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thecriticalreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
Context:
I borrowed Beartown from my library through the Libby app. It is the first Fredrik Backman book that I have read.
I borrowed Beartown from my library through the Libby app. It is the first Fredrik Backman book that I have read.
Review:
Beartown is a long book, but I read it in a couple of days. Backman’s writing is compelling and easy to digest. The book’s strength lies in its ability to capture the small-town, hockey-obsessed culture of Beartown convincingly and quickly in the reader’s imagination. Despite the book’s large cast of characters, each person feels believable, and it is easy to keep track of everyone. Backman then uses this setting and this cast of characters to tell a heartbreaking but powerful story about the double-edged nature of a town that fosters a close-knit sports culture of ferocious loyalty, spirited work ethic, and conspicuous silence. He manages to capture the complexity of moral situations and sheds light on why certain people make certain choices, but nevertheless asserts the necessity of morally correct actions rooted in integrity and empathy.
My one issue with the book is Backman’s writing style. Although he appears capable of “showing instead of telling,” he often opts to “show” the reader something through a scene and follow it up with him “telling” them what it meant. He’s a huge fan of punchy concluding sentences that hammer in a point about morality or human nature, which can be effective if used sparingly. Unfortunately, Backman uses this device constantly, which dilutes the effectiveness of these lines considerably. If he cut them down by about 75-80% and kept only the best ones, he would be left with some pretty devastating lines that feel like a punch in the gut. More bizarrely, he sometimes repeats these lines within a chapter, with an effect similar to someone repeating a punchline of a semi-decent joke over again in the hopes of generating more laughs.
Fortunately, I appreciated the other elements of the book enough for me to ignore his annoying writing quirks. That being said, I feel no desire to continue with the Beartown series. I devoured this book like it was a decadently sweet dessert and decided to quit when satiated instead of making myself sick by eating further.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like Beartown if . . .
· You want to read a book that captures the small-town feel
· You like well-developed and damaged characters who must choose between doing what is right and what is easy
· You appreciate a story that has something to say and understands the complexties of human nature
· You are interested in the impact that masculinized sports culture has on wider society
You might not like Beartown if . . .
· You dislike shifting POVs or a large cast of characters
· You can’t stand didacticism or a heavy-handed writing style
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Bullying, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Medical trauma, Racism, Self harm, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Domestic abuse
tocelot's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Although sometimes the writing was a little cliche imo I really did enjoy how the author handled his large cast of characters and switching between them. It kept me engaged and reading.
Overall I feel like some aspects and actions lacked in realism (not even that a whole town’s economy revolves around a hockey club, I can believe that, the author does a good job of explaining how it’s all related. It’s more something unexplainable in the actions and dialogue of the characters). Although that may just be that I don’t really understand how a small town functions or even that culture in Sweden may be different.
Overall I feel like some aspects and actions lacked in realism (not even that a whole town’s economy revolves around a hockey club, I can believe that, the author does a good job of explaining how it’s all related. It’s more something unexplainable in the actions and dialogue of the characters). Although that may just be that I don’t really understand how a small town functions or even that culture in Sweden may be different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia and Xenophobia
beesarenotflies's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Xenophobia
frenandjen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Rape, Homophobia, Violence, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
mroth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In some ways the end of this book redeemed it for me, but mostly I need to sit with it for a lot longer before making a call. I thought the cast of characters was complex and fully realized and this was also a hard one to get through at several points.
I think what it comes down to is, as much as he tried to be honest, this is a rape storyline written by a man who treats rape more as a concept and plot device than as an extremely personal and painful act of violence. There was so much distance in how it was dealt with, even from the “good” characters.
As an aside, having the three parallel men named Kevin, David, and Peter was REALLY confusing to me. I cannot explain it, but those are the same name and I had to think really hard to remember who they were talking about when.
