Reviews

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill

morganmachado8's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

tweedsuitcase's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

lelia_t's review

4.0

This is a tight, quick book filled with seemingly random anecdotes, jokes, quotes and facts that tie into bigger events as the book goes along. There’s wry humor - I laughed a lot in the beginning - but also a realistic look at life’s messiness - the compromises we make in the course of living, loving others, raising kids, making money. How the shininess of life can get worn away by the grind of duty and responsibility.

I love the structure of this book - you can dip back in after finishing it and find a joke, phrase, digression that enriches your understanding of the whole. And the story has a sweeping speed, like life. You look down and you're middle-aged, wearing underwear with worn out elastic.

ell_jay_em7's review

5.0

Beautiful.

scavengercat's review

4.0

Creative little gem.

lkbp17's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

tuabaxl's review

4.0

Beautiful. Clear, succinct and efficient. Heartbreaking.

katelynjanedunn's review

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

angelamichelle's review

3.0

I mean, the advice she gave to her writing students applies: WHERE ARE WE IN TIME AND SPACE?

I love books not forced to revolve around plot. And this one does have a linear chronology. But the lack of grounding in time and space felt like an affectation or cop-out to me.

lizawall's review

this was great to read on a trip because it is so absorbing and even, i want to say, entertaining, although not in like a belittling way! it was not great to read on a trip because it added to the defamiliarization of being a way from home in a way that was a little too unmooring. this book made me feel actually less scared than usual about parenting, but more scared than usual about marriage. somehow especially unsettling to be reading at the time the supreme court rules there is no union more profound than marriage.