The internationally bestselling novel by the author of A Kiss Before Dying, The Boys from Brazil, and Rosemary’s Baby
With an Introduction by Peter Straub
For Joanna, her husband, Walter, and their children, the move to beautiful Stepford seems almost too good to be true. It is. For behind the town’s idyllic facade lies a terrible secret — a secret so shattering that no one who encounters it … shattering that no one who encounters it will ever be the same.
At once a masterpiece of psychological suspense and a savage commentary on a media-driven society that values the pursuit of youth and beauty at all costs, The Stepford Wives is a novel so frightening in its final implications that the title itself has earned a place in the American lexicon.
more
Ira Levin is a great author, also known for The Boys from Brazil and Rosemary’s Baby. If you have only seen the movie, The Stepford Wives, you should read the book, it is so much better than either of the movie versions. Feminist Joanna and her family move to the small, quiet town of Stepford where Joanna realizes nothing is “right” with the …
I remember watching this movie in my early teens and it really freaked me out. I also got the same feeling when I read the book for the first time. A well written story that has its fair share of spooky moments. As far as I an concerned I liked Ira’s message of the perils of conformity and the loss of individuality.
The book does a wonderful job …
I managed to finally locate a copy of this book at my local used book store and immediately snatched it up. Having seen both the original 1975 movie starring Katharine Ross, as well as the more recent Nicole Kidman version, I was eager to read the actual book that made the term Stepford Wives part of our everyday lexicon.
I’m going to assume that …
I went in to this book knowing a bit more than I should have, but I didn’t know the whole story. Levin skillfully builds the tension and suspense until the reader (and main character) can’t take any more. I wished for a bit more payoff, but looking back, I don’t think that was the point. The argument against patriarchy is very clear. It’s easy …
Many of us use the expression “Stepford Wife” to mean a slightly scary, perfect domestic goddess. I recommend reading the book to see where it originated. First published in 1972, but holds up pretty well. An easy-to-read classic.
Who da thunk that someone could put down an awesome, detailed story in 186 pages, yet Ira Levin accomplishes it. He brings to the reader the realistic horror in perceiving something unavoidable, like seeing women all around you changing into something you don’t want to become, horrorfying real. Could not put this down, and you become terrified for …
I found this book disturbing on several levels. While it’s a bit dated now, it’s subject matter, particularly in a world where incel exists and women’s rights seem to be declining, resonated with me and had me thinking about the way our society values women. I knew the story in a general way before I read it, but even if you know the old jokes …
It leaves you hanging and doesn’t really offer any answers, it’s like the author forgot to finish writing the book.
Just as good as when it first came out. Only the details would need to be updated to make this today’s bestseller.
A bit dated for the contemporary age, unless you’re still living in some pockets society where female liberation is unheard of (or scoffed at). In which case, you wouldn’t be reading this to begin with.
Otherwise, the so-called parody/joke is just quaint. Furthermore, if you’ve read enough science fiction and/or horrors, you’d see the ending a …
This was a total waste of an hour’s time
I totally enjoyed this book–up until the last chapter. The story just ENDS. What? I need resolution when I finish a book, and this left things way too wide open. What is the mystery here? What is happening to these women? If I am missing something, someone please tell me!
Besides that, the book was a great, quick read. The characters are …
i first read this book as a teenager and, when the first movie came out, watched it as well. Although the plot does Center around outdated technology, there’s still enough wiggle-room available to make the plot realistic.
SPOILER: Having recently re-visited Disneyworld, my perspective on animatronics is mixed. The presidential characters …
I read this book when it was first released thinking it was sci-fi, now years later, I’m scared about how much closer this scenario of the future has become a reality.
Fast, almost fun read. Fun, because I remembered the movie ( Katherine Ross one ), and it brought back that era when women were making major changes. Women who grew up later have no idea. ( Mad Men might give them a clue ).
Didn’t see the end coming.
I read this for the first time more than two decades ago. I still find it haunting.