Where'd You Go, Bernadette Discussion

[[deleted user]]

I have a friend who requested a trip to Antarctica for a graduation from High School present, she had a great time- I also know a ton of people that have gone meteorite hunting in Antarctica, and briefly though about doing it myself- mostly because it doesn't sound like quite so much fun.

[Dee]

there is an antactica marathon you can do - signups are like 5 years in advance because so many people want to do it - personally, I think they are insane!

[Mai]

A quick read that gets better as the story is unveiled. I found the different ways and perspectives from which the story's told quite exhilarating, and I enjoyed learning more about Seattle, as well as the West Coast lifestyle that's so contrasting with that of the East coast. I'm also quite content with the book's ending and how things turn out for each character. Closure can sometimes be nice.

[Dana]

Like another poster said, the cover put me off, because I do judge a book by its cover. Once I finally started reading, I was pleased to find it was really an original piece of work. In the first half of the book, I was laughing out loud, and really enjoying the different takes on a situation by the various characters.

But, then, it got harder and harder to for me to keep reading. I felt like the point was made and passed and dragged out. I felt the author could have written a much better book.

[Asho]

I would totally take my kid on a cruise to Antarctica, if I could afford it! (I definitely can't, but clearly Bernadette and Elgin could.) :-) I have always been intrigued by the idea of an Antarctic cruise, so that was one of the elements of this book that was really fun for me.
Also, I tutor students preparing for their SSAT exams to get into ritzy private high schools, so I've met my fair share of the Audreys of the world. And, no joke, I teach an after-school program at a Montessori school in an industrial park! It's not next door to a fish processing plant, but reading Ollie O's e-mail at the beginning of the book hooked me immediately. I'm on the opposite coast so I can't speak to the satirizing of Seattle, but the satirizing of private school parents in general struck me as dead on.

I thought Bee was charming and I liked eccentric Bernadette. Audrey was infuriating, and I was glad she redeemed herself at the end even though I didn't find that entirely believable.

In general I liked the style of the book. I suppose the gimmick didn't work entirely all of the time, but it worked well enough for me. Because of the short chunks of texts, this book was a real page-turner. I pretty much couldn't put it down once I picked it up and ended up finishing it in a weekend (which is fast for me!).

I also wish we had an epilogue of sorts that filled us in on how Bernadette reacted to Soo-Lin's pregnancy once she was back in the United States. I kept waiting for an e-mail that explained she'd been mistaken in thinking she was pregnant and I was surprised when that didn't happen. Still, the ending didn't ruin my satisfaction with the book as a whole.

Overall I was happy with this selection.

[bamaace83]

I will admit the only reason I read this book for the group challenge was that it was the only book that I was able to rent electronically from the library. I had no idea what I was about to read! After starting it, I discovered it was actually an enjoyable and fast read. I will say that Audrey sure did grate on my nerves but I loved how Bernadette and Bee always seemed to turn things around on here which of course just made it more funny. I loved how Bee was able to figue out where indeed Bernadette went. Overall, I think it was a good book. It was fun to see a different point of view of those "rich" families. I think my favorite part of the whole book had to be the mudslide. That was totally classic! She had it coming anyway. ;)

[Lacy]

I'm going to be starting this one soon!

[Soelo]

I liked this one, especially Bee's descriptions of the Antarctic landscape.

[Tammy AZ]

This was a fast read that when viewed a bit deeper gets to the heart of what upper-class life can be in the U.S. I always felt that some of the status and self-absorbed behaviors I witness were particular to where I live because when I visit friends in the Northwest (Seattle and Portland) I don't really see the same thing. This book made me see that much the same goes on - it is just easy to overlook when you're not living in a community because you can judge people by their more casual, outdoor, natural clothing and equate that with being down-to-earth. Everywhere you go there are smartpeople, kind people, snobs, gossips, etc and you can't stereotype just on looks. When Bernadette described her feeling of not belonging I felt for her, but at the same time wanted to shake her for isolating herself and not making any effort to find and befriend people with less self-absorbed sensibilities. Instead, she allowed herself to live in the adult version of mean-girl high school, letting the other moms dictate her feelings for herself. I loved her relationship with her daughter and felt she could be a fun and funny person but in the end really did need the psychiatric care her husband wanted.

[Jodi]

<(view spoiler)[ I just finished this book and I have a question about a possible inconsistency. The letter to Bee from Mom. They found the notepad in her cabin with the indentations but it seems she wrote the letter after the fact. Am I missing something??? (hide spoiler)]