Where'd You Go Bernadette: A Novel by Maria Semple

My first reaction: WOW!  I loved this book.  The plot is unique, the characters interesting, and the theme is poignant!  But with all that, it's a fast, fun, ridiculous romp that keeps the pages turning!

Semple somehow manages to keep the tone light-hearted while creating a cautionary tale of excess, privilege and the perils lurking as a consequence of our modern age.

It is the story of Bernadette and her family.  She and her husband, Elgie are geniuses in their respective fields.  Their daughter, Bee, is precocious and strong-willed.  They find themselves in outrageous circumstances, all the while managing to keep a solid devotion to each, despite a few hiccups along the way. 

But mostly this is a story of how we are in danger of building prisons around ourselves in the name of progress and prestige.  Thought-provoking, funny, outrageous...this novel is worth a read!