1st Book for 2014: Where did you go Bernadette?

To kick off my January Reading for this year, I have started with Maria Semple’s Where did you Go Bernadette? I bought this trade paperback six months ago and it’s been in the Best Seller’s list even up to now. Comments from notable authors say “It’s the one of the year’s best books” “A Natural best seller” “Enjoyable and funny” Well, the cover depicts humor and does favor to illicit curiosity a random shopper. Though it hints a light and funny read, I don’t think it’s that shallow either. There must be points of interests and action to ignite a mystery for this woman called Bernadette, who seems interesting enough to be the subject of the search and to even snag the book title. That’s enough to build your curiosity especially if you’re looking for a material that plainly promises enjoyment.

 In between hair and nail appointments, a very hectic new year’s eve and a full day of rest and reflection, I am now halfway done with the book. I may not be on my usual desirable speed, but I have all the time in the world and I’m not inclined to hurry. I’m savoring every moment and I enjoy pausing and smiling on how certain correspondences of characters try to reflect an image of Bernadette Fox who happens to be a cool mother to Bree, an independent and assertive wife of the Microsoft big wig, Elgin, a repressed and talented architect and an indifferent and non-conformist part of the community. The book aims to put some light on Bernadette’s erratic and rare personality until some of the main characters have already crossed paths to set the plot in motion.  The book is written as a compilation of email correspondences, letters and journals with voices of main characters including Bernadette’s, which hold no restrictions and unnecessary politeness. The correspondence gives readers the person behind Bernadette and the unfavorable to astonishing views of people around her. A voice is also given to her smart and brilliant daughter Bree, short for Balakrishna, who is brilliant and silently adores her.

Reading through, I can immediately understand why it easily became one of the favorite books last year. It’s definitely an enjoyable read with lots of dry humor that everyone can relate to. There are characters that are so real, pathetic and admirable that it’s not that hard to connect with them. You’d also admire the uncanny traits of the Fox family. I can see myself wanting a husband like Elgin who supports his wife’s strength in character and eccentricities (not to mention him being a very successful and passionate executive in Microsoft, computers, which something that I will never and want to learn about) and if ever I had a daughter, I’d very much like it to be like Bree.

The funny aspects of the story come from the parents of Galer school who are classic conforming Stepford-wives incarnate who never fail to judge and castrate the very indifferent Bernadette Fox. The wacky side of all their funny judgments is that you know the protagonists doesn’t really care and in fact finds joys in provoking the current scenario. You can’t help but side with Bernadette Fox on her views and individualism. From the start I knew I was on her side. But it also gets pretty interesting when snippets of her past are narrated in the 2^nd part of the book where email correspondences of her previous contractors and colleagues shed life to her passionate ambition, her difficulties and her personality as a talented architect. If at the first part of the story, you’ll recognize that Bernadette is often misunderstood, but funny, rare, assertive and remarkable, on the second part of the story you’ll definitely see her deeper side of being extraordinary. At the second part, you’ll get to know the peak of her life prior to being a mother and being the weird Mrs. Fox. You'll also get to know the height of her career as an architect, how she works and how she deals with achievements and difficulties. You still know that she’s rare, funny, assertive and remarkable, but at the same time you’ll know that there are certain things about her personality that were excessive while some parts of her desires held back, which puts the 1^st part of the story into a clearer perspective. As a reader, you’ll know she’s one remarkable and rare woman, but just like any brilliant person is also packaged constant inner battles that need to be tamed.

I’m now on the 3^rd part of the book and I’d want to know if the family’s Antartica trip, planned by Bree, actually pushed through. I’m also anticipating how bigger roles were played out by her husband, her daughter and her so-called painful stereotypical parents of Galer school that contributed to her disappearance. And most importantly, I’d want to know why and how she disappeared. I’ll find out soon enough, it’s all leading there and brewing. In a way I already formed theories of where she had gone and I’m just following Bree’s investigation and correspondence to confirm.

First book for 2014 and it was a perfect companion on a shallow day full of shallow appointments

Verdict:                  Read it if you’re looking for a light but interesting book to kick of your January. It’s a cute mystery about this remarkable woman who is far from ordinary. It’s written in a natural and casual format of correspondence so it’s just like reading emails from amazingly crazy people trying to make sense of Bernadette Fox’s life.  You’ll also have a true glimpse of Bernadette’s own correspondences to her virtual assistant in India called Manjula (isn’t that amazing?) and her previous colleagues. Though the entire book style may be out of the ordinary, it’s not scatterbrained and hard to read. It’s cohesive and necessary.  It’s a perfect book she traveling, lounging around and in the summer. I’m not surprised that it’s been at the best seller list for quite some time.