Challenge Corner discussion

Welcome to Charon's Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home

Ah, I'm going to join in - hope you don't mind, I'll be a little late - so excited to read this :D

I just read this one back in December and I loved it! I hope you all enjoy it too!

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Ah, I'm going to join in - hope you don't mind, I'll be a little late - so excited to read this :D"

YES! Join in!! I hope we love it!

Vicki wrote: "I just read this one back in December and I loved it! I hope you all enjoy it too!"

I've seen some really great reviews for it, I'm excited to finally sit down to read it!

Through Ch 6

(view spoiler)[ hard to say I would handle death any better. although I think I would just cry a lot and listen to whatever they told me (I don't think I'd argue or run)

I love the tea shop and the odd house. I think Mei is adorable (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch 12

(view spoiler)[ now we have the story of the other reaper, yikes. he wasn't nice. the story of the little girl was awful

I loved the ouija board incident and how easily he's fitting right in with this group

but how can he move on when he fits so well?? and what's on the other side of the door? (hide spoiler)]

Through 17 ch

ooooh (view spoiler)[ so that's the manager. well, I can see why he gave Wallace a deadline - he really isn't supposed to stay - but it still sucks

and Alan was scary. He had truly lost it wanting to seek revenge. I don't think there was anything Hugo could do to save him (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

this one was (view spoiler)[ so cute and so good even though it dealt with really tough topics.

I'm shocked Wallace got a second chance but I'm glad he and Hugo got to be together
sad the grandpa left but, of course, he was going to do that one day
I love that he took Apollo too. he was such a good boy, he deserved a rest too (hide spoiler)]

Bit late, but I got here!

Chapters 1 - 8
(view spoiler)[

It's such a kooky set up, I love it!
It's interesting you saying you'd deal with death better Trisha - I hadn't thought about it! I have ZERO idea how I'd deal. I'd probably freak lol. But arguing and running away...? I don't think I'd do that either, because the main thing would be I was SCARED so I'd want to stay round people who knew what they were talking about.

Mei is lovely I agree! Great sass.

I feel like we're going to learn more about how miserable Walter's life actually was. Klune is really good at writing characters who are obnoxious but you feel sympathetic anyway. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through Ch 12

now we have the story of the other reaper, yikes. he wasn't nice. the story of the little girl was awful

I loved the ouija board incident and how easily he's fitting right in with ..."

Chapters 8 - 12
(view spoiler)[
I loved the incident with the stupid medium and well Wallace just fits there. It's a curious mix of tragic and comic that treads a really effective balance for me.

The story of the other reaper with the little girl was horrible. And her mother. And Wallace did the first nice thing he'd done for anyone ever? - I just find that a little unlikely, surely he would have done as a child at least! Anyway, it's painful realising with Wallace how he didn't like who he was when he was alive. I don't know - it taps into a lot of self-hatred about how I'm a bad person, so this is quite emotional for me.

And yes, how can he leave now? Surely he can't, he just... fits. But would it be better for him to move on? I don't know. It's making me feel very melancholy despite the humour.

What's on the other side of the door? I don't know. I don't think we'll ever know, it's not that sort of book. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through 17 ch

ooooh so that's the manager. well, I can see why he gave Wallace a deadline - he really isn't supposed to stay - but it still sucks

and Alan was scary. He had truly lost it wanting..."

(view spoiler)[

Agreed, Alan was scary. I can understand why he behaved the way he did but he was frightening. I love that Wallace tried to help. And the manager was a definite surprise! To begin with I thought it was bit... interesting for the sake of being interesting or something? I mean the manager being a kid was just novelty and didn't really add to the plot, but I don't think so now!

It was funny - just before Alan turned up, I was thinking: 'this is a nice character portrait and all, but I think there might need to be some more plot?' And BAM, it appeared lol - lots of plot! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done

this one was so cute and so good even though it dealt with really tough topics.

