This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“”If these men you spoke to were typical,” she said, “it would be the Everybody’s Association already. Oh, all right, go ahead and join; I’ll think up slogans for placards. I’ll have plenty of time when school starts.”” – Ira Levin, Page 6
“She hung up and sat looking at the phone and her hand on it. The thought struck her – ridiculously – that Bobbie had changed the way Charmaine had. No, not Bobbie; impossible. She must have had a fight with Dave, a major one that she wasn’t ready to talk about yet. Or could she herself have offended Bobbie in some way without being aware of it?” – Ira Levin, Page 80
“”No,” she said, shaking her head. “No. Whatever it is takes four months to work, which means I’ve got one more month to go. Maybe less; we moved here September fourth.”” – Ira Levin, Page 84
Is This An Overview?
Joanna and family moved to Stepford. A place of welcoming people. Joanna is part of the Women’s Liberation movement, and is bothered by the fact that there is a Men’s Association, but no Women’s Association. Joanna’s husband joins the Men’s Association in part to connect with the neighbors, but also to try to turn the association into Everybody’s Association. As Joanna becomes familiarized with the neighborhood, strange interactions occur. The women seem to be willing to do housework, and not much else. Joanna meets others who arrived in Stepford shortly before Joanna, who are also interested in women’s empowerment.
But for some reason, even independent minded and empowered
women become compliant and submissive housewives eager to please their family
and nothing else. This change happens
about four months after moving to Stepford.
Leading to questions about what can turn women’s personality in such a
drastic way. Maybe it is chemicals in
the soil or water. Maybe the wives are
turned to robots. Maybe it is just women
changing their minds. Maybe it is Joanna
losing a grip on reality. Based on what
Joanna thinks, Joanna does not have long to figure out what is happening in
Stepford until Joanna might change into someone Joanna does not want to be.
Caveats?
A short and easy to read book. There is a long buildup of information until
the suspense is actualized. The
importance of some information would be more readily recognized by those who
know the era’s history of women’s empowerment movements and leaders.
