Dept. of Speculation

Dept. of Speculation is a 2014 novel by American author Jenny Offill. The novel received positive reviews, and has been compared to Offill's later work, Weather.

Dept. of Speculation
AuthorJenny Offill
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherAlfred A. Knopf
Publication date
January 28, 2014
Pages179 pages
ISBN9780345806871

Composition and writing

Though not purely autobiographical, the novel draws from Offill's life.[1] Offill has said Dept. of Speculation "[...] came from the ashes of another book".[1] Dept. of Speculation eschews a typical plot, which Offill has said was deliberate.[2]

Reception

Critical reception

According to literary review aggregator Book Marks, the book received mostly "Rave" and reviews, with some less positive reception.[3] The novel has been compared to Renata Adler's 1976 book Speedboat.[4][5] In her review of the book, published by NPR, Meg Wolitzer praised the novel as "[...] intriguing, beautifully written, sly and often profound".[6] Wolitzer also praised the novel's humor.[6]

Offill has said she did not anticipate the book's success.[7]

Honors

Dept. of Speculation was shortlisted for 2015 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction,[8] and the Folio Prize.[9]

The novel was included on the New York Times' list of the best books of 2014.[10]

References
  1. "In Fragments Of A Marriage, Familiar Themes Get Experimental". NPR. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. Pieknik, Matt (31 March 2014). "How Much Could Be Left Unsaid: An Interview with Jenny Offill". The Paris Review. The Paris Review. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  3. "Dept. of Speculation". Literary Hub. Literary Hub. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  4. Wood, James (24 March 2014). "Mother Courage". The New Yorker. The New Yorker. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. Gay, Roxane (7 February 2014). "Bridled Vows (Published 2014)". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  6. Wolitzer, Meg (23 January 2014). "'Speculation' Shows Good Stories Come In Small Packages, Too". NPR.org. NPR. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  7. Haas, Lidija (28 February 2015). "Jenny Offill: life after Dept. of Speculation – the underdog persona's not going to fly any more". the Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. "Announcing The 2015 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Winner | The PEN/Faulkner Foundation". PEN/Faulkner Foundation. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. Piepenbring, Dan (9 February 2015). "The 2015 Folio Prize Shortlist". The Paris Review. The Paris Review. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. "The 10 Best Books of 2014 (Published 2014)". The New York Times. The New York Times. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2021.


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