Where'd You Go, Bernadette

[Ilona]

This thread is to discuss the Maria Semple book, Where'd You Go, Bernadette.

Pages: 330 pages

Length: 1 month

Participants: Harini, Joan, Larissa, Lindsay, Summer, Anna

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Summer]

I'll be reading this book this month also. I know I'm not officially part of the buddy read but I'd like to follow along and see what you guys think of the book.. is that ok?

[Anna]

Hi, I'm also planning on reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette this month. Is it still possible to join?

[Ilona]

Absolutely, Summer and Anna! I'll add you both to the list.

[Anna]

Thank you! :)

[Joan]

I'm starting this one today. Has anyone else started yet?

[Lindsay]

I'm three quarters of the way through. I think you'll find it a quick read. I've not had much time to read unfortunately.

[Summer]

Ilona wrote: "Absolutely, Summer and Anna! I'll add you both to the list."

awesome! I'll be starting this on the 18th so I'll check back in then.. thanks a bunch!

[Harini]

I started today and just finished Part 1. I was reading it in pieces at work and cracked up quite a few times. Is anyone listening to the audiobook? I heard a sample and thought of giving it a try for Part 2.

[Summer]

I finished Bernadette today. I really enjoyed this book but sometimes the stuff going on was so out there I wondered if I was supposed to be taking the book seriously or not. All in all I can say this will definitely be a hard book to rate.

[Joan]

I've been enjoying this one. I haven't had much time to read lately but I got through the first part. I think the emails that she sends to the virtual assistant are pretty funny. As an accountant I'm to the point when I write an email and in real life she would drive me nuts. I don't even know how the assistant knows what to do for her.

[Joan]

I've read the first three parts and I'm halfway through now. (view spoiler)[ It has piqued my interest about the virtual assistant being a fake. It is adding to the mystery of what is going on with Bernadette. Sometime all of the breaks and letters it gets a little confusing on who is talking. When they were in the Space Needle restaurant I wasn't getting that it was Bee that was talking. (hide spoiler)]

[Lindsay]

I enjoyed it but think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t been so busy and struggled to find time to read. It was funny and a bit quirky but maybe a bit overhyped for me. I do love the cover design though!

[Anna]

I finished it last week, but was a bit underwhelmed. I thought parts were funny and made me silently chuckle a little, but overall it wasn't that memorable for me. Saying that, I'm still really looking forward to the movie adaptation. :) I ended up writing a somewhat lengthy review, if anyone's interested to hear my more in-depth thoughts.

[Joan]

Anna wrote: "I finished it last week, but was a bit underwhelmed. I thought parts were funny and made me silently chuckle a little, but overall it wasn't that memorable for me. Saying that, I'm still really loo..."

I kind of agree although I rated it 4 stars just because I liked the writing. I finally just finished it but I've had a lot going on personally. In other circumstances I would have finished it faster.

I liked the writing style because it was funny. I thought some of the story was unbelievable but I think that is what the author was going for. Sometimes in life you can look back and see how crazy parts of your life were.

I didn't know there was a movie coming out on it. I look forward to watching that. I think a movie on it would be a good movie.

Also some of the mental health issues were hard for me to read right now because I know someone that is going through some of that. So I could definitely see truth in the story about those items.

I would definitely recommend the book for people to read. I think right now it wasn't a good time for me to read it. If I had read it at some other time I would have probably enjoyed it a lot more.