Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

431 reviews

mccutiereads's review

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 against another edition

emotional medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

liaminator18's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, and Bullying

"Björnstad" (Beartown) by Fredrik Backman is a gripping and emotionally charged story that revolves around a small town's junior ice hockey team and the life-changing events that unfold around it. Set in a close-knit community, the book explores the intense pressures of sports, the complexities of human relationships, and the moral dilemmas faced by its residents. The audiobook is brilliantly narrated by Marin Ireland, who captures the depth and nuances of each character, making the story even more compelling. With its medium pace, "Björnstad" offers a mix of plot and character-driven elements, ensuring that listeners remain engaged from start to finish. The character development is strong, and despite their flaws, the characters are deeply loveable and relatable. This audiobook is perfect for those looking for a story that is adventurous, challenging, dark, emotional, inspiring, mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.

angielina's review against another edition

dark hopeful tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Bullying, and Racism

emi_momo's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Rape, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use, Child death, Bullying, Sexism, Gun violence, and Cancer

Minor: Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

jennireadsmaybe's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense 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

Fredrik Backman is immensely talented. Everything about his writing style is consumable, but it's also haunting. I don't know if there's another author I've read from that would have been able to write something like Beartown. 

Beartown is traumatizing. Backman doesn't pull his punches. You know something horrible is going to happen. There were times when I was reading that I would step away to do things and I would be sick to my stomach. It's brutal. 

Not only is Backman a talented writer, he is phenomenal at character work and setting. All of the characters read like someone that could live down the street. I was in the run down, small, forest town the whole time. I wouldn't go so far as to recommend this to anyone unless they are looking for a horrific experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death, Child abuse, and Alcoholism

bookswithisabel's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, Child death, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism

inksuinka's review against another edition

Came here after loving anxious people, and found it too gloomy for me at this point. Maybe later.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

pigeon_'s review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

whatisemilyreading811's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Bullying, and Child death

Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts