The book world is abuzz because Jennifer Weiner has a new novel out, though I should probably admit right off that before this, I hadn’t read anything she had written. I know. It seemed like the appropriate time to rectify this book blogger failing. In All Fall Down, Weiner departs a bit from (what I’ve heard to be) her usual lighthearted tone to present a more serious story of family, stress, and addiction.
Even with a venture into heavier material, this novel retains a sense of humor, though it edges on the dark side more often than not. From an outsider’s perspective, Allison Weiss’s life is nothing but picture perfect. All the main boxes are checked- attractive and loving husband, adorable young child, McMansion in the suburbs, and a successful job doing something she enjoys. Upon a closer look, though, it becomes apparent that she is beginning to crack under the pressures of her daily life. Her marriage isn’t what it used to be, and the distance she feels from her husband is emotionally devastating, while it also often leaves her singularly responsible for their family and home obligations. Her daughter’s challenging behaviors make each day exhausting, and the huge house in the ‘burbs wasn’t even her choice in the first place. As her job as a blogger for a women’s interests sites begins to require an increasing amount of attention, Allison is left more drained than ever, especially as her father’s early Alzheimer’s worsens and her mother calls on her for assistance more often.
The novel opens with the line: “Do you generally use alcohol or drugs more than once a week?” Sitting in her daughter’s pediatrician’s office waiting to be called back, Allison has opened a parenting magazine and something about this particular article gives her pause. As she scans through the quiz’s questions, so begins the inner dialogue that continues throughout the novel. There is a voice in Allison’s head that tells her she is in danger as she takes a Percocet, leftover from when she had her wisdom teeth pulled, or when she pops a Vicodin, prescribed back when she injured her back at the gym. This voice knows that taking these pills for the purpose of relaxation, or increasingly, just to get through the day is wrong, but there is a different voice that offers a justification each time. This second voice is gaining strength, because Allison is taking on so much and just doesn’t want to let anyone down.
Starting at a point where Allison is clearly already on an addictive path, the novel documents her gradual slide downward, into territory so dangerous where she cannot function without a multitude of pills, and she is taking grand risks to continue her habit. What struck me the most was how much I could relate to the protagonist’s feelings of being overwhelmed by all that was expected of her, which made a tiny voice in my own head wonder about the possibility of falling down a similar rabbit hole. I think that’s the power of this novel– by making such a believable character, Weiner immediately connects with readers, and the story becomes horrifying to think about in all its realism. Raw and truthful, this novel explores how quickly things in a seemingly perfect life can completely fall apart, and how difficult the climb back out truly can be.