Docket Page 52 – The Farm by Joanne Ramos

CHARGE What was the author trying to say?) : “to explore questions of who we are, what we cherish, and how we see those who are different from ourselves.”

FACTS: Wealthy women don’t want to bother with the inconvenience of bearing their own children. A baby farm of Host mothers is created for the task. Preying on immigrant and lower-class women, Golden Oaks provides the perfect incubator for perfect babies. This book had so much potential but fell short of my expectations. Mired in identity politics, the plot line dragged on. The author made a point, but not much else. I had eagerly anticipated reading this book. I wish the author had explored more closely the motivations of all the parties involved. There was so much that went unexplored – leaving the surface barely scratched. The issue of surrogacy is very timely. So much could have been explored but the final product was very pedestrian.

VERDICT (Was the author successful?): Not guilty. Very disappointing.