The Farm: 4 Stars

Joanne Ramos's novel, The Farm exemplifies the vast differences between privilege and poverty. The ability to choose, and desperation. The power of family, motherhood, career, and more are explained in the eye-opening experiences told in The Farm. Below I will give a brief summary of the novel followed by my personal recommendation.

Summary

The Farm by Joanne Ramos follows the story of numerous women who made the choice to become surrogate mothers and spend the nine months of their pregnancy in a retreat located in the Hudson Valley called the farm.

The Farm provides surrogates with luxury room and board, fitness trainers, daily massages, and organic meals. The catch? Your body is not your own. You belong to the Farm and the client. The Farm receives its profits from wealthy clients and investors. So, anything the client wants, they get. If that means surrogates have to cut themselves off from their family for nine months, so be it.

The women on The Farm are primarily there for the money. In addition to a weekly stipend, The Farm and the clients provide surrogates with large bonuses after delivery. However, the financial situations are vastly different.

For example, Regan, a white woman from a wealthy family has only decided to become a surrogate to receive enough financial help so she can cut herself off from her overbearing father.

Jane, on the other hand, is a poor Filipino woman who has been dealt a rough hand in life. Despite her best efforts, Jane somehow manages to get herself into difficult situations. Unlike Regan, Jane needs to be a surrogate in order to make money for her family. Especially her young daughter who she wants to provide with a better life.

During her time at The Farm, Jane keeps her head down, is agreeable to the other "hosts," and follows the rules, even when it means sacrificing her privileges, her happiness, and her family.

We read as Jane discovers again and again how the world can be cruel and unfair to women of her race, class, and profession. Will Jane finally stand up for herself? Will the people around her see her value? Most importantly, will Jane be able to accomplish her main goal? Creating a better life for her daughter.

My thoughts

The Farm, by Joanne Ramos while labeled as fiction, has the voice of truth throughout the novel. Especially Jane. Whether it was nannying, working in a nursing home, or becoming a surrogate, Jane did whatever she could to survive. She was constantly in a position where she had no other choice.

She had no choice but to leave her child at home with her cousin. She had no choice but to accept a high-paying nanny job. She had no choice but to be a surrogate and go without seeing her daughter for months. This novel did an excellent job of exemplifying privilege and poverty and the choices or lack thereof, that come along with each.

One of the glaring examples I found in the novel was when Jane was told several times about her visits with her daughter being canceled. I pictured myself in the situation and couldn't imagine not asking more questions as to why couldn't she visit? When would she be able to visit? I would dig and dig until I got an answer that satisfied me. However, that is an example of privilege. Jane, simply accepted the result because that is what the world and her cousin taught her. Something that seems simple to me, is not to her.

I'd recommend giving The Farm by Joanne Ramos a read. For more reviews, click on my profile below.

Thank you!

Leah Lawrence