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Jenny Offill: Dept. of Speculation (Hardcover, 2014, Knopf) 4 stars

Review of 'Dept. of Speculation' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This book is light and airy and quick to read. In that, it's deceptive because it's actually tackling a fairly heavy topic: the story of a relationship from all its new sparkle to the weight it acquires with a child, the wear and tear of life, and the work required to heal a chasm caused by infidelity. The story may not be that original, but the telling of it is. This book often reads more like poetry or a collection of unrelated snippets, so it's sort of a collage of of a marriage. Some people may find the technique annoying, or the lack of a transparent plot frustrating. I found it interesting. I'm not likely to recommend it to other people, but I did enjoy it.