msmelsantos's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
amesreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Child death, and Death
jordan1978's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
adamfu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
This 2021 staff favorite is recommended by Jo and Erica. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sunder%20the%20whispering%20door%20klune__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
damen_ever's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
servemethesky's review against another edition
5.0
OH MY GOODNESS I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
I liked TJ Klune's [b:The House in the Cerulean Sea|45047384|The House in the Cerulean Sea|T.J. Klune|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569514209l/45047384._SY75_.jpg|62945242], but this was on a whole other level. Since I've been interested in the death positive movement lately, this book was right up my alley. It's beautiful to believe we all go to little waystations after we die, tea shops and the like, to prepare and process before moving on to what's next.
Klune seems to have a tendency to write very caricaturish, two-dimensional characters at the beginning of the story, which gives them plenty of room to grow and change, though it isn't terribly believable. To begin with, Wallace is an absolutely horrible, cruel, and selfish person. Death, and Hugo, Mei, Nelson, & Apollo's care and kindness transform him into a much better, more real and vulnerable human.
At times the plot felt a little formulaic (this person comes to the tea shop so Wallace can learn a lesson, this person comes and Wallace learns another lesson, another person comes, another lesson, etc), but that was okay. I didn't expect the twist at the end. I kind of wish Wallace had gone through the door, but I love that he got a second chance to live a happy, love-filled life with Hugo.
Kind of weird that Mei was one of the only female characters--why do they only get sent male ghosts? Lol. Also, I LOVED the Manager's character and that he presented as a little boy and as a stag whose antlers were covered in flowers. So cool and beautiful.
All in all, a wonderful, moving book that would be very comforting to those who are thinking about what happens after you die. The vague depiction of what lies beyond the door was a bit too happy and perfect for me to believe, but I'm sure some people like to picture that kind of transcendent joy.
I liked TJ Klune's [b:The House in the Cerulean Sea|45047384|The House in the Cerulean Sea|T.J. Klune|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569514209l/45047384._SY75_.jpg|62945242], but this was on a whole other level. Since I've been interested in the death positive movement lately, this book was right up my alley. It's beautiful to believe we all go to little waystations after we die, tea shops and the like, to prepare and process before moving on to what's next.
Klune seems to have a tendency to write very caricaturish, two-dimensional characters at the beginning of the story, which gives them plenty of room to grow and change, though it isn't terribly believable. To begin with, Wallace is an absolutely horrible, cruel, and selfish person. Death, and Hugo, Mei, Nelson, & Apollo's care and kindness transform him into a much better, more real and vulnerable human.
At times the plot felt a little formulaic (this person comes to the tea shop so Wallace can learn a lesson, this person comes and Wallace learns another lesson, another person comes, another lesson, etc), but that was okay. I didn't expect the twist at the end. I kind of wish Wallace had gone through the door, but I love that he got a second chance to live a happy, love-filled life with Hugo.
Kind of weird that Mei was one of the only female characters--why do they only get sent male ghosts? Lol. Also, I LOVED the Manager's character and that he presented as a little boy and as a stag whose antlers were covered in flowers. So cool and beautiful.
All in all, a wonderful, moving book that would be very comforting to those who are thinking about what happens after you die. The vague depiction of what lies beyond the door was a bit too happy and perfect for me to believe, but I'm sure some people like to picture that kind of transcendent joy.
acyzner13's review against another edition
3.0
A solid book, but I just didn't click with it as much as The House in the Cerulean Sea. The story felt quite slow and a bit repetitive, and Wallace really annoyed the crap out of me for at least the first third of the book. The romance also did not feel as developed throughout as I would have liked. There were some comedic moments that made me giggle, but otherwise I was just waiting for the story to stop spinning its wheels and get a move on!