Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
This was a fun and moving satire about the ridiculous feuds rich people find time for and the lengths to which mothers will go for their children. It was funny and poignant and I really enjoyed reading it.
The amazing thing is that there aren't that many likable people in this book. The titular Bernadette is petty and selfish. Her husband is entirely too wrapped up in his work, running away from his problems rather than dealing with them. Their neighbor, Audrey, creates drama everywhere she goes and is sure that nothing is her fault. Her friend is completely delusional.
The book works because it is functionally told from the point of view of Bernadette's daughter, Bee, who is innocent in all this. She loves her mother and wants nothing more than to find her after she goes missing. She does this by reconstructing her last few days. The book is mostly told through emails and notes and other artifacts that paint a picture of a life worth fleeing.
Ultimately Bernadette and her husband are both redeemed by their love for their daughter (and the stark beauty of Antarctica). Everyone learns valuable lessons and lives happily ever after.
There's some good stuff in here about dealing (and not dealing) with grief, wrapped up in a lot of jokes and absurdity. It's pretty light and breezy, and a fairly quick read.
The amazing thing is that there aren't that many likable people in this book. The titular Bernadette is petty and selfish. Her husband is entirely too wrapped up in his work, running away from his problems rather than dealing with them. Their neighbor, Audrey, creates drama everywhere she goes and is sure that nothing is her fault. Her friend is completely delusional.
The book works because it is functionally told from the point of view of Bernadette's daughter, Bee, who is innocent in all this. She loves her mother and wants nothing more than to find her after she goes missing. She does this by reconstructing her last few days. The book is mostly told through emails and notes and other artifacts that paint a picture of a life worth fleeing.
Ultimately Bernadette and her husband are both redeemed by their love for their daughter (and the stark beauty of Antarctica). Everyone learns valuable lessons and lives happily ever after.
There's some good stuff in here about dealing (and not dealing) with grief, wrapped up in a lot of jokes and absurdity. It's pretty light and breezy, and a fairly quick read.
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