AUDIO BOOK: The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Publication Date: May 7, 2019 Format: Audio Genre:  Fiction  Narrators: Fran DeLeon

Publisher: Random House Audio Length:  13 hours 53 min Buy: Kindle | Audio

Synopsis

Nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, personal fitness trainers, daily massages—and all of it for free. In fact, you’re paid big money to stay here—more than you’ve ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds, your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby. For someone else.

Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is in desperate search of a better future when she commits to being a “Host” at Golden Oaks—or the Farm, as residents call it. But now pregnant, fragile, consumed with worry for her family, Jane is determined to reconnect with her life outside. Yet she cannot leave the Farm or she will lose the life-changing fee she’ll receive on the delivery of her child.

Review: 

This was a fascinating read. In this age of outsourcing everything, the inconvenience of pregnancy and child rearing falls mostly to immigrant women who have limited options. This is about privilege, exploitation, and what you lose out on by not having a hand in child rearing- it also poses the question of - is money really what’s important? - I loved that this was written by a filipino author who grew up seeing so many people she knew be Nannie’s, house cleaners etc - it’s a fascinating read into our priorities. 

I also found it interesting in what we will accept.  These women who were house keepers, surrogates etc. thought they were doing something great because they were making good money but they didn't see how they were being used by these rich white women, who didn't really care about them at all. 

Click on the 3 lines at the top of the blog to view my sidebar where you can follow me on facebook, bloglovin, and amazon