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.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
by Maria Semple
reviewed by Julia Yellen
Maria Semple’s contemporary fiction novel, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, tells a story about a family’s unbreakable love. Main character Bernadette Branch, once the most influential and innovative architect of her time, loathes what her life has become in Seattle. At the height of her career twenty years before, a devastating incident occurs that destroys her hopes and dreams to pursue her passion. Bernadette falls into a pit of bitterness, semi-depression and isolation. In Seattle, her notorious bad attitude is cause for almost everyone to hate her. Angry at the world, she feels that everything she creates fails. Her only creation that brings her joy is her fifteen-year-old daughter and best friend, Bee, who reflects the same drive and intelligence as her mother used to demonstrate as an architect. As a reward for Bee’s perfect grades in eighth grade, Bernadette’s family, consisting of Bernadette, her husband and Bee, plans for a trip to the South Pole. Bernadette grows anxious about the trip details: getting to Antarctica and having to interact with other people; just before the trip, Bernadette mysteriously goes missing.
This page-turner is about Bee’s investigation to find her mother through emails, hand-written notes, digital logs and articles she recovered. Throughout the story, readers uncover clues about Bernadette’s past and gather inferences about where and how she goes, all through the eyes of Bee. We explore many different perspectives of people in Bernadette’s life and see how every character’s stories intertwine before and after Bernadette goes missing. Semple's writing style is different than anything I have ever read and has a wonderfully interesting and refreshing plot. The book’s unique format left me completely captivated as I witnessed how each character felt rather than just one. The suspense and ambiguity of Bernadette’s disappearance kept me at the edge of my seat as I searched for the missing pieces and connections between past and present. Semple portrays the two main characters, Bernadette and her daughter, Bee, as confident and independent women. The way they do not care about others’ opinions and lead their lives the way they want made me want to stand up and clap in the middle of reading. Their sassy and sarcastic demeanors cracked me up and inspired me. The hilariously authentic yet unpredictable situations that occur due to Bernadette’s eccentric behavior cause for an interesting story that I, for one, could not put down and recommend to anyone who loves good mysteries and strong main characters.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
by Maria Semple
reviewed by Kelly Carney
Bee never thought that smiling at her mom in the audience during the school music concert would be the last time she would have the opportunity to do so. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple begins when Bee, who is a teenager with a heart condition, is awarded a trip to Antarctica due to her stellar grades. The mother Bernadette is mourning over the loss of her architecture career and her many miscarriages. She uses her over seas assistant in India to do all her everyday errands in preparation for the trip because she is overwhelmed by so much stress. Bernadette plans her revenge on her enemy and neighbor, Audrey Griffin who makes Bernadette’s life miserable. Audrey and other moms at Bee’s school bully Bernadette because she is not involved in school activities.
Bernadette abuses her medical prescriptions, pushing her near the breaking point. In the cold, gloomy, rainy city of Seattle, Bernadette slips into a state of depression. She hates Seattle but hides her feelings with a smile so her husband does not worry about her and will focus on work. Her husband Eugene works long nights to pay for Bee’s trip and starts to notice the family breaking apart. When Bernadette’s big-shot Microsoft husband confronts her about her behavior, she mysteriously disappears. Determined to find her mom, Bee pieces together all of her emails, letters, and any other pieces of her Mom’s secret life that may lead her to reconnecting their family.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is a funny, intriguing story of a family who comes to terms with who they really are. This novel shows the connection and the everlasting love between a mother and her daughter that are inseparable. Learning of her mom’s disappearance, Bee drives her dad away, blaming him for everything that has happened to their family. Throughout the journey Bee rekindles her friendship and love with her father, realizing that he misses his wife just as much as she misses her best friend. This story will take the reader on an adventure with highs and lows, as a father and his daughter will find their missing half.
I loved this story and after I got used to the email format between the various characters, I was fully enthralled in the plot. Semple’s unique writing style is filled with comedy and lighthearted comments that were extremely funny and clever. Semple’s take on the classic novel has been my favorite book to read this year and is a story that will make the reader never want to put it down.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette is a novel that would be loved by all ages and anyone who loves to get lost in laughter, excitement, and a spunky book that will catch you by surprise.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
by Maria Semple
reviewed by Mila Mendoza
An emotional, satirical read that’ll have you laughing every other page, Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette tells the tale of Bernadette Fox: a hilarious woman who regardless if you like her or not, you will never forget her. The former architectural genius now spends her days mocking other parents at her daughter Bee’s private school in Seattle, and has no real friends besides Bee. Bee receives extremely high marks in school and as a gift asks for a family trip to Antarctica, to which her parents readily agree. After incidents between Bernadette and the other mothers or “gnats” take place, tension begins to build up between she and Elgie, her husband and legend at Microsoft Software. Bernadette begins to act abnormally; for example she starts relying on an online Indian assistant to do the most mundane of chores. As Bernadette trusts her assistant more and the people around her less, she becomes lost in more ways than one (hence Where’d You Go, Bernadette).
In my opinion, Semple’s choice to use Bee as the narrator makes the book such an interesting read because the plot follows the collateral damage Bernadette’s actions have on her family rather than the woman herself. Seeing through Bee’s eyes reveals her determination, intelligence, and maturity amongst other traits that not only explain many of her actions, but can be compared with her parents. It also highlights the atypical mother-daughter relationship present, which is key to the plot, and contributes to the theme of friendship. Friendship or lack thereof is a major theme in this book, as the author repeats Bernadette’s lonlieness and Bee’s ability to only make one friend who her father dislikes regardless. Another theme present in the novel is identity, and how far (physically or mentally) the characters will go once they lose it. I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary and/or humorous reading. Where’d You Go, Bernadette shines light on serious topics while maintaining a light and funny tone, making for one of my personal favorite books to date.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? 
