Where'd You Go, Bernadette cover art

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

The New York Times bestseller, now a major motion picture starring Cate Blanchett

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Where'd You Go, Bernadette

By: Maria Semple
Narrated by: Kathleen Wilhoite
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About this listen

 Bernadette Fox is notorious.

To Elgie Branch, a Microsoft wunderkind, she's his hilarious, volatile, talented, troubled wife.
To fellow mothers at the school gate, she's a menace.
To design experts, she's a revolutionary architect.
And to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, quite simply, mum.

Then Bernadette disappears. And Bee must take a trip to the end of the earth to find her.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a compulsively readable, irresistibly written, deeply touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's place in the world.

(p) 2012 Hachette Audio©2012 Maria Semple Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Fiction Witty Funny Feel-Good Comedy

Critic Reviews

It's intelligent but easy to read; eccentric but never twee.
I love the extraordinarily well-drawn characters, the plot, the tender, lovely relationship, the humour, and the courage to do daring things (Nina Stibbe)
Extremely funny, often laugh-out-loud so... with her penchant for unexpected twists and smart, jet propelled dialogue, Semple has a way of combining a technologically savvy, ice-cool wit with a stealthy ability to show gradually a character's warmer side
The characters in Bernadette may be in real emotional pain, but Semple has the wit and perspective and imagination to make their story hilarious. I tore through this book with heedless pleasure
Fresh and funny and accomplished, but the best thing about it was that I never had any idea what was going to happen next. It was a wild ride
A fresh, flamboyantly witty new voice
A delightfully funny book, that constantly catches one by surprise, Where'd You Go, Bernadette combines a shrewdly observed portrait of Seattle life with, of all things, a mysterious disappearance in Antarctica. A pleasure
Maria Semple dissects the gory complexities of familial dysfunction with a deft and tender hand. Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a triumph of social observation and black comedy by a skilful chronicler of moneyed malaise
If you loved the humour of A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, pack this sharp, witty novel...A fabulously kooky tale
A clever, witty page-turner with sparkling dialogue, some hilarious episodes and a heart that gradually melts
[A] deeply touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's place in the world. A seriously compulsive read
In what is at times a sad and painful tale about family dysfunction, black comedy waylays sentimentality. Semple's second novel is a witty, thrilling adventure about creation, destruction, the Antarctic - and the maternal bond
The funniest book I've read in a decade. I laughed to the point of crying on an airplane. My wife thought I'd lost my mind until she read it a few days later
A novel full of honesty and heart
All stars
Most relevant
I love Bernadette, Bea and Ellie. Audrey is completely nuts. So fun to ‘read’. Can’t wait to watch the film.

Funny, fun, human, lovely

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Would make a great tv series- however as an audible book there was so much aggression in the reading of the emails. Became irritating to listen to. A simple story that veered off into areas of education particularly about Antarctica which differed from the style of writing through the remainder of the book.

Pithy and angry

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This book has everything - intrigue, love, comedy, right of passage, relationship and social woes; you name it. Only thing I could say against listening to this story is that the content and performance are so good, you’ll ignore your family and cancel all your appointment to stay immersed in it.

I was completely gripped

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A delightful heartfelt story. So much was relatable and it is a bit of a relief that the ‘ghastly’ turned out, well decent! I’ve not read a lot recently where self awareness was allowed. Narcissism tends to be incurable.

The narrator was an excellent up beat teen girl. But if she ever tries an English, Australian or, god help me, New Zealand (really.... what WAS that?) accent again she’ll need cultural sensitivity training. Minor but grating complaint from an Antipodeon.

Just one thing

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The characters were so lovable, though I didn't want to let go & must admit a did feel a bit empty at the finish - but I'm not one for loose ends. The audible version is very cleverly read & I'm pleased I chose this version over the written.

Intriguing. Fabulous performances by readers

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