• Home
  • About
  • My Favorites
  • Videos
  • Photo Gallery
  • Author Profiles
  • Bookish Dispatches
  • Contact
  • Nav
    • Home
    • Book Reviews
    • Bookish Dispatches
    • New Releases
    • My Favorites
    • Photo Gallery
    • About
    • Contact

Bex Writes

Dispatches from a bookish life...

  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Classics
  • Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  • Youth & Teen
  • Award Winners
  • New Releases
    • Hardcover
    • Paperback

Dept. of Speculation, by Jenny Offill

March 17, 2014 by bex Leave a Comment

 dept. of speculation“Q: Why couldn’t the Buddhist vacuum in corners?
A: Because she had no attachments,”

 Don’t be misled by the slim size—this novel packs an emotional wallop. Offill writes in a collage style: she feeds us pieces of a story, compact chunks with both smooth and rough edges, letting readers fill in the gaps.

“The wife” charms us with her whimsical midnight brainstorm to write American-style fortunes: “Objects create happiness; The animals are pleased to be of use; Death will not tough you.” She challenges us with mental exercises pillaged from science, philosophy and religion:“…Courtesy of the Stoics. If you are tired of everything you posses, imagine you have lost all of these things.” We become “the wife,” her profound truths melding with our own. 

Shop Indie Bound for this title

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Bex Writes

I am a writer and indie bookseller with a journalism degree from Southern Oregon University and a voracious appetite for books. I don't view reading as an escape as much as an extension of reality. Books help me make sense of the world and find my place there. Read More…

Subscribe to Bex Writes

* indicates required

Bex Writes on Instagram

Load More...
Follow on Instagram

Bookish Dispatches on Facebook

Unable to display Facebook posts.
Show error

Error: Server configuration issue
Please refer to our Error Message Reference.

Follow me on Twitter

Tweets by @bex_text

Copyright © 2021 · BexWrites.Com