Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Where’d You Go, Bernadette  has a delightfully convoluted plot that will keep the reader second guessing the unpredictable characters and set off on a detective search for the illusive Bernadette. Set initially in the city of Seattle, Bernadette does not go missing until halfway through the story, but the only reason the story exists is because her family is searching for her. Through a series of emails, letters, faxes, and even FBI documents, the pieces come together in this hilarious tale of nefarious neighbors, PTA meetings gone awry, and a drawn-out dread of an upcoming family vacation. Told out of chronological order, the characters appear vivid, almost cartoonish, at first because of their strong personalities but become more dimensional as Semple fleshes each character out, divulging their secret quirks and boldest achievements. At times describing action as a past-tense memory in an email from one friend to another, and at others detailing the characters’ harrowing moments as a present tense experience, Semple’s writing varies throughout, giving the book the feel of a pieced together collage.

Conversational, light, and easy to read, Where’d You Go, Bernadette will appeal to anyone looking for a laugh. Those familiar with the Seattle area or the Microsoft corporation will smirk at the many references, but those who enjoy quirky family comedies will love this, too. The matter-of-fact, intelligent language will appeal to a reader who is a fan of David Sedaris and other funny non-fiction writers. In addition to the written correspondence, Semple adds commentary from the characters, making it feel as though you are getting everyone’s side of the story.

Bernadette despises Seattle with every fiber of her being, but everything she hates are things the average person would like, a sort of reverse-psychology love letter to the city. Her rants will likely make the reader want to travel to the coffee drinking, rain drenched, compassionate city that, indeed, borders Idaho. About Bernadette: she’s amazing and not in an incredibly likable way. There are things about her that are hateful, childish, and even selfish, but it’s really hard to not like her once you discover her past. Her daughter, Bee, is an amazing little girl, and a believable character-a tiny genius with flaws and weaknesses and selfishness all her own. The reason Bernadette and her family have moved to Seattle despite her hatred of the city is the fact that her husband Elgie is an important employee of the Microsoft corporation. Elgie’s TED talk is in the top 4 of all time, his claim to fame. He’s dedicated to improving the future of Microsoft, and this dedication is what gives the story hope and cements the quirky family together.