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Backman brings each character to life beautifully - and there are a lot of them -, showing the many depths of their motivations and creating an ever more complex web of relationships. The writing is straightforward but stunning - philosophical at times, when discussing concepts such as loyalty, love, friendship, family, community and more, but also full of vivid descriptions and images that really help bring the stories to life. The book makes clever use of flashbacks and flashforwards, which are revealing enough for the reader to make their own guesses about what will happen, but obscure enough to allow the story to unfold at its own pace. In fact, the book is full of small plot twists along the way, which are really aided by these small hints, that are often subverted at the last minute.
The only thing I‘d say is that it‘s a little bit slow to get into, as it starts with a lot of character description before the plot gets moving. But (as Backman always manages), soon both characters and places are laced with depth, so that you can’t help but root for them (or despise them, alternatively). As the plot picks up, so does the pace and by the end of the book, tension is running thick.
This is no doubt my favourite of Backman’s books so far. I loved this and would really recommend (even if you‘re not even slightly interested in hockey).
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Sexual assault
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Gaslighting
If I were to complain about anything, I understand the purpose of so many different point of views since the book is quite literally about Beartown and how it's citizens react to drastic events but that doesn't make it less frustrating when I can't remember the name of characters that have 5 or so paragraphs total dedicated to their presence within the entire book. That and having new characters on top of those being introduced when you're already halfway through can just be a bit tiring. It also confuses me what worthiness it requires to be a named character vs being only referred to as something you do (the girlfriend, the president, etc). Maybe there's a real reason for it, but I haven't figured it out.
Regardless, this was a good read and I appreciate the way a lot of topics were handled.
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Alcohol
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Sexism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
Graphic: Child death, Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death of parent
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny
Minor: Child death
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse