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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I enjoyed the first half of this book more-- the half in which it was pure chaos as opposed to trying to solve itself. In any case, this book is an absolute riot!
This book has been on my to-read shelf for a few years now after seeing it mentioned repeatedly on "books you have to read" lists. I get now why, even 5 years after it was published, it keeps showing up on those lists alongside newly published material. In its simplest form this story is a satirical take on the Seattle parent prep-school elite and their future elitist offspring. Everyone is a little insane, there is a lot of quirkiness, and by the end everyone has gone off the deep end and come back again. Fear not if you are not familiar with Seattle, the hilarity would ring true for almost any major metropolitan area.
Over the course of the book I began to imagine our heroine, Bee, as Tina Belcher from Bob's Burgers which completely endeared me to the story. Full of dark humor, the story seems more and more ridiculous as I think back on it and also more and more hilarious. I really feel like a second read might be needed to pick up on all the little gems that are hidden in this book.
Over the course of the book I began to imagine our heroine, Bee, as Tina Belcher from Bob's Burgers which completely endeared me to the story. Full of dark humor, the story seems more and more ridiculous as I think back on it and also more and more hilarious. I really feel like a second read might be needed to pick up on all the little gems that are hidden in this book.
This was a five star book until the end. I loved the eccentric Bernadette and could totally relate to the way she felt about the overbearing moms at her daughter's school. Although she was intellectually superior to them, they viewed her as the outcast. Bernadette could care less and that drove them insane. It was hilarious. I literally couldn't put it down until I reached the part where Bernadette goes missing and everyone is so quick to just write her off, except the daughter. However, the daughter's grief at her mother's disappearance just didn't feel real and I read the last pages feeling frustrated with the story. It makes sense, repressed creative genius finds inspiration to create again, but there was a disconnect in the characters at some point. I felt like I went from knowing them, to just reading about them.
A smart and delightful critique of PC culture -- ideal plane reading.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Entertaining and an easy read! Too many details in the end like I was falling asleep during the last 10 pages but otherwise good
While this book is playful and entertaining, I did not find it to be the laugh-out-loud romp that all the hype convinced me it would be. In fact, I thought it was more cringeworthy than funny, especially all the stuff with Audrey and the "gnats." If it were a movie I would watch through my fingers and laugh uncomfortably, probably at inappropriate times. That said, it's a thoughtful and engaging book told through correspondence among various characters and reflections of the young girl at the heart of the story. It offers interesting commentary on outsider status versus being part of the "community" and reconnecting with your true self. It's creative structure kept the book fresh throughout and made it a speedy read.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced