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Dept. of Speculation

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( 61,361 ratings, 8,434 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill offers a deeply introspective look into the life of a wife and mother as she navigates the challenges of marriage, motherhood, and personal ambition. The narrative is a tapestry of fragmented thoughts, witty observations, and poignant reflections, capturing the complexities and subtle dynamics of family life. Written with humour and raw emotion, this novel delves into the existential musings of its protagonist while she confronts the joys and strains of everyday existence.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4900

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate a poignant and fragmentary narrative exploring the intricacies of marriage, motherhood, and personal identity. It offers a unique blend of prose and poetry that paints a vivid portrait of life's challenges and introspections, perfect for readers who love thought-provoking and emotionally resonant stories.

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"This is a Borzoi book"--Title page verso.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From the acclaimed author of Weather comes a slim, stunning portrait of a marriage—a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal shipwreck that unites us all.

One of the 10 Best Books of the Year - The New York Times Book Review

A Best Book of the Year: The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Vogue.com, Electric Literature, Buzzfeed

In the beginning, it was easy to imagine their future. They were young and giddy, sure of themselves and of their love for each other. Dept. of Speculation was their code name for all the thrilling uncertainties that lay ahead. Then they got married, had a child and navigated the familiar calamities of family life—a colicky baby, a faltering relationship, stalled ambitions.

When their marriage reaches a sudden breaking point, the wife tries to retrace the steps that have led them to this place, invoking everything from Kafka to the Stoics to doomed Russian cosmonauts as she analyses what is lost and what remains. In language that shimmers with rage and longing and wit, Offill has created a brilliantly suspenseful love story—a novel to read in one sitting, even as its piercing meditations linger long after the last page.

Series: Vintage Contemporaries

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  • Dept. of Speculation
    From the acclaimed author of Weather comes a slim, stunning portrait of a marriage—a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal shipwreck that unites us all. One of the 10 Best Books of the Year - The New York Times Book Review A Best Book of the Year: The New Yorker, The...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

iDept. of Speculation/i by Jenny Offill is praised for its inventive narrative structure and emotional depth. Critics commend Offill's lyrical prose, capturing the fragile and intimate moments of marriage and parenthood. The book is described as a poignant exploration of a woman's inner life, offering keen insights into the complexities of love and identity.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780345806871

Publisher: Random House USA Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 October 2014

Country: United States

Imprint: Vintage Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 202.0mm

Weight: 196g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Jenny Offill is the author of the novel Last Things, which was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by The New York Times and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times First Book Award. She teaches in the writing programs at Queens University, Brooklyn College, and Columbia University.

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  • Dept. of Speculation
    They used to send each other letters. The return address was always the same: Dept. of Speculation. They used to be young, brave, and giddy with hopes for their future. They got married, had a child, and skated through all the small calamities of family life. But then, slowly, quietly something changes. As the years rush by, fears creep in...
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