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The American novel after 1945 often revolved around the theme of anxiety, specifically the anxiety of living in a country with immense postwar prosperity and corresponding societal expectations and opportunities. In previous times, characters and the nation as a whole had relied on social mobility as a means of hope: striving to move upward and onward. However, in the modern era, young writers depict a different reality, where societal pressures have triumphed. Defeatism and satirical observations now dominate contemporary American novels, with a focus on the rigid class structure or the guilt-ridden bohemian lifestyle (as seen in the current trend of novels about expats in Berlin).

The situation is clear. Large companies are accumulating resources while smaller companies are struggling. Manufacturing is being moved to countries with cheaper labor like China and the Global South. Online shopping is also contributing to the downfall of traditional businesses and environmental concerns are being ignored. As a result, society is divided into those at the top living luxuriously, those in the middle living in fear, and those at the bottom living in servitude. This is the harsh reality that authors depicting modern American life must confront.

Edith Wharton and Henry James were successful in writing detailed stories about a structured class system. These strict hierarchies often inspire novels focused on proper behavior and following rules. Adelle Waldman’s latest novel falls into this category, making it a highly anticipated read. This is because her first novel, The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P, was a brilliant dissection of the male ego and was published in 2013. Nathaniel P was also a novel about manners, specifically examining the ego of its male protagonist who tends to only care about himself, even in his intimate relationships with women.

Help Wanted is an equally acidic comedy about contemporary American serfs. It’s a kind of communal novel about the people clinging to the bottom of the social cliff: the two-jobbers, the drop-outs, the working poor. There is no protagonist as such; the novel head-hops in a way that Henry James would disapprove of but that enacts a politics of shared experience, very much to the novel’s point.

The primary characters are all employed by Town Square, a large retail chain similar to Walmart. (The author, Waldman, had worked at a similar store while writing the book.) The story centers on Team Movement, the logistics team at Town Square, which has been given the “fun and modern” name by the company. They are responsible for unloading delivery trucks early in the morning and organizing the shelves. Ironically, these employees are not able to move up in life due to cancelled food stamps, overwhelming student loan payments, and unreasonable medical bills (such as a case of strep throat costing Raymond, a member of Team Movement, over a thousand dollars). Step by step, Help Wanted details the ways in which the current American lifestyle deliberately creates a trap for those who are economically disadvantaged.

The individuals of the Movement reside and are employed in Potterstown, NY, which is reminiscent of Pottersville, the fictional town destroyed by greedy bankers in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Potterstown has faced significant economic decline due to the shutdown of its IBM factory. To make ends meet, many Movement employees are forced to work two jobs. For example, Little Will, the group manager, also does landscaping work, and Ruby, a black woman whose son is incarcerated, works shifts at a local co-op. The town’s ruthless tactics, such as reducing work hours during the off-season and using loopholes to deny bonuses and promotions, have made having a second job a necessity.

When stuck in an unfair system, the only option is to try and use it to one’s own advantage. As a result, the Movement employees collude within the regulations in order to propel their detested boss, Meredith, to a higher position, making room for one of them to take her place. This leads to a brilliant and relatable comedy of manners. What stands out most in Help Wanted is Waldman’s ability to not only tell a small personal story, but also shed light on the larger issue of economic and societal confinement, both in America and globally. In this sense, the book fits into both the genre of manners and systems, highlighting the interconnectedness of these seemingly unrelated genres.

The book is both amusing and profoundly compassionate, with a strong sense of resentment. Its name alludes to dishonest advertisements posted in Town Square when the company refuses to hire new employees due to the expense. However, it also serves as an unironic plea from America – who will heed it?

Source: theguardian.com