Reviews

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

charlote_1347's review against another edition

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3.0

What a creepy novel! I've heard tell of what 'The Stepford Wives' was about, but word of mouth did not quite prepare me for what I discovered in its pages. The setting, for starters, was intricate and authentic, and Stepford itself reminded me of a utopian reality with a disturbing twist (which it is, technically). Joanna was an intriguing heroine, and an unusual character for me to experience as a reader. Most protagonists I come across, especially women, are strong and independent but they crave submission, or routine, or for someone to take the load off their shoulders temporarily. She had none of that vulnerability, which threatened to make her unlikeable, but she had enough redeeming features that that didn't become a problem. I didn't like the ending, however. Don't get me wrong - it was appropriately creepy, and foreboding and the cliffhanger will leave this novel with me for a long time to come, but nothing was explained, and I find NOTHING more infuriating than an open-ended ending. Levin took the time to set up this world, and to write this story, so why couldn't he explain the technology/hypnotism/techniques that are used to make the Stepford Wives? I don't care if he was trying to preserve the creepiness - in a novel, the reader wants to know the how, the why, the all of it (not just the parts the author can be bothered to flesh out). Overall, an awesome start and an awesome idea, but the ending ruined a lot of the enjoyment for me. I rushed through the book, eagerly anticipating an ingenious explanation, only to be given nothing.

slorystar's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

spectralspawn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • 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

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aqeela's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars, rounded up

kamzilla's review against another edition

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challenging tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

la_ravenreader's review against another edition

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4.0

Joanna and Walter leave the city to move into an ideal suburb. Along, with their two children life seems good. Soon, Joanna notices the strange way the wives seem to act. Bonnie, a fellow wive that moved just a month before, agrees and they embark to find out what happened to these women.

catrinlj's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

A quick read, but a satisfying one!  I enjoyed the sense of momentum that built during the course of the novel, with Joana progressing from slight unease to disquieting suspicions to full-blown terror - it was hard to put the book down during the second half! 

nithika_s's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was such an interesting book! I enjoyed the pace and really liked the concept. I wish certain moments were fleshed out a bit more though

babyquark's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0