The Stepford Wives – Ira Levin (1972) 139 pages
Earlier in the month when I read The War of the Worlds, I mentioned I rarely read sci-fi. If I rarely read sci-fi, I never read horror. So this is definitely the month for going outside my comfort zone and learning to love it 😊
The Stepford Wives is such a well-known classic that I’m assuming everyone knows what the story is. I did, and didn’t diminish the horror or the tension in any way. I will keep this review very brief though, to try and avoid spoilers as far as possible…
The story is told from the point of view of Joanna, a photographer with a young family, who moves to the insular suburb:
“She wished: that they would be happy in Stepford. That Pete and Kim would do well in school, and that she and Walter would find good friends and fulfilment. That he wouldn’t mind the commuting – though the whole idea of moving had been his in the first place. That the lives of all four of them would be enriched, rather than diminished, as she had feared, by leaving the city – the filthy, crowded, crime-ridden, but so alive city.”
It takes Joanna longer than she hoped to settle in to Stepford. None of the women in the town are very sociable, spending endless hours cleaning their homes which they claim leaves them little time for anything else:
“That’s what she was, Joanna felt suddenly. That’s what they all were, all the Stepford wives: actresses in commercials, pleased with detergents and floor wax, with cleansers, shampoos, and deodorants. Pretty actresses, big in the bosom but small in the talent, playing the suburban housewives unconvincingly, too nicey-nice to be real.”
She does make one friend Bobbie, who is determined to leave the area:
“Is that your idea of the ideal community? I went into Norwood to get my hair done for your party; I saw a dozen women who were rushed and sloppy and irritated and alive; I wanted to hug every one of them!”
Meanwhile her husband Walter seems quite content, joining the local Men’s Association with the other local patriarchs who seem determined to keep clearly delineated lines between the sexes.
Slowly the realisation of what is happening in Stepford dawns on Joanna. She is resistant to the gaslighting that surrounds her – but it is already too late?
The Stepford Wives is truly horrifying. Not only because the tension is built so expertly by Ira Levin (the novella form seems particularly suited to this) and not only because of the actual events portrayed. But because – as the blistering introduction by Chuck Palahnuik in my edition makes completely clear – we may all already be living in Stepford…
madame bibi lophile recommends 
That’s a chilling last line! I remember seeing the film on TV but I’ve not read the book which sounds much better, as is so often the case.
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I’ve not seen the film either, but in the introduction to this edition Chuck Palahniuk is especially scathing about the recent adaptation. So from that I would say the book is likely better!
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Oh no! I thought this was a really silly book!
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Haha! That’s good to hear Lisa. I found myself getting angry – I could see so many parallels. Hopefully it caught me on a pessimistic day.
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This still gives me the chills Madame B. And when I see so many young women focused only on their image and the superficial tat and social media which surrounds them, I fear some of them have gone past the point of no return…
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That was absolutely what Chuck Palahniuk was saying in his introduction Kaggsy. Sometimes I really despair, other times I feel some hope. Either way I still feel that very sadly, 50 years on, this is still so relevant.
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What a coincidence. I was just thinking about this book yesterday and hoping to get to it at some point. And I was wondering exactly what you were about its effect when one more or less knows the story. Glad to know that doesn’t spoil it. Thanks for confirming this in your review🙂
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Yes, it definitely doesn’t matter that you know what’s going on! I think it helped me pick up the insidious behaviour on the first read. I hope you enjoy it Mallika!
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Is that where the “stepford wives” expression comes from? I didn’t know this book and now I’m definitely intrigued.
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Yes, that’s where it comes from! It’s one of those books where I knew the story because it’s become such a reference point, but it didn’t reduce my enjoyment in any way.
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Good to know. It’s not available in French. too bad, it would have been a good suggestion for our Book Club.
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That’s such a shame, and I’m really surprised. Fingers crossed for a translation soon!
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I had no idea it was so short! I’ve only seen the rather odd Nicole Kidman remake of the classic film, but maybe I should be going back to the original.
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I’ve not seen that version but Chuck Palahniuk gives it pretty short shrift in the introduction, saying it basically missed the whole point of the novel. So don’t let that film put you off!
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Fear not! I have looked around at the state of my house and the accumulated dust and untidiness assures me that we’re not living in Stepford yet! 😉
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Phew!
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Interesting, I’ve not seen any adaptation and just have a vague idea from hearing the phrase “Stepford wife”.
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Yes, I suppose it’s like some Orwellian phrases that have become a reference that’s widely used, so people have a general idea without necessarily having read the book.
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I am such a big fan of Levin and I loved this one.
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What others of his would you recommend Cathy? I’m definitely encouraged to read him further after this.
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I loved The Boys from Brazil and A Kiss Before Dying. Rosemary’s Baby is great too.
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Great – thanks Cathy!
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I’ve owned a copy for ages (same edition as you) – I’ve seen the film, but now feel inclined to add it to my 20 books of summer pile (especially as it’ll be a quick read being short! 😀 )
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It’s a really quick read – a good one for the summer challenge! Hope you enjoy it Annabel.
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