Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

137 reviews

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

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

yochananvered's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

5.0

My one and only gripe with this book is that it was hard to follow. There were so many characters it sometimes was hard to keep track. However, that may be due more to my lack of reading comprehension than to the actual writing. The story had me so invested. At certain points I even found it hard to breathe because it felt like I was right there experiencing these events alongside the characters. And there were so many great lines; I some that made me laugh, some that made me think, and some that left me feeling a little bit haunted. The next logical thing is to read the sequel, but part of me wants to reread this immediately to notice things I missed and appreciate all the details a little bit more. One day I will definitely reread this, but for now I’m just excited to see what happens next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Bullying, Violence, Gun violence, and Blood

Moderate: Classism, Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia

Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Vomit, and Child abuse

c_alexander's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Abandonment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, and Grief

Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Self harm

meganeliz_1214's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Child abuse, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Addiction, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

stefanireedmeyer's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

justwordsandink's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

mysyf's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Rape, and Bullying

Minor: Homophobia, Child abuse, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Misogyny

gordee's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Bullying, Rape, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Murder, and Gun violence