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.
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I can’t believe I put off reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette! I had the privilege of hearing Maria Semple speak at an author engagement and she was personable, funny and genuine. Afterwards, I bought Where’d You go Bernadette and Ms. Semple signed my copy. That was over a year ago! I’m so glad I finally read the book as it is hilarious and quirky …
Quirky, humorous and entertaining! Not the type of book I would normally read, but I enjoyed it!
An eccentric mother, misunderstood by neighbors, family, and friends, creates chaos wherever she goes. By the end, the reader understands why. I loved this story!
Quirky
One of my favourite books of recent times, I love it when writers create characters you’ve never come across anywhere else. The pressure Bernadette’s foibles hoist onto her family are deftly handled, acknowledged without dragging down the tone, and one woman’s struggles to come to terms with her own differences and to recreate herself feel all too …
I am completely mystified by the love for this book. I am DNFing at 25%, and it’s not because of the epistolary writing. I am down for that if it’s good.
I just find it alternatingly unexciting and self-indulgent.
So annoyed that I paid full-price for this on Audible because of the awesome reviews. Y’all suck but I forgive you….
Sad, funny, sharp, and heart-warming, I loved the characters, laughed at the situations they get themselves into, and cried at how bad things got for them all.
At first, i wasn’t loving this book but it really grew on me. Raw and engaging.
I enjoy books that reveal the dynamics between people, between adults and children, between humans and animals, between family and community. This has it all. Engrossing, satisfying, feel-good read.
This novel is fast, wildly creative, unpredictable, even a bit zany. Just don’t give up on it.
Because I nearly gave it up after completing the first section. At that point I thought it was going to be just another satirical look at the unique culture of of the Pacific Northwest. Affluent but dedicated parents in Seattle who compete around school …
Interesting story. Enjoyed it!
Honestly, Bernadette Fox has got to be one of the most entertaining characters I’ve met. Where You’d Go Bernadette is a light-hearted story, an easy read and manages to hook you completely. Her comical little stories and annoyance at Seattle and its people are endearing. Semple’s writing style is so immersive, you want to drink each and every …
While it was an interesting concept, the plot meandered and did not ultimately hold my interest. Truly, this needed a GOOD EDITOR. Should have been cut by a third. NOT A FSN.
I didn’t see the movie. But I really enjoyed reading this book. I may consider seeing what the ‘machine’ does to it onscreen.
Fun. Whimsical. Ending fell flat.
Reading this novel is a wild ride with a very funny book. Original, never boring, and with quite a few laugh-out-loud sections.
A compelling roller-coaster of a tale. The frenetic story of Bernadette Fox is informed by letters, emails, faxes, notes, a magazine article and narration by her daughter, Bee. A uniquely well-crafted novel about an idiosyncratic woman who is either a genius or crazy and the daughter with whom she shares a special kind of bond. Humorous and …
It kept me engaged till the end, and I loved the main character
I’ve heard great things about this book so I guess I went in with high expectations. At first the letter format of the book was a little annoying, but I can appreciate it now. The story was interesting enough but I was disappointed with the ending.
I loved this strange and funny book.