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worldofbookcraft's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing, comprehensive, critical, and yet emotional re-telling of Pickton and his horrifying murders.
“When the police gave up, Pemberton and Hull continued to write about the dead prostitutes.
‘We we’re trying to show they were human. We found their families tried to paint pictures about these women. They were somebodies mum, somebodies daughters. But the cops we were dealing with were racist and sexist and they all had grade 12 educations.’
Larry Campbell was one of the few people with any authority who would help them. ‘I refuse to accept that anyone in our society is a throwaway.’”
-Chapter 6
UGHHHH
As someone who has grown up in Vancouver and has moved out to Maple Ridge and Mission and has frequented Vancouver and the downtown Eastside, I knew about Robert Pickton and the stories of these women to an extent. But I didn’t truly know the whole story. From the incompetence of the VPD to the touching stories of the women whose lives so often tragically revolve around addiction and mental illness and abuse and how these vulnerable people often end up in the Downtown Eastside and how scumbags like Robert Pickton prey upon them
I love the angle of humanizing these victims and saying their names and giving their families a voice and feeling the frustration and heartbreak that these families and friends have gone through from not being heard when they reported they’re missing loved ones to going through the trial process and how badly that was handled as well.
“When the police gave up, Pemberton and Hull continued to write about the dead prostitutes.
‘We we’re trying to show they were human. We found their families tried to paint pictures about these women. They were somebodies mum, somebodies daughters. But the cops we were dealing with were racist and sexist and they all had grade 12 educations.’
Larry Campbell was one of the few people with any authority who would help them. ‘I refuse to accept that anyone in our society is a throwaway.’”
-Chapter 6
UGHHHH
As someone who has grown up in Vancouver and has moved out to Maple Ridge and Mission and has frequented Vancouver and the downtown Eastside, I knew about Robert Pickton and the stories of these women to an extent. But I didn’t truly know the whole story. From the incompetence of the VPD to the touching stories of the women whose lives so often tragically revolve around addiction and mental illness and abuse and how these vulnerable people often end up in the Downtown Eastside and how scumbags like Robert Pickton prey upon them
I love the angle of humanizing these victims and saying their names and giving their families a voice and feeling the frustration and heartbreak that these families and friends have gone through from not being heard when they reported they’re missing loved ones to going through the trial process and how badly that was handled as well.
slightly_devious's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
chantelbrenna's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is a kind of old-school true crime read, but it’s obvious the author has a lot of empathy and care for the women she wrote about. There were a few places throughout where more editing could have been done, but overall it was a good book.
natmandres's review against another edition
5.0
Review of “On The Farm”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I just finished reading “On the Farm” by Stevie Cameron, and I am absolutely stunned by the depth and detail of this book. It’s not just a true crime story; it’s an eye-opening account of one of the most horrific series of murders in Canadian history and a scathing indictment of the systemic failures that allowed these atrocities to continue unchecked for so long.
From the very first page, Cameron’s meticulous research and compassionate storytelling drew me in. She doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of Robert Pickton’s crimes – the sheer horror of what happened to his victims is laid bare in a way that’s both respectful and unflinchingly honest. Each chapter reveals another layer of this chilling story, making it impossible to put the book down.
What hit me the hardest, though, was the appalling lack of police support and the societal indifference that let these horrors go on for so long. Cameron delves into the many missed opportunities and blatant disregard by the authorities, which could have saved countless lives. It’s infuriating to read about how these women were marginalized and ignored, their disappearances dismissed because of their lifestyles. Cameron doesn’t let us forget that these were real women, with families and dreams, who were let down by a system that was supposed to protect them.
“On the Farm” is more than just a recounting of events; it’s a powerful call to action. It’s a reminder of the importance of empathy and the dire need for systemic change. This book has left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it’s a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, social justice, or the fight against systemic failures.
Stevie Cameron has done an extraordinary job with this book. It’s a harrowing, important read that I won’t soon forget. Highly recommended.
Get it at…
📗 - Hard Copy -📗
📱 - Digital - 📱
🎧 - Audio - 🎧
jerkstore62782's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.5
Title: A Guilty Pleasure Seeker's Disappointment
I dove into "On the Farm" expecting a rollercoaster ride through the macabre and the sensational. Instead, I found myself trudging through a swamp of facts and timelines. It's not Stevie Cameron's fault; she's done her homework and presented a thorough account of the Pickton case. It's just that I, with my questionable taste for the morbidly fascinating, found it lacking the shock factor I guiltily craved.
What I Liked:
It's Informative: The book is a treasure trove of information, and you can't fault it for that. It gives a detailed account of what happened in that unfortunate time and place.
What I Didn't Like:
Feels Like a Factory Line: The narrative is as mechanized as a factory assembly line, churning out details with precision but no soul.
I'm probably a bad person for saying this, but I wanted more gore, more sensationalism. I wanted the kind of content that you hate to love.
And did I mention it's long? It's like being at an all-you-can-eat buffet but only getting to eat salad.
In hindsight, "On the Farm" is a well-crafted, informative piece that's perfect for someone with a stronger moral compass than mine. But if you're like me, looking for a guilty pleasure read that'll make you sleep with the lights on, this might not hit the mark.
canadiandarkfox's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Very well researched, some things repetitive or not important to the story. A mans family background who worked with picktons but isnt related to the victims or murders does not seem relevant to me.
The worst part is the narrators terribly stereotypical canadian accent. It was incredibly distracting and unnecessary. There are videos of his testimony and he does not speak like that. With as serious of subject matter its really disappointing that she decided to sit down and watch Bob and Doug MacKenzie to nail the canadian accent.
The worst part is the narrators terribly stereotypical canadian accent. It was incredibly distracting and unnecessary. There are videos of his testimony and he does not speak like that. With as serious of subject matter its really disappointing that she decided to sit down and watch Bob and Doug MacKenzie to nail the canadian accent.
melissalabelle's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great true crime story. I appreciate that the author dedicated much of the book to telling each victim’s story so thoroughly. The police force’s incompetency in this case is astounding.