A review by clairebartholomew549
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
4.0
This is a really interesting book that doesn't really go where you think it will, which I enjoyed. I saw a lot of reviews where people thought this book was a thriller and then were disappointed when it didn't really fit that category, and perhaps seeing those before reading The Farm helped my enjoyment because I didn't expect it to twist and turn. There are some mysteries that unfold throughout the book for sure, but there's nothing incredibly nefarious or shocking, which I think is the point. There are already existing surrogacy agencies, and Ramos merely takes that existing commodification of women's bodies, especially that of BIPOC and socioeconomically disadvantaged women, and brings it to its logical conclusion of a capitalist's wet dream. Such a farm could easily exist - maybe it already does - for the ultra-rich and ultra-elite, who run in shadowy circles that are hard to access. The book delves into issues of class and race, and although gender is not as heavily hit on in the book, it is always lurking in the background, highlighted by the fact that all the characters we meet are women, and Leon runs the whole show as a rarely seen CEO. At times Ramos' observations about the worlds we live in based on our class felt a little heavy handed, but ultimately I thought it was a really interesting exploration of what it might take to advance oneself if not born into a life of wealth and stability, and how the wealthy continue to make money by profiting from the labor of the poor.
I appreciated how Ramos doesn't villainize anyone in the story, even those who seem more obviously villains, such as those who work at Golden Oaks. Ramos is clearly more interested in the choices people make with the information they have and the boxes they're put in, and although some of the characters aren't particularly sympathetic, she lets us into their heads to allow us to understand how they got where they did.
This feels like an especially prescient book as women's bodies become increasingly policed in the US and assisted reproductive technology continues to advance.
I appreciated how Ramos doesn't villainize anyone in the story, even those who seem more obviously villains, such as those who work at Golden Oaks. Ramos is clearly more interested in the choices people make with the information they have and the boxes they're put in, and although some of the characters aren't particularly sympathetic, she lets us into their heads to allow us to understand how they got where they did.
This feels like an especially prescient book as women's bodies become increasingly policed in the US and assisted reproductive technology continues to advance.