Some of the books I read makes me want to explore places which I’d not considered beforehand. I sometimes “run off” into my books to escape the neverending news-updates, during the current situation the world is currently exploring.
None of us can travel right now due to the coronavirus, and things might feel very overwhelming. I have already shared with you some of my favourite travel literature earlier, and thought I could take the time now to share some more with you.
I hope you’re all okay. Take care of yourself. Call your loved ones. Wash your hands. Follow the current instructions. Read books.
Maria Semple – Where’d You Go Bernadette?
Bee is 15, and has the world’s best friend – her mum. Bernadette Fox is quite something: she’s a revolutionary architect, famous to the point that students write papers on her. But Bernadette has not created anything as of lately, nothing except a lot of fights with the neighbours and the other parents at Bee’s school. Bernadette really loathes the other parents, and it seems the feelings are mutual. She refrains from generally leaving her house, or interacting with other people. Both Bee and her father, Elgin, think Bernadette is depressed.
Bee gets told by her parents that if she gets a perfect report card from school, she can have whatever she likes as a reward. When her report card turns out to be just that, her wish is for her family to visit Antarctica. Bernadette, being an agoraphobic who rarely leaves the house and worries greatly about most things, is not happy with this wish, but nevertheless, they did say Bee could decide on whatever she wanted.
Bee is thrilled that her family is about to embark on a great journey together – but then Bernadette disappears. And as Bee tries to find her, she finds several clues that her mother has already left for Antarctica. Determined to find her mum and have her family reunited, Bee gets her dad to go on with their scheduled plan to Antarctica.
My thoughts
I’m not gonna go more into details about what happens, cause I’d like you to read the book for yourself, or even watch the movie (from 2019, in which Cate Blanchett is doing a tremendous job as Bernadette).
Antarctica has never really been high on my list over places I want to see (I’m from Norway, it’s already more than enough snow and too cold here parts of the year for my liking), but while reading this book I found myself intrigued by this overwhelming continent.
This is a pretty quick read, and although most of the tone is light and nice, it also deals with some darker emotions. I read the Norwegian translation of the book, and although it was an easy read I enjoyed the wording.
Do you have a book recommendation for me?
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