Under The Whispering Door
Written by TJ Klune
Originally published in 2021
~370 pages
Rate 4/5
Even after death, there is still hope.
I heard many people recommend this book to fans of The Midnight Library so that's why I chose this book for the MK book club. Comparing the two books together somewhat makes sense, but there aren't many similarities. I would recommend The Midnight Library over Under The Whispering Door, however this post isn't about The Midnight Library so I digress.
Wallace use to be a kind person until he got sucked into corporate America and then he became a super anxious businessman. Unfortunately he dies by the end of the first chapter so he doesn't have much time to redeem himself, or does he? He soon meets Mei, a reaper, who introduces him to Hugo, a gatekeeper of sorts, who explains what happens after you die, at least for the time being.
The story unfolds is a comedic and light way, which I found necessary given the life after death theme of the story. The type of comedy in this story felt a little sarcastic and dry, but there were still parts that I nose exhaled at. The only complaint I had story wise was the fact that reapers weren't explained under the very end of the book.
Sadly I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, but I did feel like it was a good, much needed way to escape reality.
Here's some quotes:
"I see it now. It's not always about the things you've done, or the mistakes you've made. It's about the people and what we're willing to do for one another" (318).
"She said that life was more than dirty socks" (201).
"I always blamed others and told myself to learn from their mistakes, and not necessarily my own" (177).