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 and doubts accumulate until finally their life as they know it cracks apart and they find themselves forced to reassess what they have lost, what is left, and what they want now.
Written with the dazzling lucidity of poetry, Dept. of Speculation navigates the jagged edges of a modern marriage to tell a story that is darkly funny, surprising and wise.
I just didn't feel very enthusiastic about this one. It has a distinctly surreal feel, but I couldn’t help but think, “Murakami pulls this kind of thing off so much better...” (Unfair comparison, I know.)
There were a lot of spot-on quotes about love, marriage, parenthood...the kind of sentences that make you feel like someone out there gets it. But I still needed something to tie it all together for me -- maybe for the main character to feel more tangible? -- and that element wasn’t there.
That being said, I loved the book’s quirky format and the lovely way Offill writes. I’d definitely be open to reading something else by her in the future.
More of my thoughts on this title can be found on my blog at Lovely Bookshelf.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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30 March, 2015:
Finished reading
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30 March, 2015:
Reviewed