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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
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:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Omg how does Backman do it again? He starts a story introducing characters that annoy me and I roll my eyes at yet another insignificant storyline, and by the end I am sobbing hysterically as my heart is wrenched out and torn in two. I’m going to cry for days over this.
emotional
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:
N/A
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Some years have passed since we were last in Beartown. Some people have moved on, leaving Beartown and their past behind, but many remain in the town that holds all their memories. In some ways, everything has changed, and, in some ways, everything has stayed the same. The characters are so loveable – not because they are happy and perfect, but because we have come to know them so well, we can understand their flaws. A sudden loss brings everyone together, calling the runaways back. The rivalry between Beartown and the neighbouring town of Hed is reignited, all in the name of hockey, but the consequences are felt throughout both communities. But despite the anger and the violence, people from both towns are thrown together in some unexpected ways and they begin to learn that have more in common than they realise. Isn’t everyone just trying their best; to be the best parent, friend, lover, athlete… to be a winner?
This was such a rollercoaster of emotions. I was so happy to be back in Beartown because these are some of my favourite characters ever written. Not because they are anything extraordinary, but because they are so human. Backman has such a special way of perceiving human behaviours and emotions that gives his characters such depth and dimension. At the beginning I felt like I had come back to visit old friends and by the end, my heart was full, but sore. I can’t describe the way Backman reels you into his stories, but the feeling of jumping from one character to the next as you draw closer and closer to something monumental, is all consuming. Each interaction is meaningful, each conversation is important, but often its what is left unsaid that is the most impactful.
What an ending to a fantastic series. I will never get over it, and I will smile and cry whenever I think of Beartown.
I wavered between a 3 and 4. I usually love Backman's books, but this one was way too long and too repetitious. Many times I struggled to keep on reading. The 4 won out because of the excellent use of foreshadowing and the strength of the characters.
Unfairly perhaps to Mr Bachman I was unaware that this was third in a series. Unfairly to me, Mr Bachman’s editor was MIA, and this book was too bloody long to hold my interest over long periods. And so many characters, I honestly couldn’t remember who was who! I loved “A Man Called Ove”. This had far too many plots and subplots and background stories (because there were too many people!). Every now and again I’d get swept into a narrative and then a new person would be introduced and spoil the flow. Grr. So weird. I don’t see anyone else complaining about this so I guess it’s just me. But at 700 pages/20 hours, it needed to be better.
Oh and sometimes he’d throw in something cryptic. “There’s a body”, or “There’s a gunshot”, or “something just boiled over on the stove”. Ok that last one is made up, but I found these silly hints of something yet revealed annoying. Once maybe. But multiple times and it felt like something he learned in writing class. And now look at the length of my review! I’m infected. Agh!!!
Usually I include a quote and I know there were a few I loved but he didn’t earn that effort from me.
Oh and sometimes he’d throw in something cryptic. “There’s a body”, or “There’s a gunshot”, or “something just boiled over on the stove”. Ok that last one is made up, but I found these silly hints of something yet revealed annoying. Once maybe. But multiple times and it felt like something he learned in writing class. And now look at the length of my review! I’m infected. Agh!!!
Usually I include a quote and I know there were a few I loved but he didn’t earn that effort from me.
This is a strong finish to memorable, emotional, quotable trilogy. I'll round up on the rating based on the strength of the overall series.
I'm a sentimental sort; Fredrik Backman certainly scratches that itch.
I'm a sentimental sort; Fredrik Backman certainly scratches that itch.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
Complicated