I'm shocked Wallace got a second chance but I'm glad he and Hugo got to be together
sad the grandpa ..."

Finished as well! (view spoiler)[
I really like TJ Klune's style of writing - you're right that it deals with some seriously tough issues, but the boo is so approachable and you just sort of glide through. I don't mean that the issues aren't properly addressed, just that you sort of get involved in them without realising and then you're in the centre of it.

(sorry if I make zero sense; I'm pretty feverish with COVID and it hurts to look at the screen for long)

I'm so glad Wallace was able to help Cameron. Seriously surprised by the ending! - I was all prepared for heartbreak and then it didn't really come as the grandad took Apollo, and it was his time. (You're right - glad he took Apollo!) The idea of Wallace being given a second chance... I dunno. Almost too good to be true? I'm really happy for Hugo and him but I feel like it was a bit too perfect maybe... (hide spoiler)]

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

RESTARTING NOVEMBER 28TH, 2022

*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************

***************************************************************
***************************************************************

RESTARTING AUGUST 10TH, 2023

*******************************************************************
*******************************************************************

I’m in!!!

T.J Klune is one of my all time favorite authors! I am so glad I finally found my group on good reads! Under the whispering door is so lovely! 💜

Is this starting today?

Yes it is I'm going to try starting later tonight feel free to start whenever you can

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[I really like it so far it's very whimsical and I like the idea of the fairy men working in a tea shop (hide spoiler)]

I just to the end of chapter 4 and I agree. This is my first book by this author but it works for another challenge I’m doing so I’m thrilled!

Chapter 8

🤣🤣🤣 (view spoiler)[ Him changing his clothes…. LMAO! (hide spoiler)]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "Chapter 8

🤣🤣🤣 [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[I wonder why a bathing suit? I really want to know more about Hugo and what happened with the other reaper (hide spoiler)]

Melany wrote: "Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "Chapter 8

🤣🤣🤣 [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 8
[spoilers removed]"

End of Chapter 12

(view spoiler)[ The story with the other reaper and the little girl is so sad... I was feeling a lot of angst when he was going to see the door. I could tell Nelson was too. I think I'm more nervous about Cameron though. I get a really eerie feeling when he saw him outside. I have no idea where this could all be headed except I hope Wallace stays there with Hugo. That's the only HEA I can see (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13

(view spoiler)[ I think Nelson will leave and Wallace will stay with Hugo (hide spoiler)]

I’m finished. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to when I started it. I hope you enjoyed it.

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ I think it's really cute that wall is bullied the pretend medium because he has a crush on Hugo (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[ I will say the manager is a really interesting take on death but I don't understand why he has such a thing against Wallace staying (hide spoiler)]

So I started this book on a flight and couldn't post until I landed so I wrote down my thoughts in the notes app and will be posting them now:
3%, Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[ Ok so this guy is a grade A turd. I always love when we start out with an unlikeable narrator, it gives so much room for growth. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 4, 14% (view spoiler)[ I reaaaally love how light and magical this is so far. Mae is awesome -- big fan. (hide spoiler)]

End of chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ The changing clothes scene is pretty funny... the ballet slippers and cleats lol. Hugo is sweet and I lowkey love him. (hide spoiler)]

Ok all caught up

71% (view spoiler)[ Goshhhh I hate Allen. What a crazy reveal for the manager though!! The manager is just a kid and god is a human construct. I'm glad that the manager forced Allen to cross because he was becoming a danger. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Ok I love this book. Between this Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune is one of my fave authors of the year (potentially of all time). Between Cameron crossing and Wallace being resurrected -- I got everything I was hoping for, so maybe it was too much of a happy ending, but I'm happy regardless. Ps I am so freaking happy that the secretary was rehired!!! (hide spoiler)]

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "I’m finished. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to when I started it. I hope you enjoyed it."

