Dept. of Speculation

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

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.

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]

Influence[]

A passage in the novel influenced Rachel Yoder's novel Nightbitch.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ Tyler, J.A. (22 July 2021). "Ferocious and Violent: The Millions Interviews Rachel Yoder". The Millions. Retrieved 30 August 2021.


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