From the point of view of an unnamed american woman, it gives us the hurrahs and boos of daily. Lizzie benson slid into her job as a librarian without a traditional degree. Jenny offill interviewed about her new novel dept of speculation. Dept of speculation by jenny offill available in trade paperback on. Jenny offill born 1968 is an american novelist and editor. In the final accounting a novel is only a series of stated facts that arent true. Jenny offill talks about her new novel, dept of speculation. Jenny offill is an american author of contemporary, childrens, literature and fiction books best known for her debut novel last things. Jenny will be in conversation with the bookstores stephen sparks. Author jenny offills agent has said of her previous book, dept.
If someone had described this novel to me, i would never have read it, she says when we meet on. They were young and giddy, sure of themselves and of their love for each other. Through short vignettes, offill builds a narrative about an unnamed husband and wife. A reading group that celebrates women authors in both classic and contemporary works. Jenny offill is the only child of two privateschool english teachers. Jenny offill, bestselling author of dept of speculation, visits point reyes to discuss her highly anticipated novel, weather. Shes speaking via skype, about to broach the subject of her new novel, weather knopf, feb.
Feb 21, 2020 author jenny offills agent has said of her previous book, dept. Jenny offill perfectly captures the absurdities and ironies of our moment. There is a scene in jenny offills dept of speculation in which the. She spent her childhood years in various american states, including massachusetts, california, indiana. Named a notable book of the year by the new york times and a finalist for the l a times first book award. The conversation switches to the telephone, but offill isnt flustered. The wife says she longs to be an art monster, and the book works as a. Of speculation is a perfect, condensed as in nothing spare or superfluous every word is knife point chronicle of lives lived with fullon, unapologetic drama and baggage. Jenny offill is a master of form and feeling, and she gets life on the page in. It is also a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of. It is a moving and intelligent story of a specific marriage, but it is also very much about how it feels to be alive right now. It is also a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal.
Her first novel last things was published in 1999 was a new york times notable book and a finalist for the l. Jenny offill talks weather jenny offill author interview. Offills novel last things, which follows a young girl as she observes the dissolution of her family, was a finalist for the 1999 l. Of speculation, named one of the new york times 10 best books of 2014, tells the story of a courtship and marriage in a series of disquieting, perfectly condensed vignettes. Most notably, this book filled me with an incandescent rage at the cheating.
Her third novel, weather, is forthcoming from knopf in february 2020. Jenny offill is an american author born in massachusetts. From the acclaimed author of weather comes a slim, stunning portrait of a marriagea beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal shipwreck that unites us all. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
I thought that was too limiting in terms of suggesting the audience for the book. Jenny offill is a master of form and feeling, and she gets life on the page in new, startling ways. This book was featured in the new york times bestsellers list, and it was a finalist in the first book award by l. January 23, 2014 jenny offills sparse and experimental novel dept. Oct 07, 2014 in the final accounting a novel is only a series of stated facts that arent true. Jenny offills first book last things was published in 1999.
The reader is left to fill in a lot of blanks as jenny ifill shows tiny shards of a. She is also the coeditor with elissa schappell of two anthologies of essays and the author of several childrens books she teaches in the mfa programs. Yet its precisely this paredback form that lends her unnamed protagonist such a vibrant, funny, fragmented inner life. This novel is written in a fragmentary, elliptical style. Jan 23, 2014 jenny offills sparse and experimental novel dept. Popping prose and touching vignettes of marriage and motherhood fill offills last things slim second book of fiction. Jenny offill imbues her sentences with a dazzling humanity that will make you feel all the things across the spectrum. Jenny offills heroine, referred to in these pages as simply the wife, once exchanged love letters with her husband postmarked dept. From the point of view of an unnamed american woman, it gives us. Mar 04, 2020 somehow, i hadnt read offills hit novel dept.
Jan 15, 2020 its a friday afternoon, and jenny offill, author of the widely acclaimed 2014 novel dept. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book is filled with great observations, even the seemingly random stuff, quotes stumbled. Jenny offill is the author of the novels last things a new york times notable book of the year and a finalist for the l. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Last things is similar to dept of speculation in that they are both filled with bits of. This is an unflinching examination of marriage, parenthood. Last things is a spare, bewitching debut that marks the arrival of a bright new talent.
Feb 28, 2015 the plot of jenny offills second novel, dept. This short novel is written in a spare prose that often reads like notebook jottings, abstract poetry or clippings from a textbook. Not the lives our preadult selves imagined having, but the emotional grist that most of us actually end up with. It is the kind of book that you will be quoting over and over to friends who dont quite understand, until they. The questions, discussion topics, and reading list that follow are intended to enhance your reading groups discussion of dept. Speculation shows good stories come in small packages, too.
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