Cassie Bustamante

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Book Report: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

February 5, 2016 by Cassie 19 Comments

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Happy Friday!  I don’t know if it is because the kids were back in school after a week off due to winter storm Jonas, but this week just whizzed right by for me.  And it was a fantastic week…. nothing spectacular occurred, but it was just all of the little things that brought me joy…. I painted a dresser, took the dogs for walks now that the roads were clear and temps were warm enough (above 20!) early in the morning, played games with the kids, helped Emmy make her Valentines box, made a few successful dinners, baked Mardi Gras inspired cookies, ran outside with a friend, listened to a new to me podcast I loved (more about that at the end of this post), and finished an incredible book- Where’d You Go, Bernadette.  And I also wrote the longest sentence known to man, apparently.

bernadette

My mom reads so many great books and I am fortunate to have her pass many of them onto me.  This book is one that she handed me a while ago and raved about.  I was busy with the blogger book club, and just never had or made the time to read it before now.  But something about it called to me last weekend and I picked it up.  Once I did, I had a hard time putting it down!

This novel written by Maria Semple is different from many I’ve read with a format composed of letters, emails, texts, as well as a narrative from one of the main characters.  Semple’s unique approach kept my interest and passed the pages quickly for me.  The story itself follows the mystery surrounding Bernadette Fox, a brilliantly creative woman who feels stifled and has become agoraphobic, and has no friends in Seattle where she lives.  Her husband is a Microsoft genius, and clearly at the top of the ladder there.  Together they live in a dilapidated building where they are raising their teenage daughter, Bee, who is her entire world.

A family trip to Antarctica is in the works as a reward for Bee’s grades (the trip being the destination of Bee’s choosing).  Bernadette hires an inexpensive virtual assistant from India to take care of all of the tedious trip details since she abstains from social interaction whenever possible.  We read all of these emails leading up to the point where Bernadette disappears…. assumed dead by most.  But Bee is certain that her mother is alive and sets out to find her.

I loved everything about this book- the format, the satiric humor, the flawed characters, and of course the mystery. I’d like to share the passage that stuck out at me the most…. I went back and dog eared the page so I could reread it.

“Paul Jellinek was right,” Dad said. “He’s a great guy, a true friend. I’d like us to go down to L.A. and spend some time with him one day. He knew Bernadette best. He realized that she needed to create.”
“Or she’d become a menace to society,” I said.
“That’s where I really failed your mom,” he said. “She was an artist who had stopped creating. I should have done everything I could to get her back.”

As crazy as she may sound and may have seemed to others, Bernadette was a creative… and I completely related.  Maybe I am crazy, too. 😉

If you’re looking for a quick and interesting read, I highly recommend “Where’d You Go, Bernadette.”

Secondly, I want to mention one other point of entertainment… Do you guys listen to any podcasts?  I listened to the first season of Serial and started season 2 but it didn’t suck me in.  Well, the other day I was catching up on my friend Laura’s blog, and she mentioned a new to me podcast, Limetown.  I started listening Wednesday morning to see if I’d like it… And it pulled me right in!  It’s a fictional mystery following an investigative story around a town that seemingly disappeared over night.  I listened to the entire season Wednesday… I started in the morning and then hit the treadmill for speed day, which I knew was going to be about an hour long workout.  This show got me through that quickly, and then I just kept walking, logging more mileage just so I could keep listening.  It’s an incredible story, and very well done.  I can’t wait for season 2 to come out!!!

And speaking of Laura, I am off to meet her for coffee this morning.  Hope you have a fantastic weekend and catch all the awesome Super Bowl commercials!  Cheers!

This post contains affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    February 5, 2016 at 9:35 am

    Sounds like a great book and I think I should maybe give podcasts a try

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:34 am

      you need to check out limetown!

      Reply
  2. Lisa @ Shine Your Light says

    February 5, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Thanks for the book recommendation! I’ve been looking for some good reads. Happy weekend Cassie!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:34 am

      i love to read and happy to share books i love!

      Reply
  3. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    February 5, 2016 at 10:54 am

    I’ve had that book loaded on my iPad for two years but still haven’t read it… may have to dig into it! enjoy your weekend, Cassie!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:07 am

      oh yes you do!!!!

      Reply
  4. kirby carespodi says

    February 5, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Sounds like a great read!
    PS: I have already disappeared, as a woman does after 50.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:06 am

      haha! no you haven’t! and bernadette was in her 50’s… hmmmm.

      Reply
  5. Sabrina says

    February 5, 2016 at 11:08 am

    I loved Where’d You Go Bernadette! I also listened to Serial the 1st season but haven’t really been able to get into the second season. I started Limetown when it first came out, but then I got a little freaked out. I probably should finish it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:05 am

      i am glad i am not the only one… i tried with season 2. and you need to finish it- but the end of season 1 oh my gosh!!!!!!!! i can’t wait for season 2!

      Reply
  6. Laura says

    February 5, 2016 at 3:48 pm

    I couldn’t wait any longer… I’m closing up shop for the day and treating myself to an hour on the couch with “In Falling Snow.” Loved chatting with you over coffee this morning! Happy Super Bowl snacking!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:05 am

      hope you enjoy it- it’s a great day to curl up and read!

      Reply
  7. kathleen says

    February 5, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    I read this a few months ago. It was a cool story, very different from any other books I had read. I love how crazy she was, and the the relationship with her neighbor, hilarious!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:04 am

      YES- i loved bernadette! i felt like she was relatable… not sure what that says about me! 😉

      Reply
  8. Loi Thai Tone on Tone says

    February 6, 2016 at 4:15 pm

    Always love to learn about a good book! BTW, I was just flipping thru the Scout Guide…..saw you in there! 🙂 Happy weekend – xoxo

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 9, 2016 at 8:03 am

      yes! this was our first experience with the scout guide! glad you saw it!

      Reply
  9. [email protected] says

    February 25, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    I liked this book, too. I listened to it on tape and I think that made it a little “slower” than it should have been. But it was a fun, quick read.

    And I have to try out Limestone. I’m a podcast junkie.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      February 29, 2016 at 2:23 pm

      i can’t wait for limetown to come back out again- that’s the only problem!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Book Report: 5 More Books I've Read Recently - Cassie Bustamante says:
    October 12, 2017 at 5:00 am

    […] read Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple last year and loved it (you can read that review here), so when I saw Today Will Be Different sitting on my local library shelf, I immediately picked it […]

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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