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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
This is the type of book which Jane Austen or Oscar Wilde would write about upper middle class 21st century America, and that is one of the highest compliments I can give a book.
The first third of Where'd You Go, Bernadette? introduces all the characters, who should be as ridiculous as the situations in which they find themselves, and yet most of them sound like only slightly exaggerated versions of someone you know. The titular character is a clever Seattle housewife so bored and so repressed that she's becoming a "menace to society". Her meddling next door neighbor is as self-righteous as she is clueless. Other characters include Bernadette's husband, a well-meaning workaholic who works for Microsoft and invented a robot that does everything for you; his admin, a "victimized" divorcee who lives to spread rumors about her boss's wife; a dedicated but tragically bureaucratic psychiatrist; and Bernadette's only friend, an Internet assistant from India who may be part of the Russian mafia. (Hopefully no one knows anyone like that last one.)
The book abruptly turns serious about 150 pages in when several of the characters try to have Bernadette committed and she disappears (hence the title). It's up to her 15-year-old daughter Bee to go through a series of documents, from personal emails to FBI files, and put together the picture of Bernadette, warts and all. And hopefully that picture will help Bee find her.
This book is wickedly funny, and the writing is top-notch. Maria Semple has a new fan, and I highly recommend this novel to anyone.
The first third of Where'd You Go, Bernadette? introduces all the characters, who should be as ridiculous as the situations in which they find themselves, and yet most of them sound like only slightly exaggerated versions of someone you know. The titular character is a clever Seattle housewife so bored and so repressed that she's becoming a "menace to society". Her meddling next door neighbor is as self-righteous as she is clueless. Other characters include Bernadette's husband, a well-meaning workaholic who works for Microsoft and invented a robot that does everything for you; his admin, a "victimized" divorcee who lives to spread rumors about her boss's wife; a dedicated but tragically bureaucratic psychiatrist; and Bernadette's only friend, an Internet assistant from India who may be part of the Russian mafia. (Hopefully no one knows anyone like that last one.)
The book abruptly turns serious about 150 pages in when several of the characters try to have Bernadette committed and she disappears (hence the title). It's up to her 15-year-old daughter Bee to go through a series of documents, from personal emails to FBI files, and put together the picture of Bernadette, warts and all. And hopefully that picture will help Bee find her.
This book is wickedly funny, and the writing is top-notch. Maria Semple has a new fan, and I highly recommend this novel to anyone.
I found the protagonists too white, their problems and complaints too petty and an altogether sense of grandioseness to their problems and their lives. The phrase, first world problems was fixed pernamently in my brain as I read Bernadette fret over her "unchangeable" life and how unsympathetic I found every character.
I started reading this book on a week long yoga retreat. We were having a day of silence, but I found myself laughing out loud within the first few pages. If you are from the Pacific Northwest, you will laugh hard. If you have school age kids, you will laugh even harder.
I then came home to help my son with his fourth grade diarama of Ernest Shackleton's ill fated wreckage of the Endurance. Not only did this remind me of this book, but I was supremely proud of myself for helping construct the icebergs with styrofoam and bit pieces purchased at a scrap store within 2 miles of my house.
The whole school project felt like an ode to Bernadette.
I highly recommend this read!
I then came home to help my son with his fourth grade diarama of Ernest Shackleton's ill fated wreckage of the Endurance. Not only did this remind me of this book, but I was supremely proud of myself for helping construct the icebergs with styrofoam and bit pieces purchased at a scrap store within 2 miles of my house.
The whole school project felt like an ode to Bernadette.
I highly recommend this read!
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wowza, super fun and unique read. I couldn't put it down. It reminded me so much of Arrested Development! In a good way. This was written in a way that I think would be ideal for TV/movie adaptation.
Totally worth the 6 month wait (!!!) at the library.
Totally worth the 6 month wait (!!!) at the library.
This is November's book club book, I had bought it from Amazon to read on holiday over the summer but never got round to it so I was really pleased when Melissa picked it, gave me the perfect excuse to bump it up my to-read list.
The story is about Bernadette, the mother of Bee, wife of Elgie, Galer Street mom. Bernadette has issues, her crowning glory, a twenty mile house was ripped down by the person she sold it to, she moved to Seattle and had several miscarriages. She finally had Bee and Bee was sick, spending the first five years of her life in the hospital.
I loved how the book was told through a series of articles, emails, conversations, etc and also a bit of prose. It was fascinating how the story unfolded, starting somewhere in the middle, going back through the history and then finishing with a good conclusion. All the way through the book Bernadette, Bee and Elgie are planning a trip to Antarctica.
I loved that Bernadette actually went through with the trip and ended up loving it so much that she stayed a while. I thought it was great that Audrey finally realised the error of her ways and really came through for Bee and for Bernadette in the end and helped Bee find her mother.
The one thing I didn't like was Soo-Lin. It was a bit predictable but I really didn't like her character or how she affected the story, I didn't think she brought much to the whole thing and it was a real shame she came between Bee, Bernadette and Elgie.
Overall, a really enjoyable read, very humourous in places but also a touching and lovely story about a mother and daughter. I would definitely recommend reading it!
The story is about Bernadette, the mother of Bee, wife of Elgie, Galer Street mom. Bernadette has issues, her crowning glory, a twenty mile house was ripped down by the person she sold it to, she moved to Seattle and had several miscarriages. She finally had Bee and Bee was sick, spending the first five years of her life in the hospital.
I loved how the book was told through a series of articles, emails, conversations, etc and also a bit of prose. It was fascinating how the story unfolded, starting somewhere in the middle, going back through the history and then finishing with a good conclusion. All the way through the book Bernadette, Bee and Elgie are planning a trip to Antarctica.
I loved that Bernadette actually went through with the trip and ended up loving it so much that she stayed a while. I thought it was great that Audrey finally realised the error of her ways and really came through for Bee and for Bernadette in the end and helped Bee find her mother.
The one thing I didn't like was Soo-Lin. It was a bit predictable but I really didn't like her character or how she affected the story, I didn't think she brought much to the whole thing and it was a real shame she came between Bee, Bernadette and Elgie.
Overall, a really enjoyable read, very humourous in places but also a touching and lovely story about a mother and daughter. I would definitely recommend reading it!
I liked it overall but not as much as I expected given all the hype. It was a nice quick read which was what I was looking for and a nice distraction.
I really enjoyed this one. Sure, there are things not to love about the main character but she's human and I enjoyed seeing her portrayed through several other characters.