Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Meet the Author
Maria Semple was born in Santa Monica in 1964. Her father was a screenwriter and wrote the pilot for the Batman television series. Her family lived in Spain, Los Angeles, and Aspen. She attended boarding schoole at Choate Rosemary Hall and received a BA from Barnard College. After graduation, she became a screenwriter for television series including
Beverly Hills, 90210;
Mad About You; and
Arrested Development. In addition to
Where'd You Go, Bernadette, she has written another novel,
This One is Mine. She lives in Seattle with her partner, George Meyer, and their daughter and teaches writing. Below is a brief video clip of Semple talking about her novel.
Scenes from Seattle
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| Queen Anne Hill as seen from the Space Needle |
The structure at the crest of the hill is the former Queen Anne High School, which has been turned into apartments, but it could just as well be "Straight Gate."
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| Queen Anne-style house |
Possibly the model for Audrey Griffin's "white castle."
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| Craftsman-style house in Seattle. |
Bernadette is not impressed.
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| Inside the Space Needle |
Seattle icon and scene of the birthday lunch for Bee's friend Kennedy.
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| Cliff Mass, Meteorologist |
Seattle fixture and Bernadette and Bee's favorite weatherman.
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| Dale Chihuly chandelier in Seattle | |
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Perhaps similar to the one Bernadette fell asleep under at the compounding pharmacy.
Antartica
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| Ushuaia, Argentina |
The jumping-off point for tours of Antarctica.
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| An Antarctic iceberg |
One of the colorful kind that caught Bernadette's attention.
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| Swimming in the volcanic fumarole on Deception Island. |
Notice the tourists in the red parkas. I first heard about this place when watching a Jacques Cousteau special about 30 years ago or so and has been on my bucket list ever since. I was so angry with Bee when she refused an opportunity to swim in the hot springs.
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| The gift shop at Port Lockroy |
This is where Bee met the two English girls. Bernadette was not here.
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| An Adelie penguin rookery |
These parents have chicks and are not fighting.
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| Palmer Station, Antarctica |
Apparently the most coveted research post in Antarctica.
Your Humble Narrator
The story is pieced together from the viewpoint of Bernadette's daughter, Bee, short for...
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| Balakrishina |
The blue, flute-playing baby Krishna.
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| Director Stanley Kubrick |
This is what I imagine Bee's "Kubrick" face looked like.
