Semple, Maria - Where'd You Go, Bernadette - Informal Buddy Read; Starts January 23, 2015

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This topic is open for discussion of Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple




Book Synopsis:
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

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[Mary X]

Is anyone still interested in doing this one? I don't think I can start it the 23rd but I can get it in soon. I have it already, I just have a couple of other buddy reads I want to finish first.

Maybe next week sometime?

[Beth]

I was still planning on doing it! I am going to start on the 23rd still but feel free to jump in whenever you start it

[Sarah]

I was gonna start around the 23rdish - or this weekend. I have an audio checked out.

[Mary X]

OK I will start it very soon.

[Sarah]

Anyone starting?

[Mary X]

I started the audio this morning. I'm on the fence so far. I'm not a big fan of books in email & letter format and so far this is mostly emails and letters. But I'm not far into yet. Also I just reread the description and I would not have guessed that Bea is 15 because she comes off more like 9. But again, I'm not very far into it and it could just be the narrator's voice making her sound too young.

[Sarah]

I will be starting the audio as well. Hopefully it is not too hard to follow - I have just heard the book is funny. I hope so. Someone at work recommended it.

[Sarah]

I kept falling asleep listening to it today, and having to go back. But when I actually am listening I am getting more into it. Bae does sound really young, but I think it is also the voice of this narrator.

[Mary X]

I'm not liking it much. I really dislike books with a lot of email & letter reading. I checked the ebook out too and maybe I'll switch to that.

[Sarah]

It is a very dramatic narrator that is for sure. I like all the descriptions of Seattle culture all though some seem very prejudice - but right on the money.

[Beth]

I'm starting this now!

[Mary X]

OK I like the ebook much better than the audio.

I lived on Whidbey Island for 9 years and spent a lot of time in Seattle. So I am appreciating that.

I actually woke up in the mood to watch Frasier.

[Mary X]

I finished this. I wasn't crazy about it and probably wouldn't have finished it if wasn't for the buddy read. I just didn't care for the email and letter format.

[Beth]

I'm a little confused about how it's all set up. The letters between Kyle's mom and her friend don't seem all that important. But I guess we'll find out!

[SthTx Dawn]

I started this book this week, not realizing it had a buddy read..so I will jump into this one too

[SthTx Dawn]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I finished this. I wasn't crazy about it and probably wouldn't have finished it if wasn't for the buddy read. I just didn't care for the email and letter format."

I have to admit..I am not enjoying that aspect of this book as well..

[Sarah]

I think Bernadette may be a little Cray Cray

[Mary X]

She's a total whack-job.

[Beth]

I just finished Part 1

(view spoiler)[I can't help it. I love Bernadette. I feel for her. I want to know what's going on in her head. I'm curious as to why she was obsessed with the streets in Seattle and why she hates Canadians.

I also want to know what happened to make her a recluse.

I see part of myself in her and so I just can't not love her. I want to know more about her.

I'm not sure how I feel about the husband yet. If I knew my significant other was going through a breakdown, I wouldn't be working all the time. I would be helping them. (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I finished this. I wasn't crazy about it and probably wouldn't have finished it if wasn't for the buddy read. I just didn't care for the email and letter format."

I like that aspect but that's because I like books that are written this way. I can see why it would be annoying to other people though.

[Sarah]

Beth, it doesn't bother me either.

[Beth]

Part two is done

(view spoiler)[I really do not like her neighbor. I really wish I could have seen the Twenty Mile House. That sounds awesome. I'm actually enjoying this story so far. I hope I continue to like it this much. (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

Part three is done

(view spoiler)[Is Manjula a real person? Now I'm concerned for them! (hide spoiler)]

[SthTx Dawn]

Sarah wrote: "I think Bernadette may be a little Cray Cray"

lol..ya think?!?

Bee is amazing though..right

[Beth]

SthTx Dawn wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I think Bernadette may be a little Cray Cray"

lol..ya think?!?

Bee is amazing though..right"

I love Bee and Bernadette each in their own ways!

[Beth]

I just have a really bad feeling that (view spoiler)[Her dad and his assistant are going to have an affair of some kind. They are both starting to hang out a lot at work and staying later and later and he's getting more distant from Bernadette

And the lady is seriously trying to get him to think she is abusing him and I'm afraid that he'll believe it sooner or later. And what's with him trying to ship her out of there against her will? (hide spoiler)]

[Beth]

I just finished this. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. The ending seemed to drag on and I just wanted to skim it but I did enjoy the rest of it.

[SthTx Dawn]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I finished this. I wasn't crazy about it and probably wouldn't have finished it if wasn't for the buddy read. I just didn't care for the email and letter format."

What did you think about the second half of the book (view spoiler)[that was written primarily from Bee's point of view? Better..Worse? The email/letter format grew on me a bit, especially Audrey's she was pretty outrageous and made me laugh. (hide spoiler)]

[SthTx Dawn]

oh..and what the heck with 5 way intersections? They have those? Why would they make 5 way intersections? I can see why that would throw a non native off..

[Mary X]

Yes they do have 5 way intersections. I thought all big cities did? Hartford (the nearest big City to me) is a maze of strange 4+ way intersections and seems to have been designed specifically to get people lost. Very much like Seattle.

Honestly by the time the 2nd half off the book came around I had really lost interest and didn't really care what had happened to Bernadette.

[Marla]

I just picked this up from the library but I have to finish at least one of the books that I have in progress, so I'll start it this weekend...will anyone still be around?

[Sarah]

I will comment with you. I already finished.

[Marla]

Thanks, Sarah...I've gotta finish one of my slow books, so I can read something better. But I've heard mixed reviews on this book...so I might not be improving my situation much.

