Where'd You Go, Bernadette

By: Maria Semple

Narrated by: Kathleen Wilhoite

A major film starring Cate Blanchett

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 an irresistibly written, deeply touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's place in the world.

2013, Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, Short-listed

2013, IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Long-listed

©2012 Maria Semple (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

I love the extraordinarily well-drawn characters, the plot, the tender, lovely relationship, the humour, and the courage to do daring things (Nina Stibbe)

Funny but Clever

Would you listen to Where'd You Go, Bernadette again? Why?

No, as I tend never to read books over again

What did you like best about this story?

The actual story line and the absurdness of some of the characters

Which character – as performed by Kathleen Wilhoite – was your favorite?

Bernadette

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me laugh and also cry

My favourite of 2013 to date

What did you love best about Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Bernadette - such an amazing character. And Bee! She's so mature for 15. The soap-opera quality of the gossip the gnats exchange was delightful as well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

When Bee defends Bernadette against Audrey, and she decides that she'll never listens to The Beatles again.

What does Kathleen Wilhoite bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The music at the Christmas concert Bee attends. She has a beautiful voice. She also brought Bee to life - especially after Bernadette has gone missing and she becomes a total cheeky adolescent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Any additional comments?

I'm pretty stingy with my credits, but this was a worthwhile spend :)

Good story irritating performance

The reader makes Bernadette, a true introvert if ever there was one, sound like a preppy extrovert, all exclamations and gush, especially in her letters.

Entertaining read

Would you consider the audio edition of Where'd You Go, Bernadette to be better than the print version?

Yes, its an entertaining book with lots of drama and humour that i think benefits from an audio performance like this narrator gives. Different voices, inflections and emphasis gives depth and body to this colourful story. Also Kathleen the narrator can sing !

Who was your favorite character and why?

Other than the obvious heroine Bernadette i loved Audrey. Good development and story arc and we all know someone like her.

So much fun!

It was chaotic, messy and I loved it! The voices that Kathleen Wilhoite made for certain characters was amazing.

Funny and enchanting

What did you love best about Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

I loved the description of living in "Microsoft world" some parts made me laugh out loud.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked that the story was written through the eyes of a fifteen year old girl

Which character – as performed by Kathleen Wilhoite – was your favorite?

Just has to be Bee

What a wonderful book!

Would you consider the audio edition of Where'd You Go, Bernadette to be better than the print version?

The audio version was much more fun than reading it -- the reader(s?) was modulation heaven -- fab

What other book might you compare Where'd You Go, Bernadette to and why?

I have enjoyed many books but few surface to the top of the list like this one -- Fredrick and Fredirika; Life Expectancy all had Pat Conroy -level images.
This is brilliantly written with meaningful imagry that congured up the scene in fulll technicolor

Any additional comments?

If you are a mother who juggles the frustrations and rewards of life and home and career and creativity -- this is a great listen.

One of the best audio books ever!

If you could sum up Where'd You Go, Bernadette in three words, what would they be?

Funny, sweet, intriguing

What did you like best about this story?

The story-telling confused me first, I kept waiting for the letters to end and actual story-telling to begin. Then I got used to it and I thought it was very cleverly plotted.

Which character – as performed by Kathleen Wilhoite – was your favorite?

I will have to go with Bee. I had a feeling the narrator also enjoyed voicing her. I am amazed how easy it comes to Kathleen Wilhoite to switch from one character to another. Her accents are great, but there is more to it! She actually makes the characters believable. And she has a wonderful singing voice. She must also be a music performer.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

For us girls, no matter what age we are, our relationships with our dads are very important for us. It is beacuse of this I think, I thought the scene where Bee sits on the rocks with his dad really got to me.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. I recommend it to whoever out there looking for a nice book to listen.

If you like the genre, this is first rate

The primary narrator is a kid (mid teens). Significant parts of the story come in via emails from her mother, and from parents from her school. So I suppose it's partly a family drama and partly teen fiction, and it's an epistolatory novel. There's drama, back stabbing, infedelity and other bad behaviour, but also redemption for everyone - it has a happy ending. If you can stand all of that, this one is the best I've read in a long time. Very nicely done.

The narrator is good and the book is well served by her ability to differentiate accents, ages and tones of voice. I can't help mentioning that her attempt at a kiwi accent made me wince, but then I'm a kiwi and I know the difference. Probably if you come from anywhere else in the world you won't be bothered and it's a very small part of the book anyway. I'm impressed enough by her abilities to have already looked up other books she's narrated.

slow start and then couldn't stop

After the first little bit I listened to, I wasnt sure I was going to continue but glad I did!