Synopsis:
Bernadette doesn’t fit in with the other private school moms, but when her life falls apart while planning a family trip to Antarctica, her daughter learns that her mom is basically a mad genius, and hopefully it’s not too late to save her from herself.

Review:
Where’d You Go Bernadette is the next book you want to read, especially if you’re looking to get your book club out of a rut or if you’re tapping your fingernails on the table waiting for the Gone Girl movie to come out (please oh please don’t suck). I’m astonished that Maria Semple has only written one other book (the marvelous This One is Mine) because she is the Boss Lady when it comes to running a tight ship, prose-wise.

Bernadette is just an awesome character. I couldn’t get enough of her and I was willing to follow her anywhere. Her disappearance was a real loss, but thankfully all of the other characters were just as fascinating. I was surprised to see one of the characters undergo a genuine conversion, without either sanctimony or sarcasm. The books is funny and truthful and poignant and I got teary at the end even while I was laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Also? I totally have to go to Antarctica now.

I am on a bad streak re: book choices. I got 3/4 of the way through the very long Winds of Something or Other before giving up after reading that a major character’s master plan had to be stopped and I had no clue what his plan actually was. Plus I keep intermittently returning to Words of Radiance because Brandon Sanderson’s plotting is pure crack even though his characters are pure cheese. Not to mention I am re-reading Clash of Kings. I am pretty sure I’ll finish it but in the meantime all these half-finished long books are really blowing my superfast rep. I promise I am reading!