My book club at work recently completed Where'd You Go, Bernadette as our September book. While I had had this on my GoodReads radar for over a year I had never sought the book out to read. Now I have finished the book and thought I would share some of my thoughts since I know a large number of you have read it! Please comment with your thoughts on the book as well!
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Description:
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.
Review:
It took a while to get used to the format of the book since it changes perspectives often from an email to Bee's point of view to a letter, etc. But once you get into the book and later find out about the reason for the formatting it makes more sense. I thought that Bernadette herself was very funny as a character however, the handling of mental illnesses and drug abuse were pretty appalling. I also think the book ends abruptly and I would have loved to have had another chapter to finish it. It was a good quick read!
What is on your to-read list?
I am about to re-read The Best of Me in prep for watching the movie with my Mom in a few weeks.
I read this a year or so ago and think it was probably one of the best books I've read in recent years. When someone asks for a book recommendation this is usually what I suggest. I thought the story was clever and enjoyed the writing, but I agree I would have liked an extra chapter at the end. Also it made me never want to live in Seattle
ReplyDeleteHill @ From Mississippi With Love
I had been reccomended this book so much so I am glad that it did not disappoint. I think it could have been a bit longer but the format was fun. I agree that I would hate living in Seattle!
DeleteThat's so crazy that the BookIt program is back! I definitely participated when I was little, and I have such happy memories. In addition to a pizza, I think I also had a BookIt button!
ReplyDeleteI think I had the button as well! I love programs that encourage people to read, I mean, I did receive a BA in English!
DeleteI read this book while I was on vacation at the beach this summer and I loved it! Like you said, it was kind of difficult to get used to the format, but once I got used to it, I couldn't stop reading it!
ReplyDeleteIt was a really quick read, I just wish there was one more chapter!
DeleteI just bought this book last night because everyone was raving about it! The format is taking some getting used to but so far,I like it. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear your thoughts on the book!
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