Dept. of Speculation

Emma — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

From the Women’s Prize Shortlisted-author of Weather, an electrifying, funny and wise account of a couple falling out of one another’s orbit. ‘It is the kind of book that you will be quoting over and over to friends who don’t quite understand, until they give in and read it too’ John Self, Guardian They used to send each other letters. The return address was always the same: Dept. of Speculation. They used to be young, brave, and giddy with hopes for their future. They got married, had a child, and skated through all the small calamities of family life. But then, slowly, quietly something changes. As the years rush by, fears creep in and doubts accumulate until finally their life as they know it cracks apart and they find themselves forced to reassess what they have lost, what is left, and what they want now. Dept. of Speculation navigates the jagged edges of a modern marriage to tell a story that is darkly funny, surprising and wise. ‘Funny, and moving, and true… It tells a profound story of love and parenthood while invoking (among others) Keats, Kafka, Einstein, Russian cosmonauts, and advice for the housewife of 1897’ Michael Cunningham

Weather

Emma — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG FICTION READERS AWARDAn obligatory note of hope, in a world going to hell Lizzie Benson, a part-time librarian, is already overwhelmed with the crises of daily life when an old mentor offers her a job answering mail from the listeners of her apocalyptic podcast, Hell and High Water. Soon questions begin pouring in from left-wingers worried about climate change and right-wingers worried about the decline of Western civilization. Entering this polarized world, Lizzie is forced to consider who she is and what she can do to help: as a mother, as a wife, as a sister, and as a citizen of this doomed planet.”This is so good. We are not ready nor worthy” – Ocean Vuong

Offill, Jenny – The Bell Bookshop

Dept. of Speculation

Weather