Where'd You Go, Bernadette in DC Public Library

Jan 05, 2019 Prince William Public Libraries rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, adult, humorous, award-winners, pwpls-book-club-reads, pwpls-book-kits

Bernadette Fox absolutely hates living in Seattle. The locals, five way intersections, craftsmen homes and Chihuly glass are all beyond her. Then, there’s the constant rain. Seattle is just not a fun place to live, and Bernadette would rather not leave her house at all.

Husband Elgin Branch, a robotics genius, spends too many hours a day working at Microsoft rather than coming home to spend time with Bernadette and daughter Bee. Bernadette loves her precocious daughter Bee, but Bernadette does n Bernadette Fox absolutely hates living in Seattle. The locals, five way intersections, craftsmen homes and Chihuly glass are all beyond her. Then, there’s the constant rain. Seattle is just not a fun place to live, and Bernadette would rather not leave her house at all.

Husband Elgin Branch, a robotics genius, spends too many hours a day working at Microsoft rather than coming home to spend time with Bernadette and daughter Bee. Bernadette loves her precocious daughter Bee, but Bernadette does not love the other mothers at the Galer Street School, especially Audrey Griffin.

Audrey lives down the hill from the Branches and she is planning a brunch at her home for prospective Galer Street School parents. Blackberry bushes have taken over her yard, and the source of the intruding bushes is Bernadette’s yard. Audrey is obsessed with removing the bushes from Bernadette’s yard, but slyly without her knowledge.

That is when the real story begins. After a number of odd events involving Bernadette, Elgin is convinced that she is going mad and arranges for a psychiatric intervention. Sensing impending danger, Bernadette disappears. Where did she go? Bee is convinced Bernadette is somewhere in Antarctica. After all, the family had planned a trip there as a reward for Bee’s illustrious report card and her impending graduation from middle school.

Author Maria Semple was originally a scriptwriter for Arrested Development and Saturday Night Live so keep that in mind when you are reading this book. Those of us who appreciate black humor think the goings-on in the story are hilarious. Those who do not appreciate the sardonic approach to life probably will not be taken with this story at all. All of us will definitely learn something new about Antarctica. Brrr.

- Jodi S.

Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.

Click here to find the audiobook at the Prince William County Public Library System.

Click here to find the ebook at the Prince William County Public Library System. ...more

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Dec 24, 2018 Avery rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-contemporary-fiction, owned-hardcopy, favorites, tv-movie-adaptations, genre-humor

Hop on and buckle your seatbelts. You’re in for a wild ride from Seattle to Antarctica with Bernadette Fox, that involves knowing the difference between burritos and enchiladas, TEDTalks, five-way intersections, the Drake Passage, and what happens to rabbits when they don’t eat carrots for three months.

I loved going into this book blind, as Semple’s storytelling style was unique and hilarious. I was pleasantly surprised at the delightful stories woven throughout (see above) and the over-the-top ...more

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