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A review by thewordsdevourer
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I don't know whether to regret not reading this book years earlier, but in hindsight, I feel like I'm able to appreciate the book and its ideas more that I'm older.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a refreshingly atypical story filled with complex but ultimately humane characters. Despite its 'comedy' genre, I don't find the book that humorous, perhaps because underneath all the satire, there lies irrefutable truths. Bernadette is one-of-a-kind, and so are her drive, backstory, and motives, and her relationship with Bee is a great, nuanced one as well.
The book's unconventional format also elevates it, enabling the audience to read the story from multiple perspectives and offering an insight to each narrating character. Instantly readable from start to finish.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a refreshingly atypical story filled with complex but ultimately humane characters. Despite its 'comedy' genre, I don't find the book that humorous, perhaps because underneath all the satire, there lies irrefutable truths. Bernadette is one-of-a-kind, and so are her drive, backstory, and motives, and her relationship with Bee is a great, nuanced one as well.
The book's unconventional format also elevates it, enabling the audience to read the story from multiple perspectives and offering an insight to each narrating character. Instantly readable from start to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content