Where’d You Go, Bernadette by: Maria Semple (2012)
Genre: Fiction
330 pages
330 pages
Source: The Library
Purchase: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
Goodreads Summary: Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.
To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.
My Review
Where’d You Go, Bernadette is a must read.
Here is why…
It’s Hilarious, Unique, Complex, and Real.
It’s full of Redemption, Betrayal, Love, and Laughter.
The characters are Enjoyable, Crazy, Adorable, and Smart.
It’s also Shocking, Well Written, Hopeful, and Beautiful.
The Bottom Line: Where’d You Go, Bernadette is fantastic. Read it.
**What did you think of my new straight to the point review? I had fun writing it, but I want your opinion! I won't do these kinds of reviews often, but I thought it would be nice to spice my reviews up a little bit from time to time.
As much as I enjoy deeper analysis, sometimes it's nice to just know if you liked the book and why. A lot of times it's those adjectives & keywords/themes you're using here that signal other readers as to whether or not it's the kind of book they would like anyway. Love it, love it, love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I just want to spice up this review a little bit, and all these big adjectives just kept popping up in my head so I went with it. :)
DeleteI thought that book was tons-o-fun too. Loved the Seattle setting and the eccentricity of Bernadette.
ReplyDeleteOh I love how eccentric Bernadette is. lol Such a good book. I'm glad you enjoyed it too.
DeleteHmm I see this is marketed as Adult Fiction but Bee is only 15? Am I missing something? I'm adding it to my TBR regardless but I don't know what list to put it on...
ReplyDeleteI like the straight-to-the-point reviews! It's always a good thing to spice up one's reviews :)
Thanks!
DeleteSo Bee is 15, but she only tells part of the story, correspondence from her mother tells most of it, and well I think it could really fit into both young adult and adult, it's just complex that way. lol It's a good read though...I promise. :)
Funny that this question would come up right after I was doing some research on the Alex Awards -- according to YALSA's website, "The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18" -- and Where'd You Go Bernadette was one of the 2013 winners! I will definitely be checking out the other winners throughout the years since crossover-type books are right up my alley.
DeleteThanks Christine! I shall be checking out this list as well!!
Delete