---
title: Dept. of Speculation
description: Nathanael Yellis's review of the book Dept. of Speculation
image: https://www.yell.is/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/17402288.jpg
---

![](https://www.yell.is/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/17402288.jpg)

Sad, but in a riveting way. One of those "fiction" books that you know it's real. Too real.

[![Dept. of Speculation](https://www.yell.is/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/17402288.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17402288-dept-of-speculation)[Dept. of Speculation](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17402288-dept-of-speculation) by [Jenny Offill](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/33794.Jenny_Offill)  
My rating: [3 of 5 stars](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/906422432)

The dust-jacket said this book was "meant to be devoured in one sitting." My response to that instruction was an overwhelming impulse to read it one page per day for six months. Or maybe to read a few pages and throw it out the window.

Sometimes I violate the rules of the road simply to show everyone that I'm not tame.

Mostly I read books. I read this one last night in one sitting.

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