• Where'd You Go, Bernadette

  • A Novel
  • By: Maria Semple
  • Narrated by: Kathleen Wilhoite
  • Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (17,175 ratings)

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Where'd You Go, Bernadette  By  cover art

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

By: Maria Semple
Narrated by: Kathleen Wilhoite
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Publisher's summary

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 a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It 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, secret correspondence - creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

©2012 Maria Semple (P)2012 Hachette Audio

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What listeners say about Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,884
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    5,198
  • 3 Stars
    2,086
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  • 4 Stars
    4,645
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    363

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Funny and Whimsical

Loved this book! the characters are unique, layered and the narrator is amazing at expressing th characters though her voice. As light hearted as this book is, there are moments where you feel the sincerity of love between certain characters.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!

The book is funny and the reader was great! One of best books I listened to this summer.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good first three quarters, let down by the ending

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

I think the print would have been better in this instance.

Would you recommend Where'd You Go, Bernadette to your friends? Why or why not?

With reservations.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite?

No. The foreign accents were terrible. The voice of the 15 year old Bee sounded like a 5 year old. There was too much overly dramatic voicing of the characters' internal monologue, particularly from Bee.

Any additional comments?

I liked the concept but the story was let down by the last quarter of the book. The narrator was also a real problem for me. Her voice was terribly whiney and "gee-whiz" childish when voicing Bee's part and that is also why the last quarter was so painful as so much was from Bee in that part.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

From another Seattlite, perfection

The characterization of Seattle and people in Seattle was spot on, mocking but perfect. The only things missing were including complaints about new residents in the city, and CA and OR drivers. The battle against blackberries--oh man do I feel that pain! Goats and picks are indeed sometimes the best remedy.

And, the story itself was at times dark, but fantastical. There are a few plot points that are highly unlikely, but that's what a novel is for :)

Despite those moments, each character in the story is both are flawed and relatable. Making it a story you can get invested in and truly enjoy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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How do you spell Antarctica

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

Yes , it was purely delightful

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

The Rosie Project
I found great humor in both

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

Not sure

If you could take any character from Where'd You Go, Bernadette out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Bernadette. I found her fascinating

Any additional comments?

It was a delightful book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic

Fantastic read, really enjoyed every minute. I wish it never ended. The narrator did an Excellent job!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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LOVED

I absolutely fell in love with Bernadette and her family...so relatable. Funny funny funny and the narration is SPOT ON!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating !

This book got more and more interesting and fun as I read along. At 1 point I thought the story was over but it went even farther into more and more adventures adventures and Scenarios.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun book with twists and turns

Took a while to settle into the book - Bernadette grated on me to start with but I got over it and thoroughly enjoyed the book - if you aren’t feeling it right away - hang in there - it’s worth it

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Wonderful performance

Great book for anyone who has ever struggled with “losing ones self” after having children. Narration was stupendous!!! Wonderful performance, Kathleen Wilhoite!

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