Thursday 23 May 2013

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple


Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Pages: 336
Genre: Adult fiction, humor, women's fiction
ISBN: 978-0316204262
Rating: 5/5

Bernadette Fox is a mother to a gifted daughter, Bee, and a wife to a Microsoft employee. Her family has relocated to rainy Seattle and she is trying to make a new life for her family, but mostly for herself. This book is full of wit, humor, and social commentary on American culture. Bernadette says what we all think, and the consequences are often hilarious.

This book is written in an interesting way. There are no chapters, but the book is divided in about three parts. The perspectives vary and it includes Bernadette, Bee, Bernadette's husband, and also multimedia sources such as emails, newspaper clippings, reports, etc. I thought it was interesting that Semple chose to use different forms of communication in order to communicate to us the problems of American society, especially given that Bernadette is a bit of an awkward recluse herself.

This book is just filled with drama and people I would hate to meet in real life - yet, somehow it works as an addicting and enjoyable read. All the drama snowballs on poor Bernadette and her family, and the outcome is hilarious and touching. This is the type of book that, despite being filled with annoying people, you put it down feeling content and happy. It isn't all drama - there is an engaging plot that revolves around our inability to really see or know people for who they are, behind the facade of society.

To emphasize, this book is filled with drama but it is also incredibly insightful in the problems of American society. I think that a wide audience can enjoy this book, so I would suggest it for anyone!


1 comment:

  1. Now I just have to decide if I want to read it in print or audio. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the great review!

    Zaira Lynn (Seattle IT Consultant)

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