LibGuides: Islington Branch Book Club: "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple

About the Author: Maria Semple

Maria Semple is an American novelist and screenwriter known for her witty and satirical storytelling style. Born on May 21, 1964, in Santa Monica, California, she grew up in Los Angeles and attended The Putney School in Vermont. Semple later graduated from Barnard College in New York City.

After completing her education, Semple pursued a career in television writing. She worked as a writer and producer on popular television shows such as "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Mad About You," and "Arrested Development," where she gained recognition for her sharp humor and distinctive voice.

In addition to her work in television, Semple has found success as a novelist. Her debut novel, "This One is Mine," was published in 2008 and received positive reviews for its humor and keen observations of contemporary life in Los Angeles. However, it was her second novel, "Where'd You Go, Bernadette," published in 2012, that catapulted her to widespread acclaim and commercial success.

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette" became a New York Times bestseller and was praised for its inventive narrative structure, compelling characters, and incisive social commentary. The novel was adapted into a feature film directed by Richard Linklater in 2019, further cementing Semple's reputation as a talented storyteller.

Following the success of "Where'd You Go, Bernadette," Semple continued to write novels that combine humor with insightful explorations of human relationships and societal norms. Her subsequent works include "Today Will Be Different" (2016) and "Saints for All Occasions" (2017).

Maria Semple's writing is characterized by its sharp wit, memorable characters, and astute observations of contemporary life. She continues to be celebrated for her unique voice and ability to blend humor with deeper themes, making her a beloved figure in both the literary and entertainment worlds.

Watch "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" (2019)

DVD or Blu-Ray
Bernadette Fox, a loving mom, becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Bernadette's leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery.
Kanopy
hoopla

Synopsis

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 her best friend and, simply, Mom. Then Bernadette vanishes. It all 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, and secret correspondence -- creating a compulsively readable and surprisingly touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

Discussion Questions

Character Exploration:
- Discuss the character of Bernadette. What drives her behavior throughout the novel? How does her past influence her present actions and decisions?
- How do you interpret Bee's perspective on her mother, Bernadette? How does Bee's understanding of Bernadette evolve over the course of the story?
Themes and Motifs:
- Explore the theme of creativity and its different manifestations in the novel. How does Bernadette's creative genius contrast with her struggles to fit into society?
- Discuss the motif of disappearance in the novel, both literal and metaphorical. What do the disappearances signify about the characters and their relationships?
Relationship Dynamics:
- Analyze the relationship between Bernadette and her husband, Elgie. How do their differing priorities and communication breakdowns contribute to their marital struggles?
- Consider the dynamics between Bernadette and her neighbor, Audrey Griffin. What role does rivalry play in their interactions, and how does it reflect larger themes in the story?
Setting and Atmosphere:
- The novel is set in Seattle, a city known for its innovative culture. How does the setting influence the characters' experiences and the overall tone of the story?
- Explore the significance of the setting of Antarctica in the novel. How does Bernadette's fascination with Antarctica parallel her desire for escape?
Narrative Structure:
- Discuss the novel's epistolary format, composed of emails, letters, articles, and other documents. How does this unconventional structure contribute to the storytelling?
- Consider the role of Bee as the narrator. How does her perspective shape the reader's understanding of events, characters, and themes?
Identity and Belonging:
- Analyze the theme of identity crisis in the novel, particularly Bernadette's struggle with her sense of self. How do her experiences reflect broader societal pressures and expectations?
- Discuss the theme of belonging and alienation, both within the context of the family unit and within larger social circles. How do characters navigate their sense of belonging or exclusion?
Humor and Satire:
- Maria Semple employs humor and satire throughout the novel. Identify instances where humor serves as a coping mechanism for characters or as a commentary on societal norms and values.
- Discuss how the comedic elements contribute to the deeper themes and messages of the story.
Resolution and Closure:
- Reflect on the novel's ending and Bernadette's ultimate whereabouts. Are you satisfied with the resolution of the story, or do you feel there are loose ends that could have been addressed differently?
Personal Reflection:
- How does "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" resonate with your own experiences or perceptions of creativity, family, and identity?
- What lessons or insights can readers take away from the novel?
Adaptation and Interpretation:
- If you've seen the film adaptation of the novel, compare and contrast it with the book. How does each medium interpret the story, characters, and themes differently?

MLN Materials

book
large print book
playaway
spoken CD

Ebook Versions

Libby

Audiobook Versions

Libby

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Call Number: FICTION Garmus

"Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman's place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America's most beloved TV cooking show. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers.) The only man who ever treated her-and her ideas-as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He's also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry. But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it's the early 60s??) and the star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's singular approach to cooking ('take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride') and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn't just teaching women how to cook, she's teaching them how to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist."

*ebook & audiobook on Libby
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Call Number: FICTION Hoffman

For years, 12-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt from Savannah, Tootie Caldwell, who whirls CeeCee into her world of female friendship, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart.
Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood
Call Number: FICTION Littlewood

Grace Adams gave birth, blinked, and now suddenly she is forty-five, perimenopausal and stalled--the unhappiest age you can be, according to the Guardian . And today she's really losing it. Stuck in traffic, she finally has had enough. To the astonishment of everyone, Grace gets out of her car and simply walks away. Grace sets off across London, armed with a £200 cake, to win back her estranged teenage daughter on her sixteenth birthday. Because today is the day she'll remind her daughter that no matter how far we fall, we can always get back up again. Because Grace Adams used to be amazing. Her husband thought so. Her daughter thought so. Even Grace thought so. But everyone seems to have forgotten. Grace is about to remind them . . . and, most important, remind herself.
Gravity Is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty
Call Number: FICTION Moriarty

Twenty years ago, Abigail Sorenson's brother Robert went missing one day before her sixteenth birthday, never to be seen again. That same year, she began receiving scattered chapters in the mail of a self-help manual, the Guidebook, whose anonymous author promised to make her life soar to heights beyond her wildest dreams. The Guidebook's missives have remained a constant in Abi's life--a befuddling yet oddly comforting voice through her family's grief over her brother's disappearance, a move across continents, the devastating dissolution of her marriage, and the new beginning as a single mother and café owner in Sydney. Now, two decades after receiving those first pages, Abi is invited to an all-expenses paid weekend retreat to learn "the truth" about the Guidebook. It's an opportunity too intriguing to refuse. If Everything is Connected, then surely the twin mysteries of the Guidebook and a missing brother must be linked?

*ebook & audiobook on hoopla
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
Call Number: FICTION Zevin

Aviva Grossman, an ambitious congressional intern in Florida, makes the mistake of having an affair with her (married) boss. When the affair comes to light, the popular congressman doesn't take the fall. But Aviva does, and her life is over before it hardly begins: slut-shamed, she becomes a late-night talk show punch line, anathema to politics. She sees no way out but to change her name and move to a remote town in Maine. This time, she tries to be smarter about her life and strives to raise her daughter, Ruby, to be strong and confident. But when, at the urging of others, Aviva decides to run for public office, that long-ago mistake trails her via the Internet and catches up--an inescapable scarlet A . In the digital age, the past is never, ever, truly past. And it's only a matter of time until Ruby finds out who her mother was and is forced to reconcile that person with the one she knows. Young Jane Young is a smart, funny, serious, and moving novel about the myriad ways in which roles are still circumscribed for women, whether they are young and ambitious interns; mothers attempting to steer their daughters through a male-dominated world; political wives facing an age-old knowledge that fidelity isn't always honored; or young girls feeling bold about their many choices before they realize the gender restrictions all around them.