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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I love Jennifer Weiner but this was so not up to her usual level. I could not have cared less about any of the main characters. Bah.
3 ⭐️ but barely. Overall meh. Some parts I liked, some I didn’t. A lot of characters not really developed, the pacing was not great and I felt like the book contradicted itself at times. Also the daughter… I know this book is old but in the beginning I could have sworn the daughter had autism and getting the diagnosis was going to be part of the plot (adding to stress & addiction?) but it was never addressed.
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had gotten to a point where I was just over Jennifer Weiner books. They're all a little too similar - at times I feel I'm still reading about the girl from Good In Bed. And yes, this book also follows the adventures of an overweight woman with relationship problems - but for some reason it felt fresh enough that I enjoyed it. It's not without problems - Weiner writes about motherhood in a way that's especially cloying at times - very precious and organic food/no TV. And I kind of wish she'd gone the extra mile with her "sensitive child" and just full-on made her a kid with developmental issues. Also, the weird gang street language that she occasionally slips into at rehab to be funny is terrible. OTHERWISE, it was a good book - I like that she did a great job of showing how overwhelmed the main character is and how the addiction started slowly and built. It's not a topic that gets a lot of attention for women so it was good to see it here.
So, I took my time reading this book because I found myself drawn to the story yet angry and sympathetic to the cause at the same time. All Fall down is a story about Allison Weiss a stay at home mom ( who blogs) who finds herself spiraling out of control between her failing marriage, being the breadwinner of the family, her father's diagnosis with Alzheimer's all while taking care of her 5-year-old daughter Ellie. She copes with her overwhelming schedule by taking prescription painkillers (double-digit pills multiple times a day) whether prescribed by a variance of doctors or via purchasing them online. You go to the start, middle, rock bottom & rehab with Allison! Definitely a great read I absolutely adore Ms. Weiner's books but I found this one to be difficult at times not because of the writing or the characters simply because of the content and knowing that this problem is, in fact, a large epidemic in this country.
Long winded version of that Sandra bullock movie about rehab
So relatable that it was downright scary. I'm a big fan of Weiner's work...she has an amazing ability to capture the truths of my experiences as a woman with such clarity and humor. I was brought to tears as often as I laughed out loud. My experience might be heightened by being so chronologically and geographically close to Weiner, but I'm betting all women could recognize a part of themselves in her books. 4.5 stars.
2.5 stars
It was okay, I am not sure how someone doesn't OD on 30 oxy's in 24 hours - or doesn't have some kind of physical effects.
It was okay, I am not sure how someone doesn't OD on 30 oxy's in 24 hours - or doesn't have some kind of physical effects.
The story is about a suburban mom who has become addicted to painkillers. You see the progression of how it happened and what her daily life is like. This was an easy read and slightly refreshing to see this subject matter tackled.