Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
Book Review
I am endlessly fascinated by the afterlife and the wildly different views, ideologies and beliefs that accompany the most unknown aspect of the human condition…so perhaps it’s no surprise that I loved this book.
In order to adequately express why I loved this book, I think it’s necessary to give you a bit of background on my personal experience with religion and spirituality… so, what follows is not my typical book review, but rather, a deeply personal reflection.
Despite growing up going to church (I was raised Presbyterian), I never quite identified with organized religion. As such, I spent many years of my life filled with existential dread. Perhaps my anxiety was to blame, but I spent MANY sleepless nights staring at the ceiling worrying about death. 😰
In my twenties, I spent an inordinate amount of time reading self-help books and trying to learn anything and everything I could about various religions and spiritual practices in an attempt to find something that resonated with me. I went to Buddhist temples, saw psychics and tarot card readers and (briefly) participated in group therapy that specifically focused on spirituality. In this instance, I definitely think “doing your own research” is the way to go. 😉
As far as the afterlife is concerned… I’ve never really believed in the idea of heaven and hell as presented by many mainstream religions. While I do believe that consciousness continues beyond death in some capacity, I personally believe that the magnitude of that existential reality is truly unfathomable and beyond the ability of our puny human brains to comprehend. This belief has helped me find peace in the face of the unknowable. It’s also brought me reassurance in the idea that our loved ones are always with us (in some capacity). 💓
Reading this book felt like an affirmation of my “mix and match” approach to religion and spirituality. While this book is clearly a work of fantasy, I think it accentuates the fact that what happens after death is truly unknowable… and therefore anything is possible.
Onto the book review…
Reading this book felt like receiving a warm hug… I loved it so much
Wallace is an asshole. So when he dies unexpectedly at the age of 40, no one particularly cares. However, in death, he’s given a second chance at life, love and happiness. Despite his immediate denial - and adamant demands to be returned to the land of the living - Wallace quickly adapts to life as a ghost… thanks to the help of his newfound companions, which include a sassy “reaper” named Mei, a handsome ferryman, named Hugo, who is tasked with helping him “crossover” and two fellow ghosts - Hugo’s grandfather and his dog.
I absolutely loved the eclectic characters included in this book. The author did such a fantastic job of bringing each of these special characters to life.
While the book does include some cheesy moments, it’s sweet, funny, uplifting and gives a voice to grief of all different shapes and sizes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
