Reading Under the Lilacs discussion

Welcome to the BOTM discussion for January. We'll be reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple. Grab your copy and start reading!

*Since this is our first BOTM I chose it myself BUT next time there will be polls and everyone will get to vote.*

Questions you may answer:
1. What was your favorite part of the book?
2. What was your least favorite part of the book?
3. Would you want to read another book by this author?
4. Would you recommend this book to someone?
5. Does the book remind you of any other books or writers?
6. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
7. Is this book overrated or underrated?
8. Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?
9. Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?
10. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?

Extra - Add a link to your review (or rating)

You can answer as many questions as you want OR not answer any at all and just discuss the book however you want!

Hope you enjoy reading.

What was your favorite part of the book?

There was this really touching moment in the first part with Bee and Bernadette where they are singing and hanging out in the car, and her mom saying, “I love you, Bee, I'm trying. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't". In that moment I felt how much love she had for her daughter and she knew she wasn't the perfect mother but she wanted to be the best she could for her. It really connected me to her character.

What was your least favorite part of the book?

This isn't my least favorite because I thought it was badly written, it is my lease favorite part because how crushed I was after I read it. It was after Bernadette poured her heart out to Paul (I believe his name was) and he replied back with "are you done now?" and I just thought how heartless that reply felt and how sorry I felt for her.

Would you want to read another book by this author?

Sure!

Would you recommend this book to someone?

Sure!

Does the book remind you of any other books or writers?

I think it's mostly because it is written in many letters to tell it's story but it reminds me a little of Dracula, just because of that.

If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?

How can you write characters so realistically where they feel like actual people who aren't all good or all bad? Yet still so likeable?

Is this book overrated or underrated?

First time reading this and never heard of it (not even the movie!) so I would consider it rather underrated.

Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?

Sure! I would like to re-read it again with knowing the plot twists and see if the author left any hints in the beginning that I missed with my first read.

Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?

Best - Bernadette. Least - Soo-Lin

Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?

I raced to the end! I needed to know!

Rating: ⭐4.5

seacat wrote: "What was your favorite part of the book?

There was this really touching moment in the first part with Bee and Bernadette where they are singing and hanging out in the car, and her mom saying, “I l..."

Glad you liked it!

Hina ♡ wrote: "seacat wrote: "What was your favorite part of the book?

There was this really touching moment in the first part with Bee and Bernadette where they are singing and hanging out in the car, and her m..."

It was amazing! Great first pick, Hina!

Wow. Ok what a book! I seriously really liked it as it's not a book I would pick out on my own.
The writing style was very unique. It wasn't my favorite but I got used to it after awhile.
Definitely kind of slow in the beginning although towards the middle it started to pick up more. I'd say the slow beginning does make the ending that much better.
(Also there was a movie about this!? Totally going to watch that now that I've finished the book.)
All in all it was a good read and I want to read more books from this author in the future. I don't think I'd re-read this particular book though just because I only really do that if I LOVE the book.
On a separate note I definitely want to visit Antarctica now.
Thank you Hina for choosing this book. Looking forward to next months read!