Where She Went

by Kate Walbert

The linked stories in Where She Went examine the very contemporary predicament of families without geographic roots. The first half of the book chronicles Marion Clark, a “company wife”, who repeatedly packs the household and accompanies her husband around the globe with a “melancholy view before her of what seemed like endless houses with endless garages and endless kitchen windows.” In the stories that follow, her adult daughter, Rebecca, dutifully attempts to fulfill her mother’s thwarted aspirations, yet hers is a world viewed with a slightly off-kilter eye, one that invokes Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, Mohammad’s faithful followers at Topkapi Palace, as well as the landscapes of Italy and Jamaica, Istanbul and Paris. Ironically, if Marion had no free will, Rebecca has an excess. This mother and daughter, each uniquely of her own generation, remain locked, firmly, in longing.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Young Adult, Romance

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Kate Walbert was born in New York City and raised in Georgia, Texas, Japan and Pennsylvania, among other places.

She is the author of A Short History of Women, chosen by The New York Times Book Review as one of the ten best books of 2009 and a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize; Our Kind, a finalist for the National Book Award in fiction in 2004; The Gardens of Kyoto, winner of the 2002 Connecticut Book Award in Fiction in 2002; and Where She Went, a collection of linked stories and New York Times notable book.

She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fiction fellowship, a Connecticut Commission on the Arts fiction fellowship, and a Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Fellowship at the New York Public Library.

Her short fiction has been published in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Best American Short Stories and The O. Henry Prize stories.

From 1990 to 2005, she lectured in fiction writing at Yale University. She currently lives in New York City with her family.

Reviews

[Melanie Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one even better than the first book "If I Stay"! I loved that we got to see the romance play out and I actually enjoyed hearing the book from Adam's perspective more. Hope this gets made into a movie too!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

After everything Mia went through in the first book and the beginning of this book... She finally gets a happy ending.

[Bria J · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the worst book ever. I think it was too mature because it made no sense. It was just a bunch of random words that shouldn’t go together. Would not recommend it.

[dana brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linked short stories. Not really my thing so I hesitate to comment.

[Linda Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. This short book is made up of connected short stories. The first section features Marion over several years and several moves around the world for her husband's job. The second section is her daughter, Rebecca's. I liked the first part much more than the second. It seemed more cohesive. The stories featuring Rebecca were too fragmented and weird, in my opinion.

[Emily Marquardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Marquardt
Where She Went Book review
I loved this book it was very entertaining and I was glad to read a love story like this. Where She Went by Gayle Forman is the sequel to If I Stay, recently made into a major motion picture. After being introduced to the characters in the first tragic book, the story jumps right into motion. Unlike If I Stay, this book is told from Adam’s perspective. It is now a few years after Mia and Adam have moved away from Washington, and both shut the doors of their wild and incredible love. Adam is living and working on his music in Los Angeles. He is living the more or less glamorous life of a superstar and seems depressed. He lives day by day inching through life and it seems to pain him each day. Adam said ““But still, I find the need to remind myself of the temporariness of a day, to reassure myself that I got through yesterday, I'll get through today” in the book to explain his pain. Mia is a rising star in her new home of New York City. She is studying at Julliard and she seems to be doing well. Each of them seem to have gotten past their previous fling. Now coincidentally in this story, they meet up again and the old sparks start to fly again and they spend time reminiscing on their past love. Now their choice to try dating again will impact them forever. This story started slow, but the love that Mia and Adam once flourished in keep it interesting. Although If I Stay was an exciting and beautiful story, this one seems to reach a little deeper and pluck at the heartstrings. This complicated relationship is exciting and not exactly new but very passionate. They are so close but yet so far from happiness. The love between Adam and Mia is intriguing and exciting.

[Olivia Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved "If I Stay". It was one of those books that was heart wrenching. While reading the sequel, I found myself mentally comparing the way I felt while reading each book. I have to say that I was a little disappointed in "Where she went".

Being that I really liked Adam in "If I Stay", I thought that I would like this book even more. The author made him seem so supportive and sensitive especially with the way he loved he for who she was. While I didn't like the book quite as well, I still loved the character of Adam. Even though he hadn't spoken to Mia in three years, he still searches for her even though he has achieved fame at this point. I did not feel that they lived through the music in this book like they did in the original. In the original, the music seemed to bring her soul to life and in this one, the music seemed more of a way to re acquaint the characters.

Again as in my review of "If I Stay", I would recommend this book to anyone that likes spiritual drama. I am giving the book three stars and while it was good, I cannot say that it was great.

[Susan Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read Young Adult very often, but I really enjoyed this book. I saw the movie IF I STAY, and this book was the sequel. I enjoyed reading about this rock star and the classical cellist he loved.

[K Krause · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrical, dream-like connected stories. More like poetry than prose at times.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as great as the first one but then again, I'm not a teenager. Nice finish to the sad tale.

[Lindsay Abenido]

Prettyyy XD

[Fad · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprisingly,i love d 2nd bk:))

[Ashleigh Bodden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.. It was ok.

[Stephanie Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book really had me on a roller-coaster of emotions. I loved the flashbacks once again, and the journey that Walbert takes you on is amazing.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had no idea it was adam to start off with.... good but not as good as if i stay but a should read

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for these teen fiction. Quick read, good summer book.

[E Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one, If I stay. Loved the story, characters and closure!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least now I know what happened. If I stay left me hanging and it drove me crazy.

[Beth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just had to read this book, because reading "If I Stay" left me wanting to know more.

[Leanne Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading Adams view of all that happened with Mia and after the accident, and loved the lyrics though out the book. It ended just right and man did they have a hard time coming together?!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching the Movie "If I Stay" reminded me how much I loved the first book and reinspired me to read this one. I LOVED IT!!

[Petra Scandalito]

Ann Moriarty recommended book.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

IT was not what I had expected. IT was just okay.