Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
reviewed by Jocelle Lauron
Set in modern day Seattle,Washington, Where’d You Go Bernadette written by Maria Semple, focuses on the meaning of family. The novel follows the eccentric life of fifteen-year-old Bee and her parents, Elgin and Bernadette. Bernadette, Bee’s mother, is a former architectural pioneer, whose dreams were shattered after a horrific incident, causing severe anxiety and depression, making her “clearly sick” (Semple 226). Elgin, Bee’s father, is an executive at Microsoft who surrounds himself with work. Elgin and Bernadette’s relationship lacks love, as Elgin describes it as “a partnership” (90). As Bee receives perfect grades for a semester, she requests a family vacation to Antarctica, which does not bode well with her mother. Bernadette attempts to make the best out of the situation by planning obsessively with her virtual assistant from India. Subsequently after a series of disheartening and shocking events, the flamboyant mother goes missing, as From there, a plethora of secrets are revealed, sending everything into a great downfall.
In this phenomenal novel, Bee compiles notes, letters, emails, transcripts, and her own thoughts to create a panoramic view for the reader. This distinct format adds a special suspense to the narrative, with readers being able to ‘investigate’ with Bee, learning clues and perspectives of the other characters. In addition to the letters and notes, Bee also inserts her own thoughts and claims, thus molding a one-of-a-kind point of view. Moreover, what is truly unique about this story is that no character is one-sided, with nearly every character having a piece written from their own perspective, creating complexity and authenticity, within everyone mentioned. As a result of this, there is always an added factor of ambiguity, forming an unconventional page turner.
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