Reviews

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

ankhasna's review against another edition

4.25

It was really hard to listen to at some points which means it was well done

effaly's review against another edition

1.0

DNF @31% / 134 pages

I should probably just give up on contemporary novels. It's the second time this month I found myself bored out of my mind and DNF'ing a book. I just don't get the hype! 134 pages and nothing happened. There were hints that something would happen but at this point, I couldn't care less about it.

Spoiler

I'd bet all my money that a girl gets raped at the upcoming party. It would fit the other clichés perfectly

On top of this plotless wasteland of a book: I was annoyed by chapter breaks. It felt like head-hopping taken to another level.

The characters themselves and their little dramas couldn't make me care either. They were either incredibly boring or walking chlichés.

Edit: I looked up what happens in the rest of the book, and wow, I'm glad I DNF'ed it.

brina_petrovcic's review against another edition

3.0

david's internal monologue physically hurt

gatheredandgrounded's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

rjankows's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

4.0

the_escape_artist_'s review against another edition

4.0

Slow start, but as someone from a small town that was all about hockey I felt like I knew everyone of these characters. Really great critique on hockey culture from someone that has a deep love for hockey

brynnalys's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I fell in love with Fredrick Backman’s writing from the first few pages. He gets you in a grip and holds you there, ending every chapter in a way that makes you pause and say “well now I have to keep going” every time you think just one more chapter for now. The story was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking and outraging at times, and Backman handles difficult, horrible topics and circumstances with such empathy and understanding. I was nervous that the topics which deal with women specifically wouldn’t be understood or written well by a man, but he blew me away, and it is evident that he has researched and discussed these things with real women to gain understanding. The way he blends a dozen character narratives with each other seamlessly had me floored. This is a book that will always have a place in the 5 star shelf for me and I will never forget the way it made me feel.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

ebarker058's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.75

jscheper's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

ambeda's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

It's already been said, that this novel feels different from his others, but still so good. I only wish I read this sooner and NOT one week postpartum in-between baby naps and feeds. Very relatable thinking "how can I protect my kid from the world?" 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child death