Title: Where’d You Go, Bernadette?
Author: Maria Semple
Narrator: Kathleen Wilhoite
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 352 pages
Audio: 9.7 hours
Year: 2012
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Source: Library
Book Rating: 4.5/5
Audio Rating: 5/5
Summary (from the publisher):
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette’s intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.
To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world.
Quick Thoughts:
I want to thank whoever recommended this one to me. I know I’m behind the times, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.The characters were whimsical and the plot pushed the boundaries of reality. I was hooked early on and through all of its crazy antics, I just kept hanging on for the ride.
Audiobook Thoughts:
Fellow Gilmore Girls fans will recognize Kathleen Wilhoite’s voice immediately as that of Luke’s sister, Liz. She has an excellent voice for this novel, with the ability to portray both 14-year-old Bee and an array of adults.
my books. my life. 
I absolutely loved this one, probably boosted by the excellent narration. I think 99% of the reading community felt the same way for both the audio and print. And I guess it is going to be a movie?
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I’m with you, I loved both the story and the audio narration. Such a great book!!
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I adored this book. I keep meaning to read more of Semple’s books but haven’t gotten around to it.
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I read and loved this in print – didn’t know that the audiobook was done by Kathleen Wilhoite – that’s so fun! I’ll have to get it sometime and “re-read” it with the audio edition.
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I actually started to read this in paperback last week, but then I started reading graphic novels and it sort of fell to the side. I am glad you liked it. I was liking what I read, so, hopefully I can get back to it next week!
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That sounds like a perfect combination! I read this in print but I can definitely hear that actress doing the reading.
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