tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618321368988528322.post7199316352434733071..comments2024-03-27T09:28:28.880+00:00Comments on Narrative Drive: The Stepford Wives by Ira LevinAndrew Cartmelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13006683245337354886noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618321368988528322.post-79166336315585922872019-01-27T18:10:01.260+00:002019-01-27T18:10:01.260+00:00James Mendur, the pleasure of reading Stepford Wiv...James Mendur, the pleasure of reading Stepford Wives is not diminished by knowing the denouncement; think of Hitchcock showing us the bomb under the table.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00917098103716544210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618321368988528322.post-43640858476006285602019-01-27T13:39:18.579+00:002019-01-27T13:39:18.579+00:00I need to watch the original movie again myself. O...I need to watch the original movie again myself. Of course, I sympathise with your huge pile of to-be-read books — we've all been there! But this novel, or rather novella, is very short and a very easy read. You could devour it in an evening. And it's so beautifully written and subtle and clever that it's worth savouring even if you know the plot very well...Andrew Cartmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13006683245337354886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3618321368988528322.post-76738784917143827502019-01-20T17:41:37.176+00:002019-01-20T17:41:37.176+00:00Having seen both movie versions of this book (not ...Having seen both movie versions of this book (not to mention other, similar takes on this theme), I've been well and truly spoiled for the novel. It's the loss of agency and loss of individual identity which are the most frightening aspects for me. That's one reason I've always had a bit of fear of any organization which tries to inculcate groupthink (the military, the police, fraternities, religions, my current employer, etc.). They're all so EARNEST in their beliefs, and The Stepford Wives' earnestness, while jarring, is so similar to that "normal" kind of groupthink that it takes too long for Joanna to catch on to what's really going on.<br /> <br />If I hadn't seen the movies, this would easily be on my list to read, but my TBR pile is too large as it is, so I'll have to settle for the movies.James Mendurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01826225269754674252noreply@blogger.com