Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

357 reviews

shadykatee's review

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sad, beautiful, tragic all throughout. how did everything that happened manage to devastate me even as it would switch from one side to another. i feel bad for almost every single person in this town. i want better for them. 

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avasbookmark's review

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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mysfyt's review

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dark emotional funny 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

5.0


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e28rika's review against another edition

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

5.0


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bookishinnj's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

 “Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds.”

Beartown is a dying town with only one thing going for them, their hockey club and this year is going to be the year their junior ice hockey team puts them back on the map. It's just what the community needs, but this bright light soon has a dark shadow cast over it. The already struggling townsfolk will be come more divided than ever and the one thing that brings them together is about to tear them apart.

This is such a difficult book to review without giving too much away, there's really no middle ground. The first time I tried to read this I struggled and stopped but I know so many who loved it that I knew I had to give it another try and I'm so happy I did. The story tackles some complex and deep rooted issues that many are faced with every day by telling the story through the lives of a group characters who are very different from each other. Backman also does this by using what I found to be a really unique writing style. It's impossible not to immerse yourself in the thoughts, feelings and actions of the characters because they feel like they are people you know. While going in blind was perfect for me, I suggest checking trigger warnings for anyone who may want to steer clear of some heavy topics. 

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kendal_reads's review against another edition

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

3.75


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hannevdss's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Several years ago I read Anxious People and found it almost unbearably moving. Ever since, I've heard people talk about Beartown, but I kept putting off reading it. I finally got around to reading it, and woof, what another almost unbearably touching book. This book covers hard content, but it's more about how people react to tragedy, how a community copes with violence and change, and the insidious and relentless nature of rape culture. It's obvious Backman has deep sympathy for each of his characters, even the ones perpetrating horrible acts and saying awful things, and he is so adept at charting a person's inner life that you find yourself at least somewhat understanding even the people in the narrative that you hate. Beartown is so vividly realized, and even though I'm not much of a hockey person, Backman makes you believe in the players and the town. This was an essential read, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series.

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denlia's review

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

5.0


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franziskera's review

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25


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