[Snowtulip]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I started the audio this morning. I'm on the fence so far. I'm not a big fan of books in email & letter format and so far this is mostly emails and letters. But I'm not far into yet. Also I just..."

I just started, but also thought Bea was younger than she is...like you said it might be the narrator using that shrill voice when using Bea's voice.

[Snowtulip]

Marla wrote: "Thanks, Sarah...I've gotta finish one of my slow books, so I can read something better. But I've heard mixed reviews on this book...so I might not be improving my situation much."

I've seen the mixed review too, so a little tentative, but wanted a funny book, so fingers crossed this works for me!

[Snowtulip]

Beth (Ducky) wrote: "I just finished Part 1

."

(view spoiler)[I'm also curious what made Bernadette so apprehensive of the world at large. I'm still getting a feel for her husband (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Snowfall - Yeah I found the narrators voice contributed to Bae sounding young because her voice literally sounded very childish. It was an interesting voice, the narrator. I don't think I liked her voice too much. I didn't think this book was rip roaring hilarious. If people want that I thought and were better - both with very quirky main characters that I just fell in love with.

[Snowtulip]

I'm going to have to try A Man Called Ove, I did really like The Rosie Project, since I'm looking for a book that leaves me smiling :)

[Snowtulip]

(view spoiler)[so far the book is a bit too bitter for me, I do like Bea, but having a problem with all the drama for a humor book. (hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

It's a strange writing style. I think Bernadette's mother is (view spoiler)[agoraphobic - afraid of crowds or leaving a safe place, like one's home. But I don't understand why she needs a personal assistant in India just because she doesn't want to leave her home or interact with people. I would think a personal assistant who could pick up Bernadette and run errands would be more useful. I would think surfing the internet and booking flights and such would be fulfilling if you didn't want to interact in reality.

I am concerned about Bernadette's mother giving a virtual stranger (pun intended) the capability to directly access her bank account. (hide spoiler)]

Part 1 - Mom Versus the Gnats: I am never a big fan of bullying and cruelty at any age, so I was disappointed in the actions of (view spoiler)[ the Galer Street gnats. I felt sorry for Bernadette with her phobia and for Bee for having Bernadette as her mother.

That house sounds like its own character. It reminded me of Venice, beautifully rotting away.

That mud slide would be very traumatic and stressful for the kindergarteners. I think I would be upset if I had seen that kind of destruction. Ironic that Audrey Griffin facillitated her own mudslide by insisting they remove the blackberry brambles.

Elgin Branch sounds brilliantly eccentric too. I would NOT like one of my archenemies working for my husband. And I hope Bernadette is wrong and Soo-Lin Lee-Segal doesn't turn Elgin against Bernadette. Maybe that letter to the Madrona Hill treatment center is the beginning of the end.
(hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

Snowtulip wrote: "I'm going to have to try A Man Called Ove, I did really like The Rosie Project, since I'm looking for a book that leaves me smiling :)"

was excellent. Both very funny and very touching. It's in the top 5 of my 2014 books, and I'm not usually into humorous books.

[Snowtulip]

Cynthia wrote: "Snowtulip wrote: "I'm going to have to try A Man Called Ove, I did really like The Rosie Project, since I'm looking for a book that leaves me smiling :)"

[bookcover:A Man Called Ov..."

It has a long wait list at the library, but can't wait, I've been craving a good humorous story.

[Sarah]

I loooooove Ove.

[Marla]

Part 2 - Bernadette Past and Present: The concept of the Twenty Mile House was very cool! (view spoiler)[It was a shame that the neighbor destroyed the house. I felt bad when the previous owner of our house came back to visit and wanted to see her wild flower garden, but we had put a swimming pool there.

I was impressed that Bernadette was a successful architect. I guess I can see what Elgin saw in her. I was so annoyed that she didn't investigate who was buying her house. But it was really sad that the Twenty Mile House got bull-dozed.

Since I have always loved bunnies. I was horrified at the feral bunny story.
(hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Part 3 - Menace to Society: (view spoiler)[I liked Audrey Griffin's Christmas poem. Though I can't stand parents who ignore and deny their children's faults.

The idea of circulating a birthday card around the revolving restaurant was so clever. I've been to at least 3 revolving restaurants, but I've never heard of that and what a Great idea.

Interesting analogy of poop in the stew. If there is a just a little poop in the stew, would you eat it? Life is the stew and drugs are the poop. What else could be the poop? Pain and unhappiness?

Elgin's TEDTalk sounded very cool! Samantha 2 sounds very intriguing.

I knew there was something up with Manjula Kapoor, Bernadette's personal assistant from India. Did not guess that Marcus Strang of the FBI would contact Elgin.
(hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

Part 4 - Invaders: I'm liking these middle parts. This kind of a story where everything looks one way but is not what it seems. (view spoiler)[I am annoyed that Elgin is solving the problem of Bernadette instead of engaging to try to help her, manipulating his brother and shipping Bee off to boarding school at mid-term without her consent. Elgin trusting Soo-Lin his admin "gnat" was totally frustrating.

I was so happy that Bernadette decided to go to Antarctica with them. Though too little, too late, it appears.

It seems like the crazy person isn't as crazy as she seems and the sane, judgmental people around her are crazier than they think.

Why is Manjula coming to Seattle? I think they are going to take one look at the decrepit mansion and leave them alone.
(hide spoiler)]

[Marla]

I expected this book to be more about Bee, because I thought it was a YA book, but it seems more like an adult book to me. And seeing as most of the characters are adults with adult problems, it doesn't have a very YA feel to it.