I can’t remember who first recommended Dept. of Speculation (2014) to me, but it was on one of the posts where I talked about loving books told in fragments – specifically Kate Briggs’ This Little Art, Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House and Joan Givner’s Self-Portrait of a Literary Biographer. Those are all non-fiction – until I read Offill’s novel, I hadn’t tried anybody doing anything like that for fiction.
Dept. of Speculation is told in hundreds of fragment paragraphs – most over a few lines, though the longest are about a page and the shortest are one or two words. Together, they tell the story of a relationship, from dating to marriage to a lost pregnancy to a child to an affair. I don’t know if there is any autobiography in there – the unnamed female narrator of the fragments is a writing teacher who has published one novel and struggles to write the second. Offill was certainly all those things, though I couldn’t speak to her relationship.
Something I love about this splintered approach to writing is that there are no restrictions on tonal consistency. You might dive suddenly into the most heart-piercing moment of a relationship breakdown, or the joyful surprises of motherhood, or the painful fears of the same. And, next to this emotional peak, Offill will write something entirely objective – about the Voyager space mission, for instance (it is relevant in context), or – well, this is the opening fragment/vignette/call-it-what-you-will:
Antelopes have 10x vision, you said. It was the beginning or close to it. That means that on a clear night they can see the rings of Saturn.
This approach builds up a composite picture of the relationship that a more traditional, linear novel could do, but it will feel less fresh and perhaps a bit laboured. I don’t think you could get away with the same sharp philosophy or character insight that Offill can use – for instance, this next fragment works because of the format of the book. I think it would feel awkward in a less formally innovative novel:
There is such crookedness in my heart. I had thought loving two people so much would straighten it.
I wasn’t sure that a novel in vignettes could sustain the level of character development one would hope for – particularly over the course of several years. But somehow Offill manages to portray the shifting state of the marriage, and the similarly evolving relationship of mother and daughter. You can convey so much in snapshots.
Stop writing I love you, said the note my daughter wrote over the one I had left in her lunchbox. For a long time, she had asked for a note like that every day, but now a week after turning six, she puts a stop to it. I feel odd, strangely light-headed when I read the note. It is a feeling from a long time ago, the feeling of someone breaking up with me suddenly. My husband kisses me. “Don’t worry, love. Really, it’s nothing.”
There is so much nuance in the novel. It’s not a case of marriage-collapsed-by-adultery. There is a complex response to it, with some of the complexity being what falls between the vignettes. The absence of every detail doesn’t diminish the novel. Somehow it elevates it.
I was so impressed by Dept. of Speculation (incidentally, the curious title refers to the faux ‘return address’ both the man and the woman would put on the back of letters). I think it’ll stay in my mind for a long time, and I’ll doubtless re-read. If you have any other recommendations of fiction or non-fiction told in vignettes, or fragments of paragraphs, I’d love to hear them.
Wow – this is different and I definitely want to read this myself. I’ve already checked the library catalogue and put in a reservation. I think you should have recovered from the couple of duds you had a few days ago now!
Oh excellent! Do let me know how you find it.
I have now read this for myself; I couldn’t wait long after reading your inspiring review! I’ve just reread your post and my comment above – my reaction to this book is still ‘Wow’. I did love it and admire it (the best combination in a book – there’s plenty of books I either admire or love). As you noted, the fragmentary format is something I have never come across before either but it works wonderfully here.
Thank you for your introduction to a new to me author. I also now have Weather by Offill in the pile.
I’m so glad this was such a success for you too! I’m really keen to read Weather too – and have recently bought a couple of the many suggestions in the comment section for other fragmentary novels.
I tried Weather but did not like it very much, so will be interested to know your thoughts if and when you get to it. It may just have been the wrong book, wrong time for me but I was disappointed after enjoying Dept of Speculation so much.
I haven’t read this, but loved Jenny Offill’s Weather, which is written in the same style. So I would definitely recommend reading that as well!
Ah I didn’t realise Weather was the same style – really good to know, thanks
I loved this book. I’m a great fan of a vignette style, Mrs Bridge and Mr Bridge by Evan S Connell immediately come to mind, telling different sides of the same story from the two POV.
I have had Mr Bridge for a long time, unread – Mrs Bridge is on its way to me now!
I’ve just picked up Mrs Bridge from a charity shop too! I’ll be interested in your thoughts once you get to that too!
You may want to try American writer Roger Rosenblatt. I’ve read and enjoyed Cataract Blues; also Kayak Morning. Both are nonfiction and are related in fragments. Mr. Rosenblatt lost his adult daughter 15+ years ago, and that fact permeates his work. He has written many other books; I’d imagine any of them would be of interest.
Oo thanks, good to know. I’m really appreciating all the suggestions.
I have no suggestions, but I loved the book and so I’m curious about other commenters’ ideas :)
Not Working by Lisa Owens is a work of fiction told in vignette form, so far as I can remember…
Oo thanks, Hannah
And they are turning up some good’uns!
I really liked this one too. Your observation about some of the complexity being between the vignettes has really brought it back to me.
Oh good! Maybe you recommended it to me in the first place :D
This is one of those books about which I’ve heard so many good things that I’m already half-sure I’ve read and loved it myself already. But I know I’m in for a treat when I finally sit down with Offill. She’s perfect for this event too. (Which I’ll have to keep in mind for next May!)
Ha, yes, I know what you mean! Hope you love it when you actually read it, too.
Dept. of Speculation is on my TBR stack–the actual physical one. Maybe soon! and this made it sooner.
Clarence Major’s Reflex and Bone Structure works that way. It’s been years since I read it, but I thought it was pretty amazing.
Oo thanks for the tip – so many great suggestions on this post, including many names I’ve never heard of (like Major)
Elizabeth Hardwick was famous for writing in that style. I often associate it with autofiction for some reason. I really loved Homesick by Jennifer Croft, which is in vignettes and reflects her love of languages — and is particularly interesting because it was published as a memoir abroad but as fiction in the UK. I can also recommend Sanatorium by Abi Palmer, on a chronic illness theme. Sarah Manguso always writes in fragments; her nonfiction is perhaps better known on the whole, but her novel Very Cold People has a similar approach.
Thanks for the suggestions; they’ve all gone on my list! I thought I’d read Hardwick, but perhaps am confusing her with someone else.
I’ve just read an essay (“More Is More” by Becca Rothfeld, from All Things Are Too Small) that is very disparaging of fragment novels! Her other major examples are by Kate Zambreno and Halle Butler.
Minna Needs Rehearsal Space by Dorthe Nors I read soon after or before this one and I think they are roughly contemporaneous with one another- and it’s a novella in statements, if that makes sense; I believe the title I’d also line one/ statement one.
Oo I love the sound of that, and the title is great