Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple – A book review

This year does seem to be good to me. But that might have something to do with me reading only books that have been on my TBR forever. And Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple was just one of those.

How did it turn out for me? You might have to read my book review to know more.

About Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Book Name: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Author: Maria Semple

Genre: Fiction – Romance, Young adult

Characters: Bernadette Fox, Elgin and Bee Branch, Audrey and Kyle Griffin, Soo Lin.

Setting: Seattle, Washington, The USA

Plot Summary of Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Bernadette Fox is borderline anti-social and mildly agoraphobic. She is married to a Microsoft tech-wiz Elgin Branch, who is a workaholic and barely present father to their precocious teen daughter, Bee (Bala Krishna).

Bernadette delegates most of her problems to an online concierge Manjula, something Elgin disapproves of and ignores the snotty comments and activities of the her peers from Bee’s private school.

Shortly after Bee persuades them to take a family trip to Antarctica, Bernadette’s life goes into a spin. And she disappears without a trace.

Did Bee find her mother? Is there a happily ever after waiting for them forms the rest of the story in Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Book review of Where’d You Go, Bernadette

The first thing that will strike you when you start reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is that it is wacky and satirical. And that can be a make or break deal for you. You either love it or hate it.

Written mostly in an epistolary and correspondence format, it takes a bit to get used to. Understandably, the characters are so weird and such goofballs. While they may feel they are one dimensional, they work, most of the times.

AND I LOVED THEM ALL. Sure some of the things that happen are not so believable, but I found them HILARIOUS.

The Seattle rants and the “Victims against Victimhood” were particularly entertaining. The digs at the gnats and the private school culture were just perfect. I now have to see the Cate Blanchett starred movie adaptation soon!

I loved how the author spoke about mental illness without making it preachy or judging it and the effect it could have on the family as a whole.

The last few chapters felt a bit rushed and could have been more interesting. But I am gonna ignore that for now.

What worked for me

• One of the best satirical I have read in the recent times. It had several laugh-out-loud moments and I would reread this book, hopefully.
• The writing and the characters are zany and over the top, and I love that! Bernadette would be a character that you would love or hate, but she will be unforgettable.
• I love how the author dealt with mental illness and its effect on oneself and one’s family. And the social stigma attached to it.

What may have been better

• The last 50 pages turned out kinda less entertaining.
• The writing style and characters may seem over the top and if you don’t immediately connect to them, you may never.

Content warning

Parent abandonment, Mental illness and attempt to commit to psychiatric hospital.

Bottom line

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is highly entertaining and hilarious. If you have not read it already, you should do it already.

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Let’s chat

Have you read Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple? How did it work for you? What are your favorite zany characters? Let us talk.