ash_mac's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Writing about government/corporate control of pregnancy in the shadow of Atwood is a brave act, but Ramos has a unique angle on this story, almost backgrounding the dystopic element (not in plot but in theme) in order to paint other characters in social relief. While her protagonist Jane is Filipino, most of those around her come largely from backgrounds of extraordinary wealth and privilege: navigating these petty and powerful structures is a delicate and sometimes mysterious matter, where any in a service industry find success at whim rather than merely hard or competent work. Troublesome, then, is a Jane who desires a future for her daughter, but who is not altogether competent in her judgment.
The action of the story is fair enough, with plenty of expected scenes from holding a large number of pregnant women in captivity (hardly a spoiler for being on the dust jacket!); and each of the primary characters is drawn to serve a social-political function rather than one of real nuance: the rebellious and narcissistic one, the privileged and compassionate one, etc. These are weaknesses in the crafting of the novel, but they aren't deal-breaking.
More difficult for me was a resolution that did not address these functions adequately, at least in that the groundwork laid (again, that background dystopia) is not s0 fully addressed that the resolution is satisfying.
Yes, capitalism is a powerful force--so much so, that every character bows before it, from beginning to end. The semi-competent Jane doesn't stand a prayer; but neither do her antagonists, in the end. I can't help thinking that the horror of the novel is that very little effort is spent actually reflecting on its implications here. Morality is found only in legalese and enterprising policy-making.
In short, there is something in this novel to enrage just about everyone outside of its story--from characters as ironically blind at its end as they were at its start to the finger Ramos points at each of its readers for their part in a future we are all working so hard to reach.
The action of the story is fair enough, with plenty of expected scenes from holding a large number of pregnant women in captivity (hardly a spoiler for being on the dust jacket!); and each of the primary characters is drawn to serve a social-political function rather than one of real nuance: the rebellious and narcissistic one, the privileged and compassionate one, etc. These are weaknesses in the crafting of the novel, but they aren't deal-breaking.
More difficult for me was a resolution that did not address these functions adequately, at least in that the groundwork laid (again, that background dystopia) is not s0 fully addressed that the resolution is satisfying.
Spoiler
(Horrifying? Fulfilling? What are we to make of a grand vision of enterprise against women growing still, but at its heart two characters who find a positive future only because one was motivated by shame and guilt? And both admonish us to change our attitudes?)Yes, capitalism is a powerful force--so much so, that every character bows before it, from beginning to end. The semi-competent Jane doesn't stand a prayer; but neither do her antagonists, in the end.
Spoiler
And while a good number of pages are spent rationalizing a "happy" domestic ending for some of them,In short, there is something in this novel to enrage just about everyone outside of its story--from characters as ironically blind at its end as they were at its start to the finger Ramos points at each of its readers for their part in a future we are all working so hard to reach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical content
fbzcab's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Confinement, Gaslighting, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, Dementia, and Cancer
badvision's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Gaslighting, Infertility, Medical content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
dizzymissliz's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reminded me of the handmaid's tale. in this day and age the objectification of reproduction is something that i felt was touched on, along with an analyzation of race and class division. the ending was deepy unhappy tho.
Spoiler
even though jane ended up having a good job and taking care of amalia, she was still tethered to mae and poor despite being told she would get life-changing money for carrying the baby. it really pissed me off that she got robbed of that just because she wanted to see her daughter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
cestnicka's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book had a really interesting concept, I loved how it got into the economical disparities between cultures, the divide between the rich and poor and how it affects the way we live, and also the slightly dystopian but also slightly true world that is paid surrogacy.
I also enjoyed the internal struggles the author conveyed within each character and it really is thought provoking and makes you question and think. I also liked that she showed everyone has two sides to them and that there is also more than one way to look at things and how that can get misconstrued sometimes.
It had a lot of potential and could have been a really amazing read, however despite all these great things, I just didn’t love it for a few reasons…
There were too many characters that I felt didn’t add anything to the story and wished they would have focused a bit more on the main character and her struggles.
I also found the book to be too long because of what I said above. The story lacked a focal point. I struggled because it didn’t feel like there was a strong plot. So I kept waiting for something to happen and it took too long for what would be “the plot” to really get going.
I also felt like the ending was pretty weak. I just think it needed a lot more depth. I wish she would have narrowed down the topic a bit more and really focused in on what the good parts of the story were.
