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A review by mariahistryingtoread
Cherish Farrah by Bethany C. Morrow
1.0
I had a long, probably rambling review all planned out - I took detailed notes and everything - but then I thought better of it. This book isn't worth the deep introspection I'd normally engage in.
If you take anything from this review it is this:
If you know what the is about, whether you've actually read it or not, then you know the entirety of this story already.
That in and of itself wouldn't be enough to completely discount its merits. I love retellings and that largely means I know the most important bits to the story going in. I still have a good time as long as the story is executed well.
It absolutely does not work here because it's a thriller which hinges on you not knowing what is going on. I'm not saying a retelling can't be thrilling in its own right. Part of the appeal in a retelling is how the author uses familiar story elements to craft a unique interpretation. What I am saying is that Morrow ruins the entire book by having Cherish's mother literally gift Farrah the key to the twist - - a quarter of the way in.
If you are the least bit aware of or Google it because it's such a pointed clue then you've effectively spoiled the whole concept.
There is nothing past this juncture worth reading for in spite of this revelation. The book has nothing going for it other than desire to see the conclusion of the mystery. With that removed right out the gate I was bored to tears.
Farrah is not nearly as clever as she thinks she is which despite being her fatal flaw makes over half the book remarkably tedious as Morrow's way of proving it is to simply have Farrah reiterate how conniving and cunning and manipulative she is. If she really were all that bad I doubt she'd be wasting so much time discussing it she'd simply be bad.
The supporting characters are insignificant which not only runs in direct opposition to what the synopsis suggests, but also hurts the story tremendously when you consider how much more impactful the story could have been if Morrow had not insisted on making reveal so pivotal. The book would have been a lot better if that had been intentionally revealed early on leaving the rest of the book for further exploration of its themes.
Speaking of themes, the messaging in this book was ridiculously heavy handed. One of the reviews likens it to Get Out, but the subtle intelligence of Get Out was completely lost. It's overt to the point of silliness instead.
At one point a white character outright states Black people need to suffer as that's what makes them resilient as a race - their capacity to make do with little and roll with the punches. Farrah doesn't call this out as the clearly racist pseudoscientific hogwash disguised as admiration it is. She agrees with her. She was upset at the betrayal surrounding the conversation, not at all at the reasoning.
And before you ask, no, it is not presented as if Farrah's internalized racism is jumping out. While the white character is meant to sound ridiculous, Farrah, even as disconnected from mental stability as she is at the time, is meant to be our 'hero' in that moment meaning her logic is sound. It's not total approval from Farrah, to be fair to her, but the whole argument verges way too close to romanticizing pain; Morrow lowkey promotes the pervasive misconception that struggle is required to succeed.
Contrary to popular belief, America has never been a meritocracy particularly not for Black people. I am not discounting the strength it took us to overcome our hardships. I am indebted to those that came before me for what they endured so I can do something as simple as use any water fountain I want out in public. Still, it is harmful for all of us to act like we are strong specifically and only because of that.
For one thing, there is so much more to us as a community than our 'strength' as defined solely by the ability to take it on the chin perpetually. For another, the unshakeable force that is white supremacy is proof enough that the unique obstacles we've faced has not been equal to the cushy lifestyles white people - note I talking about white people on a systemic level as there absolutely are poor, disadvantaged white people as well - have afforded. If you look at it from that perspective it's easy to see it's not advantageous to suffer. It's simply what we've been fed to keep us from questioning the 'natural' order. Our absorption of this rhetoric has been so complete we now view it as a racial badge of honor when the real honor would be to get to a point where no Black person has to claw their way to the top any longer.
Farrah somewhat understands this as her whole character is about ingratiating herself to the Whitman family to secure a solid position in life going forward. I think the reason it falls apart is that since this is a subconscious thought on Morrow's part rather than a conscious reflection on the character it goes unchallenged because Morrow doesn't see what the issue is in the first place. I don't usually subscribe to the idea that a character's opinions reflect the authors' opinions, but in this instance I do believe that that's the case.
I hated the ending. It was intended to be a horrifying culmination of all of Farrah's darker impulses; instead it was the literary equivalent to a Lifetime movie ending.
The codependency was not played up enough between Farrah and Cherish for me to believe she could manipulate Cherish to do what she does Especially given the reservations Cherish already had about Farrah over the course of the novel. And especially given who the person involved is to Cherish. Cherish is definitely reliant on Farrah, but it was absolutely not to a level that I feel she'd choose her over this other person.
The poorly developed characters hurt Cherish the most as, despite the unreliability to Farrah's narration, Cherish really does end up being no more than what Farrah thinks of her. Not only does this go against the whole central theme to the story, i.e. that Farrah's inability to see outside her own biases will be her downfall, it also is a disservice to the quality as it was far better when it was unclear how culpable Cherish was in the series of events.
The narrative's insistence this 'dark, despicable' act would truly cement the relationship was ridiculous. As we've seen in real life people with money and contacts like the Whitmans can get their children out of far worse scrapes easily. Farrah did not make herself any more essential in the slightest. It’d be super simple to set her up as the fall guy, get therapy for Cherish and move the heck on as she rots in prison.
