Yun's Reviews > In the Lives of Puppets
In the Lives of Puppets
by
Of course this story completely slayed me. I should've known better than to doubt. I thought I'd already found a favorite from T.J. Klune in The House in the Cerulean Sea and it would have been impossible to top that. But here comes a story that I love just as much, if not more.
On the surface, In the Lives of Puppets seems simple enough. It's a tale about a boy and his father and some robots, and they go on an adventure together. But the more I read, the more I realized it is so much more.
If ever there was a story about what it means to be human, this is it. It's an ode to our affinity for love and friendship, as well as a celebration of our flaws and quirks. And it does so with humor and heart, alternating between making me chuckle and filling me with joy. Of course humor is subjective, but the blend of innocent and naughty in here totally worked for me. It brought a spark of levity to an otherwise very sweet story.
Klune did a wonderful job with the science fiction elements, taking an interesting premise and building it into something fascinating and thought-provoking. Often with speculative fiction, either we don't get enough explanation and so the whole thing feels vague, or we get too much explanation and you get mired in the how's and why's. But Klune struck it just right, and the sci-fi elements end up feeling natural and wholly believable.
It did take me a little bit to get into the story, so don't be discouraged if you don't find it riveting right off the bat. Like any good fable, the first 100 pages or so introduces us to the cast of characters and their circumstances. It builds up slowly and easily, all the while feeling quite cozy. But then we get to the main conflict, and I was hooked.
I've been trying to put my finger on exactly why T.J. Klune's tales feel so special, and I've finally figured it out. It's because reading them makes me feel like a kid again, stepping into a magical world where you can cheer on the good guys as they triumph over the forces of evil. Along the way, you fall in love with the characters and their world, and it feels like you are really there, immersed in the wonder of it all.
As a reader, every time I pick up a book, this is the experience I'm hoping for. To have a story sink into your thoughts and wrap itself around your heart and leave you discombobulated afterwards, there's no other feeling like it in the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Under the Whispering Door
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
by
You are a dream. A hope. A remembrance of what we once were.
Of course this story completely slayed me. I should've known better than to doubt. I thought I'd already found a favorite from T.J. Klune in The House in the Cerulean Sea and it would have been impossible to top that. But here comes a story that I love just as much, if not more.
On the surface, In the Lives of Puppets seems simple enough. It's a tale about a boy and his father and some robots, and they go on an adventure together. But the more I read, the more I realized it is so much more.
If ever there was a story about what it means to be human, this is it. It's an ode to our affinity for love and friendship, as well as a celebration of our flaws and quirks. And it does so with humor and heart, alternating between making me chuckle and filling me with joy. Of course humor is subjective, but the blend of innocent and naughty in here totally worked for me. It brought a spark of levity to an otherwise very sweet story.
Klune did a wonderful job with the science fiction elements, taking an interesting premise and building it into something fascinating and thought-provoking. Often with speculative fiction, either we don't get enough explanation and so the whole thing feels vague, or we get too much explanation and you get mired in the how's and why's. But Klune struck it just right, and the sci-fi elements end up feeling natural and wholly believable.
It did take me a little bit to get into the story, so don't be discouraged if you don't find it riveting right off the bat. Like any good fable, the first 100 pages or so introduces us to the cast of characters and their circumstances. It builds up slowly and easily, all the while feeling quite cozy. But then we get to the main conflict, and I was hooked.
I've been trying to put my finger on exactly why T.J. Klune's tales feel so special, and I've finally figured it out. It's because reading them makes me feel like a kid again, stepping into a magical world where you can cheer on the good guys as they triumph over the forces of evil. Along the way, you fall in love with the characters and their world, and it feels like you are really there, immersed in the wonder of it all.
As a reader, every time I pick up a book, this is the experience I'm hoping for. To have a story sink into your thoughts and wrap itself around your heart and leave you discombobulated afterwards, there's no other feeling like it in the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Under the Whispering Door
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
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Reading Progress
June 20, 2023
–
Started Reading
June 20, 2023
– Shelved
July 25, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 134 (134 new)
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ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔
(new)
Jul 15, 2023 03:42PM
I love his book covers Yun
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Even though I liked this one, House in the Cerulean Sea will always have a special place in my heart
This sounds so cozy! Based off covers and premises alone, TJ Klune's books do sound like they'd be the type to elicit such nostalgia. Can't wait to delve into their work. Great review Yun!
Jackie wrote: "Even though I liked this one, House in the Cerulean Sea will always have a special place in my heart"
Totally fair! I loved Cerulean Sea too, but for me, this one just inches it out by a smidge! :)
Totally fair! I loved Cerulean Sea too, but for me, this one just inches it out by a smidge! :)
rachelle (m00dreads) wrote: "This sounds so cozy! Based off covers and premises alone, TJ Klune's books do sound like they'd be the type to elicit such nostalgia. Can't wait to delve into their work. Great review Yun!"
