Rating: 
Summary: A Classic...
Review: Joanna and her husband Walter and kids leave the hard-hearted city for the pastoral town of Stepford, where everything is just a bit too perfect. Soon enough, Joanna notices that many of her female neighbors-well, they're ditz-city as far as brains go. And they're always perfectly put together. Beautiful and always well dressed with perfect make-up, clothes, etc...These women also seem to live only to do housework while their husbands gather nightly at a mysterious men's club. As time goes by, it seems more and more women are turning into these robot-like super homemakers. Joanna begins to suspect that she's next. Truly suspenseful reading and lots of fun. Ira Levin is a writer who keeps you turning pages. In the 1960s and 1970s he wrote such classic horror novels as Rosemary's Baby and The Boys from Brazil. This is another classic. It's a fast read and a quick story but it's thought-provoking to be sure. I saw the remake and don't know what the author thinks of it. It's a very different tone from the original movie, but it has it's own merits. In any event, this is the classic novel on which both movies were based and well worth checking out!
Rating: 
Summary: Stepford's little secret . . . and it's not about their pies
Review: Joanna and Walter Eberhart moved to Stepford to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Joanna finds Stepford perfect, filled with successful husbands and beautiful wives. The only problem the Eberharts, supporters of the Women's Liberation Movement, have with Stepford is the Men's Association. Walter decides to join in hopes he can change it from the inside.
As she tries to get to know the neighbors, Joanna realizes that the women are all beauty and no brain. The only somewhat normal women she can find are Bobbie Markowe, whose last priority is housework, and Charmine Wimper, an avid tennis player. The three become good friends and spend most of their days together until Charmine changes. After a weekend alone with her husband, Charmine suddenly decides to give up all her hobbies and do all the housework. A month later, Bobbie has changed just like Charmine. Both had become Stepford wives. Joanna realizes that Stepford hides a deadly secret and can only hope to unravel it before she too becomes a Stepford wife.
One of the best things about this novella is the way it is written. Levin alters between paragraphs of dialogue and short sentences illustrating the passing time. The overall effect makes one feel as though they are waiting for a ticking time bomb to go off. Levin's most brilliant move in the way he wrote this novella is that he kept it simple while passing on a much more complex idea. The reader isn't bogged down with useless descriptions of unimportant events. Paragraphs are only given to what is important to the overall effect of the story. This provides an effortless read while leaving the reader with many questions.
The Stepford Wives is often mistaken as a satire of housewives. In reality, the novella satires its oppressors and their desires. The men are portrayed as clueless boys when they are required to be around real women. As they get closer to making a new Stepford wife, the men become cocky and carelessly make preparations in front of the woman they plan to change. These men find real women dull and only want their creations as concubines and maid.
The Stepford Wives is an excellent read that can be devoured in one sitting. Levin does a magnificent job having Joanna piece together Stepford's secret while keeping his writing fast, simple, and witty. All of the novella fits together perfectly and wastes no time getting exactly where it wants to be. This brilliant novella is worth the time it takes to sit and read it.
Rating:
Summary: The wives of Stepford have a secret.
Review: Joanna Eberhart, her husband, and their two children have just moved to Stepford, Conneticut. Everything in Stepford is perfect. The women are beautiful, there isn't any crime, and nobody ever gets divorced. This is the perfect town. But even perfect towns can have perfect secrets. Joanna notices that all the women are a little too perky and creepy. Then when Joanna discovers the truth about the Stepford wives, she realizes that it may be too late before she becomes one of them. I loved this book a lot, but it had a little problems. The main problem was that parts of the book had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. It seemed like the author forgot what she was writing about. And some parts were boring that I had to drag myself through. But the ending was the best part. The ending is so creepy and thrilling, while the beginning and middle were just calm. I recommend reading this book, and I also recommend seeing the movie this book is based on.
Rating: 
Summary: I still need to watch the upcoming movie.
Review: No doubt the plot is chilling. But the book is kinda thin though. I enjoyed reading it throughout.. but the ending rather confusing for me. I've re-read it twice and I even read the afterword. Definitely there's a mystery lays behind it. After all, this is my very first novel by Ira Levin. Can't wait to watch the movie version so I could get a clear ending.
Rating:
Summary: THE WIFE MANY MEN SECRETLY DESIRE...
Review: This is a thought provoking, tautly written novella. A gem of suspense, it was first published in the early nineteen seventies and went on to become a popular movie of the same name, starring Katherine Ross. There is now a remake of the film version, starring Nicole Kidman in the lead role with Bette Midler in a supporting role and Christopher Walken as head of the sinister Men's Association described in the book. So, interest is now renewed in this very readable book, which, despite its simplicity and brevity, is a thinly disguised social commentary on the reaction of men to the early women's liberation movement. The story is very simple but gripping and well written in clear, straightforward prose. Joanna Eberhart moves to the seemingly bucolic town of Stepford with her husband, Walter, and two children, leaving behind the dangers of big city living. An independent, assertive, intelligent, and creative woman, Joanna epitomizes the newly liberated women of the nineteen seventies. Looking for like souls with whom to become friends, she seeks out some of the other married women of the town, only to find that they are all uniformly addicted to housework, give their husbands complete obeisance, are made up to the gills, and have figures courtesy of maidenform. Joanna manages to find several like-minded women such as her. Yet, when they, too, become addicted to housework after having a romantic weekend alone with their respective husbands, Joanna becomes convinced that the town's Men's Association has hatched a nefarious plot to change all the wives of Stepford into submissive Barbie dolls. Will Joanna manage to escape the fate of the rest of the Stepford wives? Read the book and find out. You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Desperate Housewives
Review: This was a great book - I read it in a few days it was so captivating. You can't wait to see what happens next! I haven't seen the movie(s) yet, but would like to see them. Desperate Housewives meet Mr. Clean and the outcome is out of this world!
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