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mockingjayx16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Gaslighting, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder and Death
pantslint's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The premise is still so relevant (sadly) and the language and mechanics still hold up pretty well, so I can see how this book is a timeless classic. However, it's interesting to see how far feminist theory and female characters have come—it's clear in Joanna's characterization.
When Joanna meets Carol in the very first chapter, she observes how beautiful Carol is, and how perfect of a housewife she is. But Joanna's attitude irks the hell out of me.
No, she didn't know how it was, thank God. Not to be like that, a compulsive hausfrau. Who could blame Ted for taking advantage of such an asking-to-be-exploited patsy?
I have to read more of Levin's work. And I don't think I'll watch Olivia Wilde's movie.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Murder
Minor: Racism and Blood
looney_lily's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism and Murder
caughtbetweenpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story is simple: something weird is happening to women in Stepford, where the longer they live there, the less agency they exert, the more their attentions turn toward domesticity and making themselves look "perfect", and the cagier their husbands get about discussing the changes that have happened in their wives. However, despite many a decade passing since Levin first wrote this story, the underpinnings of misogyny in the men of Stepford echo all too closely the grumblings of alphaholes in the mannosphere demaning trad-wives and a return to a hyperpatriarchal familial structure (as though our backs aren't already breaking under the yoke of patriarchy even now). ( If you don't understand those words, please tell me where you're from so I can go there and escape, since it's not too late for me quite yet.) Given the twitter and reddit threads that pop up in the year of our lord 2023 where men fully talk about the "part of the relationship where you start to hate your girlfriend/wife" as though that's a normal relationship step and the gaslighting and emotional abuse they put her through is par for the course since she's being annoying enough to try to make things work... yeah, it's not a far stretch of the imagination to think men like that would love the option to have a council of techbros in a little boy's club
On a structural level, Levin's mastery of pacing can't be overstated. The exponential ramping up of the tension in the story as the characters within became more aware of Something Going On made me real-life nervous, and I felt true sorrow when
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Murder
marageorge's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Murder
catriona176's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia and Mental illness
harpygon's review against another edition
4.5
The last couple of segments where she is fleeing from her own husband, running through the snow and just slowly coming to doubt her own sanity hit soooo hard
Also the open ending regarding how exactly Joanna was replaced. The questions she posed about how they dispose of the wives and all that are never answered, we are still clueless, the secrets firmly guarded by the men’s association.
I dont know how I am supposed to interpret the epilogue… I believe it is meant to be a „they are both understanding and equal and thats why she is save?“ or maybe it is „he is showing the same understanding and open nature that Joanna‘s husband showed in the beginning but just give it a couple months?“
I personally choose to believe that its the first, because this couple is different. They‘re black, they only have daughters while all other families whose children are mentioned have at least 1 son, the wife is successful in her own manner and earns money (Joanna did too, but less successfully), the husband is more of a partner. Neither of them strive for a social life. They are written as the complete and utter antithesis to Stepford‘s Robot wifes (I guess I know how i‘d interpet the epilogue after all)
Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexism
Minor: Murder
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Overall, I'd highly recommend The Stepford Wives to anyone looking for a quick and unsettling read!
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
ottercorg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Alcohol, Sexual content, Murder, and Racism
lukerik's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting and Sexism
Minor: Murder