‘Trad Wife’ by Saratoga Scaefer explores themes of social media trends, sexism
“Trad Wife” by Saratoga Schaefer (“Serial Killer Support Group”) is basically if you introduced Rosemary from “Rosemary’s Baby” to the “#tradwife” trend. If horror fans are looking for a fresh take on a recognizable, horrific tale, “Trad Wife” is perfect to put on the bookshelf.
The book stars Camille Deming, a caring stay-at-home wife to Graham, who’s more into the idea of fulfilling the role of a husband rather than acting it. Camille, desperate to repair her spindling marriage with Graham, prays for a baby. In her heart of hearts, she believes that introducing a new life into her lifeless home will be her saving grace. The answer to all her problems. However when a demonic creature, that she’s convinced is actually an angel, grants her wish she soon realizes that this baby may do more harm than good.
What Schaefer does well is explore the complexity of religious oppression and sexual suppression through a modern lens. The idea of telling the story of a woman in a toxic, unfulfilling marriage through her devotion to being a “tradwife” influencer on social media is both unique and familiar. The author is able to make a statement on a (sadly) modern mistreatment of women while also creating commentary on how social media impacts our culture.
What is interesting is the pushback that Camille experiences with herself. Her inner voice is constantly yelling at her for going against her better judgement, for not listening to the logical part of herself, but she’s so addicted to the gratification of a traditional lifestyle. So much so that she’s digging herself a deeper and deeper hole with every turn of the page. She experiences a reversal of sorts, as she comes from a scientific background prior to the events of the book. It’s common for people in real life to experience religious deconstruction, and these experiences can originate from many things, as different people live different lives. In Camille’s case, she deconstructs her previous life as a scientist in order to commit to the role of a “traditional” wife. Seeing a familiar concept, but done backwardly, made for both a frustrating and fascinating read.
Something that Schaefer could have done differently was their use of side characters. The book only has three important characters that have real arguable relevancy to the plot, two of those three being our main couple. The third character, the one with missed potential, is Renee Colt.
Renee is a complicated character, but her complexity is thrown at you towards the end of the book. Being Camilla’s closest neighbor, she’s introduced to us early on in the story. Yet her character remains unchanged throughout the novel. The only small hints of her background that are given to us become present right as Schaefer takes her out of the narrative, leaving her dissatisfied as a character. Horror does not always have to have a good or happy ending for their stories and characters. A recent movie in which a worse ending works well is the movie “Obsession.”
However, one dimensional side characters are dissatisfying in any genre. While Camille’s story is technically on-going, her narrative’s completion was satisfactory. Renee’s story ended, but her narrative still felt incomplete.