I know I said I wouldn't do a long, rambling review and this looks like the opposite but I promise you this is only scraping the surface. I could have gone way harder if I wanted to. Seriously, pass on this one. I regret rushing to finish it before my check-out expired. I wish I’d simply let it expire blissfully unaware of what I was missing.
If you take anything from this review it is this:
If you know what the
Spoiler
Whipping BoyThat in and of itself wouldn't be enough to completely discount its merits. I love retellings and that largely means I know the most important bits to the story going in. I still have a good time as long as the story is executed well.
It absolutely does not work here because it's a thriller which hinges on you not knowing what is going on. I'm not saying a retelling can't be thrilling in its own right. Part of the appeal in a retelling is how the author uses familiar story elements to craft a unique interpretation. What I am saying is that Morrow ruins the entire book by having Cherish's mother literally gift Farrah the key to the twist -
Spoiler
a physical copy of the Whipping BoyIf you are the least bit aware of
Spoiler
the Whipping BoyThere is nothing past this juncture worth reading for in spite of this revelation. The book has nothing going for it other than desire to see the conclusion of the mystery. With that removed right out the gate I was bored to tears.
Farrah is not nearly as clever as she thinks she is which despite being her fatal flaw makes over half the book remarkably tedious as Morrow's way of proving it is to simply have Farrah reiterate how conniving and cunning and manipulative she is. If she really were all that bad I doubt she'd be wasting so much time discussing it she'd simply be bad.
The supporting characters are insignificant which not only runs in direct opposition to what the synopsis suggests, but also hurts the story tremendously when you consider how much more impactful the story could have been if Morrow had not insisted on making
Spoiler
the Whipping BoySpeaking of themes, the messaging in this book was ridiculously heavy handed. One of the reviews likens it to Get Out, but the subtle intelligence of Get Out was completely lost. It's overt to the point of silliness instead.
At one point a white character outright states Black people need to suffer as that's what makes them resilient as a race - their capacity to make do with little and roll with the punches. Farrah doesn't call this out as the clearly racist pseudoscientific hogwash disguised as admiration it is. She agrees with her. She was upset at the betrayal surrounding the conversation, not at all at the reasoning.
And before you ask, no, it is not presented as if Farrah's internalized racism is jumping out. While the white character is meant to sound ridiculous, Farrah, even as disconnected from mental stability as she is at the time, is meant to be our 'hero' in that moment meaning her logic is sound. It's not total approval from Farrah, to be fair to her, but the whole argument verges way too close to romanticizing pain; Morrow lowkey promotes the pervasive misconception that struggle is required to succeed.
Contrary to popular belief, America has never been a meritocracy particularly not for Black people. I am not discounting the strength it took us to overcome our hardships. I am indebted to those that came before me for what they endured so I can do something as simple as use any water fountain I want out in public. Still, it is harmful for all of us to act like we are strong specifically and only because of that.
For one thing, there is so much more to us as a community than our 'strength' as defined solely by the ability to take it on the chin perpetually. For another, the unshakeable force that is white supremacy is proof enough that the unique obstacles we've faced has not been equal to the cushy lifestyles white people - note I talking about white people on a systemic level as there absolutely are poor, disadvantaged white people as well - have afforded. If you look at it from that perspective it's easy to see it's not advantageous to suffer. It's simply what we've been fed to keep us from questioning the 'natural' order. Our absorption of this rhetoric has been so complete we now view it as a racial badge of honor when the real honor would be to get to a point where no Black person has to claw their way to the top any longer.
Farrah somewhat understands this as her whole character is about ingratiating herself to the Whitman family to secure a solid position in life going forward. I think the reason it falls apart is that since this is a subconscious thought on Morrow's part rather than a conscious reflection on the character it goes unchallenged because Morrow doesn't see what the issue is in the first place. I don't usually subscribe to the idea that a character's opinions reflect the authors' opinions, but in this instance I do believe that that's the case.
I hated the ending. It was intended to be a horrifying culmination of all of Farrah's darker impulses; instead it was the literary equivalent to a Lifetime movie ending.
The codependency was not played up enough between Farrah and Cherish for me to believe she could manipulate Cherish to do what she does
Spoiler
She has Cherish help her drown Cherish’s mother in a pool as a sign of devotion.The poorly developed characters hurt Cherish the most as, despite the unreliability to Farrah's narration, Cherish really does end up being no more than what Farrah thinks of her. Not only does this go against the whole central theme to the story, i.e. that Farrah's inability to see outside her own biases will be her downfall, it also is a disservice to the quality as it was far better when it was unclear how culpable Cherish was in the series of events.
The narrative's insistence this 'dark, despicable' act would truly cement the relationship was ridiculous. As we've seen in real life people with money and contacts like the Whitmans can get their children out of far worse scrapes easily. Farrah did not make herself any more essential in the slightest. It’d be super simple to set her up as the fall guy, get therapy for Cherish and move the heck on as she rots in prison.
I know I said I wouldn't do a long, rambling review and this looks like the opposite but I promise you this is only scraping the surface. I could have gone way harder if I wanted to. Seriously, pass on this one. I regret rushing to finish it before my check-out expired. I wish I’d simply let it expire blissfully unaware of what I was missing.