"I Was A Teenage Doorknocker" Is A Good Read

 

Following the rules of a religion can be a difficult thing. I guess it can be even more difficult when you’re a teenager trying to make your way in the world. In Jonathan Burger’s novel “I Was A Teenage Door Knocker”, he takes you into his teenage years consumed by being a Jehovah’s Witness and trying to balance his religious life with his emerging social one. Together with his friend, Dylan, and Jonathan's brother, they engage in many of the hallmarks of adolescence.

I learned a lot about Jehovah’s Witnesses in reading this book. It seems like a strict religion with many rules and regulations about how to live your life. Even when Jonathan tries to go on a first date with a girl at the mall, he is caught by an elder of his church who scolds him for not having an adult escort accompany them.

Jonathan narrates the story in an almost diary like way. You don’t just have stories of a religious upbring, but many stories anyone who has been a teen can relate to. Of course, this is a bit tougher for Jonathan, as he tries to do this all under the nose of his strict mom, who is very committed to her religion and dad, who believes his kids rebellion can be easily cured by a summer job.

Trying to be a normal teenager, while adhering to this religion, can be tough. With all religions, there comes a time, as Jonathan experienced, when you have to decide if you continue with the religion you were born with or strike out on your own. Through an unfortunate event towards the end of the book, Jonathan must make that decision.

This is a good read that gives people insight into growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, and the difficulties of living in modern society while following all the rules and regulations of a strict religion.

"Somewhere Beyond The Sea" Isn't Bad But A Bit Aimless

“Somewhere Beyond The Sea” by TJ Klune is charming, and I agree with the basic agenda the book is trying to present. The magic community is an obvious metaphor for the LGBTQ+ community. TJ Klune himself is gay, and he includes in his author biography that he writes stories to present the queer characters in a more positive light. It is true that while there are straight characters in his books, the main relationships presented in a TJ Klune book are gay and lesbian couples, and I have zero problem with that.

“Somewhere Beyond The Sea” is the sequel to Klune’s bestselling “The House On The Cerulean Sea” and follows up with our main characters, Arthur and Linus. I suggest you read the first book to enjoy the second. Linus was originally an inspector in the last book, looking into Linus’s orphanage on the island of Marsyas. While the first book had it's metaphors for prejudices and people not understanding differences, the book didn’t say it outright. Klune in this sequel is much more forthright in his politics, having characters directly address it in the dialogue, which while relevant to the plot, can feel a bit awkward. Lines about generational trauma and racism stick out a bit like a sore thumb, as most people don’t talk this directly about these issues like these characters do. This is more awkward with the young characters because I don’t think children this age would say these lines. Maybe I’m wrong? I don’t know.

While that is a criticism, these lines about social justice did take me out of the book’s story. However much I did agree with the general ideas. Things get more political as Linus and Arthur travel outside of the island in this book to stand in front of a government hearing about abuse Arthur had at the hands of the Department for Management of Magical Youth. A conservative congress woman grills him during the hearing. After the hearing which is broadcast on the radio and covered by all the newspapers, a bigger problem is afoot as the federal government sends a new inspector to look into the orphanage’s handling of the magical youth. However, the hearing isn’t the only reason Linus and Arthur leave the island. They also want to take in a new child, David, a young Yati.

Miss  Marblemaw, comes to the island to inspect the orphanage, and while at first, the magic orphans and Linus and Arthur try to make the best of it, things quickly go south. Miss Marblemaw is an obvious stereotype of conservatives, and to be honest, it isn’t that far off base. At one point, she even says she has God on her side. Her main target is Lucy, a young boy she believes is the antiChrist, and because this is a world where magical kids exist, this actually could be the case. However, Lucy is only a 10 year old boy and Arthur and Linus see him as simply a kid. At one point, Lucy even calls Arthur dad which touches him greatly. This is an interesting flip on classic horror novels like “The Omen” or “Rosemary’s Baby” where in this case, it’s a misunderstood child.

TJ Klune does a good job presenting fantasy elements in a world we can recognize. It’s not overpowering, and Klune’s version of fantasy is more cozy than epic. However, towards the end of the book, which I won’t spoil, things do get epic with one of the inhabitants of the island revealing a supernatural twist.

Klune is still a wonderfully good writer. However, out of all the books I’ve read by him, this was probably the weakest. Like the last review I wrote of a Stephen King book, I will say the same about Klune. None of the books I’ve read by him are truly bad. In some ways, though, I feel Klune is trying to also make up for the controversy surrounding the first book in this series. Klune said in an interview that his book was inspired by the indigenous scoop by the Canadian government. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the Canadian government took indigenous children and placed them for adoption to white families. That interview caused some problems among his readers, asking the question: is TJ Klune using a terrible injustice by a government to make a cute fantasy novel? I’m not really sure. His writing is still really charming, but the inspiration can be troubling. People accused him of cultural asportation, despite the fact the book was a straight metaphor for misplaced communities. Magical children, of course, don’t exist. It’s like if Harry Potter was placed in a foster home instead of Hogwarts. It does make me wonder if a novel about magical children adopted by humans in a positive light would be an interesting take, but I digress. TJ Klune has said his new book was inspired as an answer to J.K. Rowling’s anti trans activism, which I can see. Rowling becoming a right wing bigot was a twist I didn’t see coming years ago.

I liked this book, but I felt it was a bit all over the place, and often felt like it was spending more time with these characters without a real direct reason why. The first book was better, but this one wasn’t bad.