts and opinions even just on my review, nevermind the book itself, but please enjoy anyway ( )

Has a very similar feel to The House in the Cerulean Sea: problematic main character has life—or, in this case, death—changing experience, becomes a better person, has a sweet and happy ending. A few endearing characters, a few ugly, and at least one catalyst for climactic effect. An easy, enjoyable read! ( )