Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Author:  Maria Semple

Genre: Fiction, humorous

Summary: (Goodreads) When her daughter Bee claims a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for perfect grades, Bernadette, a fiercely intelligent shut-in, throws herself into preparations for the trip. But worn down by years of trying to live the Seattle life she never wanted, Ms. Fox is on the brink of a meltdown. And after a school fundraiser goes disastrously awry at her hands, she disappears, leaving her family to pick up the pieces--which is exactly what Bee does, weaving together an elaborate web of emails, invoices, and school memos that reveals a secret past Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where'd You Go Bernadette is an ingenious and unabashedly entertaining novel about a family coming to terms with who they are and the power of a daughter's love for her mother.

Rating: Very good!

Why I Like It: Funny, engaging & entertaining!

Other: audio: very good, also liked by Patsy

Reviewer: Patsy

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Title: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Author: Gail Honeyman
Genre: fiction
Summary: (from Goodreads)
"No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine.

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one."

Rating: A new favorite!
Why I Like It: 
 I loved this book. You go along with Eleanor as she works through her struggles, grows in understanding herself, and grows in building healthy relationships. While at times it was hard to read, the humor throughout the book really helped. Also, throughout the book the love and care of people helping her really energized me in loving my neighbor.

A quote that captured what I liked about the book, "I smiled at her. Twice in one day, to be the recipient of thanks and warm regard! I would never have suspected that small deeds could elicit such genuine, generous responses. I felt a little glow inside-not a blaze, more like a small, steady candle."
The book in some ways reminded me of "The Rosie Project" and in some ways reminded me of "Language of Flowers". But really it was completely it's own wonderful book.
Other: It is going to be made into a movie
Reviewer: Brigette

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

Title: The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion Author: Fannie Flagg Genre: Fiction with half the story told during WW2 Summary: (From Amazon)
"Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughters and is looking forward to relaxing and perhaps traveling with her husband, Earle. The only thing left to contend with is her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry. Lenore may be a lot of fun for other people, but is, for the most part, an overbearing presence for her daughter. Then one day, quite by accident, Sookie discovers a secret about her mother’s past that knocks her for a loop and suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself, her family, and her future.

Sookie begins a search for answers that takes her to California, the Midwest, and back in time, to the 1940s, when an irrepressible woman named Fritzi takes on the job of running her family’s filling station. Soon truck drivers are changing their routes to fill up at the All-Girl Filling Station. Then, Fritzi sees an opportunity for an even more groundbreaking adventure. As Sookie learns about the adventures of the girls at the All-Girl Filling Station, she finds herself with new inspiration for her own life.

Fabulous, fun-filled, spanning decades and generations, and centered on a little-known aspect of America’s twentieth-century story, The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion is another irresistible novel by the remarkable Fannie Flagg."

Rating: A new Favorite!   
Why I Like It: I found this book really funny. Also, I really enjoyed learning a different side of history of WWII. Also, it is very easy to read.

Other: This has a character that is also in the book "Welcome to the World Baby Girl" but each book can stand alone.
Reviewer: Brigette