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lexiegodown's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Title: All Fall Down
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: June 17, 2014
T H R E E • W O R D S
Readable • Superficial • Stale
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician’s office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction and starts to wonder.
The pills she takes help her manage the realities of her good-looking life: that her husband is distant, that her daughter is acting out, that her father’s Alzheimer’s is worsening and her mother is barely managing to cope. She tells herself that they let her make it through her days. But could it be that her increasing drug use, a habit that’s becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into something bigger.
💭 T H O U G H T S
All Fall Down has sat unread on my shelf for nearly five years, so during a recent purge of books I decided I needed to read it or pass it along. The topic of addiction is what made me finally decide to pick it up.
On the one hand, I appreciated the topic of addiction - how it is a disease, how it can affect anyone (something society still struggles to understand), and how societal stigmas affect people with addiction. And yet, I've come to understand the importance of the language people use, and I definitely think Jennifer Weiner could benefit from some a lesson in empathetic and compassionate language. Yes, the plot demonstrates how addiction is a disease that can happen to anyone, but it also uses hurtful language.
My biggest issue is how it romanticizes addiction. It does show some of the hard stuff, but it still has a rosy outlook - a character able to afford treatment, and the happily-ever-after vibe, which doesn't necessarily mirror the realities of living with addiction. It doesn't show how recovery is an ongoing process, and in that it does a disservice to anyone affected by the disease.
With all of that said, the writing was still readable, but I think the author could have chosen a better main character. Allison came across extremely unlikeable and privileged. The side characters seemed very underdeveloped. And the ending was somewhat abrupt. A little more exploration of Allison's recovery rather than so much emphasis on her struggles would have improved the value of this book for sure.
Overall, this book had the potential to be brilliant but ended up falling fairly flat. If you enjoyed white, middle-class stories then you'll probably find more value in this one than I did. But please, don't let this be your picture of what addiction is like.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• suburban middle class women
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You’ve got to make time. It’s important. You know how they tell you on planes, in case of an emergency, the adults should put their oxygen masks on first? You’re not going to be any good to anyone if you’re not taking care of yourself."
Author: Jennifer Weiner
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: June 17, 2014
T H R E E • W O R D S
Readable • Superficial • Stale
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Allison Weiss got her happy ending—a handsome husband, adorable daughter, a job she loves, and the big house in the suburbs. But while waiting in the pediatrician’s office, she opens a magazine to a quiz about addiction and starts to wonder.
The pills she takes help her manage the realities of her good-looking life: that her husband is distant, that her daughter is acting out, that her father’s Alzheimer’s is worsening and her mother is barely managing to cope. She tells herself that they let her make it through her days. But could it be that her increasing drug use, a habit that’s becoming expensive and hard to hide, is turning into something bigger.
💭 T H O U G H T S
All Fall Down has sat unread on my shelf for nearly five years, so during a recent purge of books I decided I needed to read it or pass it along. The topic of addiction is what made me finally decide to pick it up.
On the one hand, I appreciated the topic of addiction - how it is a disease, how it can affect anyone (something society still struggles to understand), and how societal stigmas affect people with addiction. And yet, I've come to understand the importance of the language people use, and I definitely think Jennifer Weiner could benefit from some a lesson in empathetic and compassionate language. Yes, the plot demonstrates how addiction is a disease that can happen to anyone, but it also uses hurtful language.
My biggest issue is how it romanticizes addiction. It does show some of the hard stuff, but it still has a rosy outlook - a character able to afford treatment, and the happily-ever-after vibe, which doesn't necessarily mirror the realities of living with addiction. It doesn't show how recovery is an ongoing process, and in that it does a disservice to anyone affected by the disease.
With all of that said, the writing was still readable, but I think the author could have chosen a better main character. Allison came across extremely unlikeable and privileged. The side characters seemed very underdeveloped. And the ending was somewhat abrupt. A little more exploration of Allison's recovery rather than so much emphasis on her struggles would have improved the value of this book for sure.
Overall, this book had the potential to be brilliant but ended up falling fairly flat. If you enjoyed white, middle-class stories then you'll probably find more value in this one than I did. But please, don't let this be your picture of what addiction is like.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• suburban middle class women
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You’ve got to make time. It’s important. You know how they tell you on planes, in case of an emergency, the adults should put their oxygen masks on first? You’re not going to be any good to anyone if you’re not taking care of yourself."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Fatphobia
Minor: Car accident and Dementia
brynhayes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Mental illness
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