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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The final book of the beartown trilogy - I didn’t think this book was going to happen, and when it did, I needed to revisit the first two to truly embrace the beartown experience. The first two books left an indelible mark on me and I was more nervous than excited to see how it was going to tie up.
There is a tonal shift across the trilogy and a descent into deeper melancholy throughout the three books, concluding in this bittersweet goodbye.
It’s not a happy book or a sad book, it’s a story about the lives we were introduced to, the flawed and uplifting parts of the community we were invited to join, and an honest look at our characters as they live on.
Was this book completely necessary - at times, no. It did have moments where it felt draggy and repetitive but it was beautiful nonetheless and a love letter to his readers who have gone through life with the community of beartown.
The beartown trilogy at its core is frederik backman’s view on the human condition crystallised in the most raw form, and although not my favourite of the trilogy, I would still recommend this to those who enjoyed the first two.
There is a tonal shift across the trilogy and a descent into deeper melancholy throughout the three books, concluding in this bittersweet goodbye.
It’s not a happy book or a sad book, it’s a story about the lives we were introduced to, the flawed and uplifting parts of the community we were invited to join, and an honest look at our characters as they live on.
Was this book completely necessary - at times, no. It did have moments where it felt draggy and repetitive but it was beautiful nonetheless and a love letter to his readers who have gone through life with the community of beartown.
The beartown trilogy at its core is frederik backman’s view on the human condition crystallised in the most raw form, and although not my favourite of the trilogy, I would still recommend this to those who enjoyed the first two.
The most perfect, heartbreaking, frustrating, lovely ending to the Beartown series.
Read it for a second time and had forgotten how everything ended. So good. So sad. Can’t wait to read it again.
Read it for a second time and had forgotten how everything ended. So good. So sad. Can’t wait to read it again.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Yes
I got so attached to the characters in this series of books. I’m a little sad I won’t be able to read about them more and see what’s up. Backman just does such a beautiful job with character development and making you feel all the feels even if it is uncomfortable.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Rape
Moderate: Blood, Grief
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For me, this was a little too long. All the additional characters detracted from the characters I had already fallen in love with and I felt a bit cheated in the time I got to spend with them.
Such a bittersweet ending to a bittersweet trilogy.
Such a bittersweet ending to a bittersweet trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Animal death, Death
Minor: Alcoholism
Beartown is one of my all-time favorite books. You could not have convinced me in advance that I'd give The Winners three stars. But here I am.
My biggest problem with this novel is its length. I think a lot of my critiques could have been remedied by tightening things up. For perspective, this 650+ page novel covers a week's worth of events. Yet one of the most shocking events, and the aftermath, feels like a footnote that comes much too late. The full impact feels as though it's neatly sidestepped in favor of letting readers know how everyone's future unfolds. I wasn't a fan.
Next, the characters. Originally, I was excited to spend so much time with the ensemble cast we've come to love. Yet despite this novel's length, it didn't feel like the characters were given fully fleshed arcs. Many of them felt like shadows of themselves. Others, it seemed, had their most significant events occur before or after the story.
At the heart of this novel is a conflict between Beartown and Hed. You hear about it so much. It really felt like the cardinal mistake of telling rather than showing. Remember in Beartown, and Us Against You, how it felt like the town was a character, all of its own? I didn't feel that in The Winners. It felt like a constant rehash of the fact that these two towns hate each other.
Of course there are some beautiful, tender, and heartbreaking moments in this story. There are insightful observations about people at their best, and also at their worst. I'd contend, though, that their impact is lessened by the sheer unnecessary length of this novel.
I'll hold the Beartown characters close to my heart. But I wish we'd seen them have a better sendoff.
My biggest problem with this novel is its length. I think a lot of my critiques could have been remedied by tightening things up. For perspective, this 650+ page novel covers a week's worth of events. Yet one of the most shocking events, and the aftermath, feels like a footnote that comes much too late. The full impact feels as though it's neatly sidestepped in favor of letting readers know how everyone's future unfolds. I wasn't a fan.
Next, the characters. Originally, I was excited to spend so much time with the ensemble cast we've come to love. Yet despite this novel's length, it didn't feel like the characters were given fully fleshed arcs. Many of them felt like shadows of themselves. Others, it seemed, had their most significant events occur before or after the story.
At the heart of this novel is a conflict between Beartown and Hed. You hear about it so much. It really felt like the cardinal mistake of telling rather than showing. Remember in Beartown, and Us Against You, how it felt like the town was a character, all of its own? I didn't feel that in The Winners. It felt like a constant rehash of the fact that these two towns hate each other.
Of course there are some beautiful, tender, and heartbreaking moments in this story. There are insightful observations about people at their best, and also at their worst. I'd contend, though, that their impact is lessened by the sheer unnecessary length of this novel.
I'll hold the Beartown characters close to my heart. But I wish we'd seen them have a better sendoff.
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
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