It was an ok book but I needed more depth in less pages.
I also enjoyed the internal struggles the author conveyed within each character and it really is thought provoking and makes you question and think. I also liked that she showed everyone has two sides to them and that there is also more than one way to look at things and how that can get misconstrued sometimes.
It had a lot of potential and could have been a really amazing read, however despite all these great things, I just didn’t love it for a few reasons…
There were too many characters that I felt didn’t add anything to the story and wished they would have focused a bit more on the main character and her struggles.
I also found the book to be too long because of what I said above. The story lacked a focal point. I struggled because it didn’t feel like there was a strong plot. So I kept waiting for something to happen and it took too long for what would be “the plot” to really get going.
I also felt like the ending was pretty weak. I just think it needed a lot more depth. I wish she would have narrowed down the topic a bit more and really focused in on what the good parts of the story were.
It was an ok book but I needed more depth in less pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion
danidellandrea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Miscarriage, Classism, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
kelly_e's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Title: The Farm
Author: Joanne Ramos
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.5
Pub Date: May 7, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Provocative • Underwhelming • Measured
📖 S Y N O P S I S
"The Farm" is a high end facility offering amazing amenities and top notch care to women they've recruited to be surrogates for wealthy wannabe parents. The "hosts" offer their bodies in return for a big payout when they deliver the babies, a payout that promises to change their lives. Meet June, a single mother from the Philippines, who strongly encourage by her Aunt, decides to apply to be a 'host' in order to offer her daughter a better future in America.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The premise for The Farm, Joanne Ramos' debut novel, sounded so intriguing I couldn't stop myself from picking up a copy. The concept was amazing, and the themes of motherhood, capitalism, immigration and reproductive right were thought-provoking, however, the execution was unsatisfying. This supposed dystopian world seemed way too plausible, and although the characters felt real, I took very little interest in any of the perspectives.
What really irked me was that the whole way through there was this underlying sense building of something awful happening at the farm, but that turned out to be nothing and I was left feeling very underwhelmed. The one thing this book did do well was raise lively discussion around a variety of topics.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"She always said that worst thing you can do to a child is raise it with too much softness, because the world is hard. But Jane is not sure. There are people who move through the world like they own it, and the world seems to bend to their demands."
Author: Joanne Ramos
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 2.5
Pub Date: May 7, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Provocative • Underwhelming • Measured
📖 S Y N O P S I S
"The Farm" is a high end facility offering amazing amenities and top notch care to women they've recruited to be surrogates for wealthy wannabe parents. The "hosts" offer their bodies in return for a big payout when they deliver the babies, a payout that promises to change their lives. Meet June, a single mother from the Philippines, who strongly encourage by her Aunt, decides to apply to be a 'host' in order to offer her daughter a better future in America.
💭 T H O U G H T S
The premise for The Farm, Joanne Ramos' debut novel, sounded so intriguing I couldn't stop myself from picking up a copy. The concept was amazing, and the themes of motherhood, capitalism, immigration and reproductive right were thought-provoking, however, the execution was unsatisfying. This supposed dystopian world seemed way too plausible, and although the characters felt real, I took very little interest in any of the perspectives.
What really irked me was that the whole way through there was this underlying sense building of something awful happening at the farm, but that turned out to be nothing and I was left feeling very underwhelmed. The one thing this book did do well was raise lively discussion around a variety of topics.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"She always said that worst thing you can do to a child is raise it with too much softness, because the world is hard. But Jane is not sure. There are people who move through the world like they own it, and the world seems to bend to their demands."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Child death
vivboyd98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Miscarriage
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
zombiezami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a fascinating book that I could hardly put down. The descriptive writing, themes, and characters were wonderful. The premise and execution reminded me a lot of The Stepford Wives. The author didn't quite stick the landing at the end, though, in my opinion. It's not just that
Spoiler
it wasn't a happy ending. The ending just felt a little anti-climactic. Maybe that was the point, but in the realm of sci fi, I feel like the author could have pushed the envelope a little more.I also feel that the time skips made the book feel rushed at times, rather than helping the narrative. Even, so, I was legitimately stunned when we found out that Regan met an actor and not the real client. That was truly sinister.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Gaslighting, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Cancer, Racism, Xenophobia, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Blood, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Excrement, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
Eugenics, Colorism