As an aside, having the three parallel men named Kevin, David, and Peter was REALLY confusing to me. I cannot explain it, but those are the same name and I had to think really hard to remember who they were talking about when.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Rape, Racism, and Islamophobia
kananineko's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Alcohol, Gun violence, Child abuse, Classism, Body shaming, Sexism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Fatphobia, and Eating disorder
Minor: Drug use, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Alcoholism, Child death, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death
suesobo's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is an excellent book if you can get into it for the long haul, this is how this author works. You'll get perhaps a negative First second and third impression and then you got to take the journey with him to get to the end and see if you still agree with all your initial thoughts. And along the way you're going to meet tons of characters.... and you're going to get mad and sad and happy and glad....all the emotions and frustration. And by the end you just have to decide were they right, were they wrong or what would you do in the same situations? Because even though there's right and wrong, most humans find that area of gray every single time and they always know how to justify it. What's your moral high ground? How long can you stand on your pedestal before it cracks?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol and Homophobia
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Classism, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical content, Fatphobia, Blood, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Mental illness, Body shaming, Racial slurs, and Vomit
Minor: Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Abandonment, Self harm, Stalking, Cursing, Dysphoria, Hate crime, Animal death, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Murder
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"It's only a game. It only resolves tiny, insignificant things. Such as who gets validation. Who gets listened to. It allocates power and draws boundaries and turns some people into stars and others into spectators. That's all."
I began reading this, aware of the weight of its positive reviews, which may, perhaps unfairly, account for my disappointment in it. Or it may have just been my mood at the time, particularly after having recently read what I expect may be my book of the year (any other book will have to be beyond outstanding to top it). Rivalries, competitiveness, pressure, responsibility and entrenched positions - ice hockey is everything to most residents of Beartown - signify success or failure. This small town in a large Swedish forest, is struggling with unemployment, fallen heroes and desperation to advance their junior ice hockey team's position and reputation. "There are thousands of ways to die in Beartown. Especially on the inside." There are no nuances, only winning or losing and Beartown feels maligned and lesser to the rest of the country's teams: "Bears shit in the woods and everyone shits on Beartown". Full of concise, astute observations about generations of residents, who are carrying a heavy load of responsibilities and pressure, including poverty, racism and grief for a lost child, parent and husband, between them. Those with wealth and status have power and misogyny is rife: there's notably no girls' ice hockey team in Beartown.
I read a translation and the book was written over five years ago, pre-pandemic. I can appreciate the skilful writing and complex characters, but struggled to engage with them and the multiple perspectives, which changes numerous times within chapters. The arrogance and aggression encouraged in the teenage boys in the team made for uncomfortable reading. I felt an understanding of (or interest in) ice hockey and its terms and nuances, which I lack, would have helped, found it and other elements of the storyline more expansive than necessary for the plot. The dramatic event that shocks the town happened late in the plot and was, I felt, not entirely unpredictable, as was most residents' depressing and sometimes threatening responses. A small number of characters are stronger and make positive decisions and there is plenty of nuance in the plot, but overall the tone was miserable and I didn't enjoy reading it, unfortunately.
I began reading this, aware of the weight of its positive reviews, which may, perhaps unfairly, account for my disappointment in it. Or it may have just been my mood at the time, particularly after having recently read what I expect may be my book of the year (any other book will have to be beyond outstanding to top it). Rivalries, competitiveness, pressure, responsibility and entrenched positions - ice hockey is everything to most residents of Beartown - signify success or failure. This small town in a large Swedish forest, is struggling with unemployment, fallen heroes and desperation to advance their junior ice hockey team's position and reputation. "There are thousands of ways to die in Beartown. Especially on the inside." There are no nuances, only winning or losing and Beartown feels maligned and lesser to the rest of the country's teams: "Bears shit in the woods and everyone shits on Beartown". Full of concise, astute observations about generations of residents, who are carrying a heavy load of responsibilities and pressure, including poverty, racism and grief for a lost child, parent and husband, between them. Those with wealth and status have power and misogyny is rife: there's notably no girls' ice hockey team in Beartown.
I read a translation and the book was written over five years ago, pre-pandemic. I can appreciate the skilful writing and complex characters, but struggled to engage with them and the multiple perspectives, which changes numerous times within chapters. The arrogance and aggression encouraged in the teenage boys in the team made for uncomfortable reading. I felt an understanding of (or interest in) ice hockey and its terms and nuances, which I lack, would have helped, found it and other elements of the storyline more expansive than necessary for the plot. The dramatic event that shocks the town happened late in the plot and was, I felt, not entirely unpredictable, as was most residents' depressing and sometimes threatening responses. A small number of characters are stronger and make positive decisions and there is plenty of nuance in the plot, but overall the tone was miserable and I didn't enjoy reading it, unfortunately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism
duchessevdoxia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
Minor: Xenophobia and Alcoholism