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sydmor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism
beatle426's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Classism
foxmulders's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Classism
arilee123's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I borrowed Beartown from my library through the Libby app. It is the first Fredrik Backman book that I have read.
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
sofiam19's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
aquakirst's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
itsme_lori's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol, and Classism
mylazybones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Racism and Classism
annakh16's review against another edition
- 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
Backman brings each character to life beautifully - and there are a lot of them -, showing the many depths of their motivations and creating an ever more complex web of relationships. The writing is straightforward but stunning - philosophical at times, when discussing concepts such as loyalty, love, friendship, family, community and more, but also full of vivid descriptions and images that really help bring the stories to life. The book makes clever use of flashbacks and flashforwards, which are revealing enough for the reader to make their own guesses about what will happen, but obscure enough to allow the story to unfold at its own pace. In fact, the book is full of small plot twists along the way, which are really aided by these small hints, that are often subverted at the last minute.
The only thing I‘d say is that it‘s a little bit slow to get into, as it starts with a lot of character description before the plot gets moving. But (as Backman always manages), soon both characters and places are laced with depth, so that you can’t help but root for them (or despise them, alternatively). As the plot picks up, so does the pace and by the end of the book, tension is running thick.
This is no doubt my favourite of Backman’s books so far. I loved this and would really recommend (even if you‘re not even slightly interested in hockey).
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Classism