Probably most of us have experienced the interior of a place akin to Town Square location #1512, the fictional big-box store that serves as the backdrop for Adelle Waldman’s latest novel. This type of store, characterized by vibrant seasonal displays and spacious aisles, once epitomized American commerce at its peak, offering the convenience of purchasing various items under one expansive, brightly lit roof.
It’s somewhat surprising that these stores, symbolic of American capitalism, are not more prominently featured in literature. Waldman’s portrayal of Town Square at #1512 appears almost too overtly allegorical. Within its premises, empty shelves line the aisles, lending the store a rundown ambiance. The influence of “Corporate,” a nebulous entity, pushes store managers to prioritize minimal budgets above all else, leading them to prefer vacant shelves over investing in staff to restock inventory. The business has dwindled, with an unnamed online retail behemoth siphoning customers away. This depiction of decline mirrors the novel’s overarching mood, set in the fictional, desolate town of Potterstown in upstate New York, where the infrastructure, remnants of a bygone era of prosperity and vitality, now looms disproportionately large.
In Potterstown’s past, a robust working class thrived, but its present-day young adults face a dearth of stable opportunities. Many members of Town Square’s Movement team, formerly known as Logistics and stationed in the adjacent warehouse, reside—much like 23-year-old Nicole did until recently—with their mothers or grandmothers. Nicole, a mother herself with a fiancé, grapples with limited prospects.
Nicole finds herself unable to pursue waitressing, influenced by her mother’s longstanding grievances from her own decades-long tenure at a diner since her previous employer relocated operations to Mexico. The constraints of relying on parental support for childcare and the unaffordability of daycare, coupled with the absence of personal transportation, further restrict Nicole’s options.
All non-managerial employees at Town Square have been relegated to part-time status to circumvent providing benefits or guaranteed hours. During peak seasons, temporary part-time staff are hired to prevent year-round employees from qualifying for healthcare. A seasoned store worker reminisces about a time when working full-time was standard, allowing employees to sustain themselves adequately, a stark contrast to the current reality.
In the midst of her discourse, the speaker is interrupted by two individuals eager to voice their grievances about undocumented immigrants and China. She swiftly redirects the conversation, lamenting the store’s current state of disarray compared to its past meticulousness.
Working in Movement, a name connoting progress and organization, occasionally fosters camaraderie and shared goals among employees, offering brief respites from the store’s oppressive culture.
“H elp Wanted” marks Waldman’s second literary endeavor following her debut, “Nathaniel P.,” acclaimed for its incisive portrayal of the insular world of Harvard-educated writers navigating the New York literary scene. Waldman excels in crafting characters whose flaws are glaringly evident to readers yet remain obscured to the characters themselves.
The narrative unfolds within the confines of a big-box store, delving into the lives of a diverse array of individuals working in Movement at Town Square. Waldman meticulously develops each character, from Val, a striving lesbian seeking financial stability, to Diego, a Black immigrant contending with personal and familial challenges. The narrative’s focal point revolves around the impending promotion of Big Will, the store manager, prompting internal power dynamics and personal aspirations to intersect in unexpected ways.
Despite the extensive cast of characters, Waldman adeptly navigates the intricate plot dynamics, culminating in a poignant exploration of individuals grappling with economic precarity and the elusive pursuit of a better life. “Help Wanted” transcends mere character portraits, offering a profound commentary on the human condition within the confines of a corporate ecosystem.
Waldman’s keen observation of human behavior and meticulous attention to detail elevate “Help Wanted” into a compelling narrative that scrutinizes power dynamics, self-justification, and the quest for affirmation within a starkly realistic setting. The novel’s portrayal of individuals trapped in a cycle of struggle and compromise resonates as a poignant reflection of contemporary societal challenges.
As Waldman transitions from her earlier satirical work to a more somber exploration of systemic collapse and human resilience, her narrative prowess shines through, underscoring her ability to illuminate the complexities of human experience amidst challenging circumstances.
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Adelle Waldman is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and the author of “Nathaniel P..”