A review by piquareste
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Ah! I loved the tenderness of the whole book. It takes the time to steep in grief and life and love and death. It's even more special having read the acknowledgements and learning how the author was going through their own processes of grief and mourning while writing the book. The emotions and themes are lovely, and the found family and romance is a really nice cherry on top.
The writing took me out of the story from time to time. I found the characterisation of Wallace, the main character, to be so cartoonishly and outlandishly cold and oblivious in the beginning, and that setup made it hard to feel genuine empathy for the character he becomes later on. I know there's meant to be character development and transformation, and it is noted by the end that he's no longer the same man from the beginning of the book, but it's just such a drastic and sudden change that I feel like it's just a completely different character. I think I would have really liked if the tone was more consistent—maybe something more substantive about his character in the beginning that lets us see his growth .
Overall a lovely time!
The writing took me out of the story from time to time. I found the characterisation of Wallace, the main character, to be so cartoonishly and outlandishly cold and oblivious in the beginning, and that setup made it hard to feel genuine empathy for the character he becomes later on. I know there's meant to be character development and transformation, and it is noted by the end that he's no longer the same man from the beginning of the book, but it's just such a drastic and sudden change that I feel like it's just a completely different character. I think I would have really liked if the tone was more consistent—maybe something more substantive about his character in the beginning that lets us see his growth .
Spoiler
I even think his marriage with Naomi could be really interesting to explore with more depth! Especially earlier and more consistently. With the way that that memory of pulling out her chair affected him so much, and the way that he wanted Hugo to call her to tell her that about Wallace's good memories of her, I think the marriage could be a compelling way to show his lack of humanity (like his firing of Patricia Ryan) but potential for connection (which was harder to see in the firing).Overall a lovely time!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Car accident, Chronic illness, and Sexual harassment