Though one character gives as a gift a medallion with the REAL Bernadette (Soubirous) on it, so the celebrated saint does get a mention. Funny how that name conjures up associations; at least three people seeing me carrying it around asked me if it had anything to do with "The Song Of Bernadette." Which it does not.
What it has to do with is a woman named Bernadette Fox, who lives in Seattle, is not happy about it, and tells the reader so in no uncertain terms. I have never been to Seattle in my life, and the only thing that made me want to go, from this book, was the revolving Space Needle Restaurant!!!!!!!!
The title refers to Bernadette's sudden disappearance, and the subsequent hunt, by her daughter, Bee, and husband, Elgie, for her. However, I think it could just as easily have been called "What's The Matter, Bernadette?" because we never get to understand that!!!!!!!!!! Is she bi-polar?
Menopausal? There is a lot of talk about Bernadette's stature as an artistic genius, and the stifling of creativity thereof, but that is not enough to pull off the kind of stunt Bernadette Fox does.
But the book is quirky in its own way; I would wager that its author had, at some point prior to writing this, seen the musical "Next To Normal," and was influenced by it.
And watch out for Audrey Griffin! She livens up this book in so many ways, it would be lost without her. At first, she comes off like this book's version of Gladys Kravitz (the nosey neighbor on "Bewitched!!!!!!!!!") but then turns into one of the novel's more heroic figures. Few characters in fiction have done such a double take so deftly, and the credit must go to Maria Semple.
That all said, I can't flat out recommend this book. At only 330 pages, I found myself reading faster, not only to see what happens, but to get the whole thing over with. Maybe I am not quirky enough for quirky literature, which this is. Those who are, though, will have a fun time with it!!!!!!!!!
I wonder how Seattle feels about it?????????????
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