Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

1357 reviews

redheadbookgirl's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’ve seen this ALL over bg for years and finally gave in to the hype (I *think* it was @chrisreads who I most recently saw love this!) I went in totally blind + let me just say.. this is NOT what I’d expected/imagined this book to be about! 

Haunting, thought provoking + raw, with a unique writing style, 𝘉𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘛𝘖𝘞𝘕 delves into some dark and sadly all too common themes, most heartbreakingly: the way women are treated in the aftermath of SA allegations. I’ll remain spoiler free but the story elicited a hell of a lot of intense sadness and *literal* fury from me. 

The story feels slower paced to begin, as a LOT of characters are introduced, BUT the way this was done really was so important for the plot. The narrative switches between character perspectives *constantly* (I think around 10-12 pov throughout the book)—— I listened to this on audio, but I can imagine in the book, the pov must change every few paragraphs, so it’s definitely a book that demands your full focus. So many narratives should be confusing but Backman wrote them so flawlessly. 

Despite a slower start, as the story developed, so too did my enjoyment for the book, and I did fall in love with the story of Beartown despite the town and its characters’ *many* flaws.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Gun violence

kmacgowa's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

mrsmishler's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Violence

thisbriannahope's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Rape

Moderate: Child abuse and Alcoholism

mccutiereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

My favorite Fredrik Backman book TO DATE. So different from everything else he’s written, but so beautiful and human. I hated and lived reading it. I hated and loved the characters. This was a painful reminder of the power of actions and choices in a community (big or small). So floored and will be thinking about this book everyday. Now officially grieving. TW for SA!!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Self harm, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

bondenj's review

emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Bullying, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

imzadi481's review

4.0

Fucking toxic hockey culture...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

taylorparrott99's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Rape, Gun violence, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Grief

jeeprn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The characters in this book really come to life in their descriptions. Backman does a phenomenal job of describing the characters and scenery in this book to a point where you feel like you’re not just reading but actually have a visual front row seat to the story. This book almost shadows the real life Brock Turner scenario.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, and Violence

Minor: Child death

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Abandonment, and Fatphobia