Thanks, Rachelle! When you get to this author, I hope you enjoy! :)
Thanks, Rachelle! When you get to this author, I hope you enjoy! :)
Tina wrote: "What a wonderful review! I need to give this author a try!"
Thanks, Tina! If you do, I hope you love his books too! :)
Thanks, Tina! If you do, I hope you love his books too! :)
Tim wrote: "Great review! I'll have to check this out."
Thanks, Tim! If you do, I hope you love it! :)
Thanks, Tim! If you do, I hope you love it! :)
Melissa (Back But Always Behind) wrote: "Super review, I loved it too."
Thanks, Melissa! So glad you're a fan too! :)
Thanks, Melissa! So glad you're a fan too! :)
Amazing review, Yun! I am thrilled that you loved this book as much as I did. And spot on - reading his works does make it feel like someone is narrating a story to us. I heard this on audio, and the narrator also was outstanding. :)
Delightful review, Yun! Filled with (to use your words) "humor and heart". This book is now On my shopping list. ;-)
Excellent review, Yun! I'm a huge fan of TJ Klune's Green Creek and really enjoyed House by the Cerulean Sea. I think you are absolutely right. Klune's vivid and descriptive, fantastical, novels all bear within them a sort of childlike whimsy that transports readers back to a simpler time, while still enriching them as adults on some of the deeper messages of his works. I'll definitely be adding this one to my TBR!
Nice Yun and glad it was a winner. That said, another book you might enjoy is "The Humans" by Matt Haig. One of his earliest stories, it has a similar theme that's wrapped up toward the end with a list of 100 benefits to being human
Rosh (Trying to catch up!) wrote: "Amazing review, Yun! I am thrilled that you loved this book as much as I did. And spot on - reading his works does make it feel like someone is narrating a story to us. I heard this on audio, and t..."
Thanks, Rosh! Yay so glad you're a fan too! This book deserves all the love it's gotten! :)
Thanks, Rosh! Yay so glad you're a fan too! This book deserves all the love it's gotten! :)
Paul wrote: "Delightful review, Yun! Filled with (to use your words) "humor and heart". This book is now On my shopping list. ;-)"
Thanks, Paul! Yay! When you get to it, I hope you love it too! :)
Thanks, Paul! Yay! When you get to it, I hope you love it too! :)
Julie wrote: "Excellent review, Yun! I'm a huge fan of TJ Klune's Green Creek and really enjoyed House by the Cerulean Sea. I think you are absolutely right. Klune's vivid and descriptive, fantastical, novels al..."
Thanks, Julie! Glad you're a fan of the author too! When you get to this, I hope you love it! :)
Thanks, Julie! Glad you're a fan of the author too! When you get to this, I hope you love it! :)
Jonathan wrote: "Nice Yun and glad it was a winner. That said, another book you might enjoy is "The Humans" by Matt Haig. One of his earliest stories, it has a similar theme that's wrapped up toward the end with a ..."
Thanks, Jonathan! Ah, appreciate the recommendation! I'll check it out! :)
Thanks, Jonathan! Ah, appreciate the recommendation! I'll check it out! :)
Rebecca wrote: "Fantastic review Yun! I just started my first TJ Klune. I’m enjoying it so far 👌🏻💖💖"
Thanks, Rebecca! I'll be looking forward to your review! 💖
Thanks, Rebecca! I'll be looking forward to your review! 💖
Barbara**exhausted after Girl's Trip wrote: "Wonderful review Yun. I haven't read this one of his. He's so good!!"
Thanks, Barbara! For sure! Glad you're a fan of his too! :)
Thanks, Barbara! For sure! Glad you're a fan of his too! :)
Zain wrote: "The review of this book is a terrific example of why I love your reviews. Great job, Yun!"
Aww thanks so much, Zain! 😭🥰
Aww thanks so much, Zain! 😭🥰
Jennifer wrote: "Well said as always! I wish Goodreads had a review "love" reaction choice instead of just "like" ;)"
Aww! Thanks so much, Jennifer! 💖
Aww! Thanks so much, Jennifer! 💖
Jennifer wrote: "Well said as always! I wish Goodreads had a review "love" reaction choice instead of just "like" ;)"
What a great idea :)
What a great idea :)
i still have yet to read this but i’m so excited to when the right time comes. i’ve heard a lot about how it’s written and what it means. so glad you enjoyed it, yun! wonderful review! 💚
This is an intriguing review Yun, but I'm a bit hesitant to add - sounds good though - do you have an easy, way into this author's work??? Great review :))