I kinda feel the same way the ending disappointed me a little (view spoiler)[ I really like Hugo and Wallace's relationship but bring him back to life kinda ruin a lot of what the book was talking about, I think so anyway (hide spoiler)]

Melany wrote: "Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "I’m finished. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to when I started it. I hope you enjoyed it."

I kinda feel the same way the ending disappointed me ..."

I agree. I wasn't really feeling the connection between Hugo and Wallace for some reason. I felt more of a connection with Wallace and Nelson. A book like this is hard when there are some parts of it I LOVE and then other parts that just drag or fall flat. I also got lost several times where I thought what is going on. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. Thanks for reading with me! I hope your next book is AMAZING!

Did anyone else tear up reading like I did?

Kirsten wrote: "Did anyone else tear up reading like I did?"

Meeeee! I really did love it.

Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: ".I hope your next book is AMAZING!"

I hope your is too

Kirsten wrote: "Did anyone else tear up reading like I did?"

There were a couple of parts that did make me tear up

I'm a bit late but knowing there was a buddy read inspired me to finally pick this up after having it for over a year. It took me a little bit to get into (view spoiler)[(Wallace is terrible in the beginning omg) (hide spoiler)] but I am really enjoying it now.
Nelson is my favourite, what a guy, his antics have made me laugh aloud a couple of times.

Jessica wrote: "I'm a bit late but knowing there was a buddy read inspired me to finally pick this up after having it for over a year. It took me a little bit to get into [spoilers removed] but I am really enjoyin..."

Yes, Nelson and Apollo were my favorite characters....I liked Mei a lot too.

Kirsten wrote: "Did anyone else tear up reading like I did?"

Yes, so many tears, especially at the end.

Melany wrote: "Shannon The Show Stopper wrote: "I’m finished. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I was going to when I started it. I hope you enjoyed it."

I kinda feel the same way the ending disappointed me ..."
I agree with that. I understand why that was the ending and it sure is happy one, but it felt like an easy way out. It is kind of funny that in the end (view spoiler)[ talking to the manager did bring him back to life (hide spoiler)] but I feel like there could have been a happy ending without (view spoiler)[ bringing him back to life (hide spoiler)]

Read this one today!

Chapter 1-6: (view spoiler)[I am not really sure about this one yet. It is difficult to like Wallace but everyone else seems kind of tolerable for now. All the life after death stuff makes me apprehensive so I am not sure I'll love this one as much as others did but I am trying to keep an open mind and hoping everything starts getting explained in the book before frustration kicks in (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7-10: (view spoiler)[Mmmm this is much more philosophical than I signed up for, generally speaking I don't have much appetite to learn about joys of life or how death can be peaceful. I like morbidity more. So this one isn't quite hitting the mark for me. Putting that aside, I do actually like the connection that Hugo and Wallace are building and am curious to find out the deal with Nancy (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11-15: (view spoiler)[The whole story with Nancy and the little girl was just so sad, I can see why it is weighing down on Hugo till now, it's nice to see Wallace transitioning from somewhat of a bully to someone who is helping Alan let go of his anger and accept his death. Nelson, Mei and Hugo all have made quite a positive impact on Wallace and I can see him staying with Hugo and not passing through the gate (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16-19: (view spoiler)[Just when I thought everything was going so well , the Manager showed up and what a surprise it was! I had hoped he really won't be as terrible as portrayed in the previous chapters but he turned out to be even worse. I guess he wants Wallace to pass over because he believes he is distracting Hugo from his job. I can't wait to see how they manage to avoid this fate. It was a nice thing they did for Nancy and I don't want them to part ways just yet (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Um I am not sure I liked this ending, it was all a bit too happy for my liking and completely improbable. The Manager had a change of heart just like that and ended up resurrecting Wallace, yeah I am having a hard time believing it. Cameron crossing over made me quite happy but I feel like Wallace was ready for it in his own way as well. No doubt being with Hugo has made him a happy person but still I'd have preferred if he passed over too like Nelson (hide spoiler)]