Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria (From Worcester News)

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria

3:28pm Monday 2nd July 2012 in Books

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is published in hardback by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, priced £12.99. Available now.

This second offering from novelist and screenwriter Maria Semple follows mum Bernadette Fox, her brainy daughter Bee and husband Elgie.

Once a notorious architect, Bernadette now lives a life of near solitude in Seattle.

Her social anxiety and dislike for pretty much everyone outside of her own family sees her using the services of a virtual assistant to perform even simple tasks such as making dinner reservations.

When Bee asks for a trip to Antarctica as a reward for her good grades, her wish is granted, only for Bernadette to go missing before the big trip.

Bee must then piece together the evidence to track down her mother.

Written largely as a mixture of diary entries, emails and correspondence, this is a light, enjoyable and often comic novel that constantly catches the reader by surprise.

8/10
(Review by Lyndsey Cartwright)