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suvata 's review for:

Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
3.0

I have to admit that this was one of the most unusual books that I've ever read. Offill has a very unique writing style. It's almost like stream of consciousness. There most definitely is a storyline but interspersed within the story are interesting trivial facts, speculation and self analysis. Like I said, it's very unusual and I'm not even sure how to describe it. I did enjoy this book and I even enjoyed the disjointed style of writing once I got used to it, which didn't take very long.

The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed woman simply called "the wife". It's pretty much a story of her life, particularly her marriage which may or not be falling apart. It's a rather mundane story, very workaday. The thing that makes it interesting and holds the story together are the little vignettes woven throughout.