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Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Rape
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Vomit, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism
Minor: Child death, Grief
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Alcohol
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria
Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Stalking
“Beartown” by Fredrik Backman was an emotional and gut-wrenching read. It’s also an important one when it comes down to the themes it reveals. I still feel emotionally exhausted after reading it. I plan to finish the series eventually; I’m just not sure how quickly I can jump into the next one yet.
“Beartown” might at first glance seem to merely be a hockey story, but it’s so much more than that. It’s about human nature and all the ugliness that it entails such as toxic masculinity, rape culture, discrimination, homophobia, domestic violence, alcoholism, poverty, classism, etc. Yet, somehow, the novel also offers glimpses of love, joy, happiness, pride, friendship, family, community, and standing up for what’s right. That’s what helped me continue reading. I was angry enough I needed answers, but I was anxious the entire time. If it weren’t for those heartwarming moments, I don’t know if I could’ve read it as easily.
Thankfully there are a lot of characters that made the book work, and I’ll carry a special place for Maya, Ana, Amat, and Benji especially when I think back. The tragic elements of the plot was difficult and readers should check with the triggers before pursuing it.
Overall, I’m glad I read the novel and Backman remains one of my favourite authors. I just need a happier book to read next to help repair my poor heart. ♥️📚
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Suicide, Grief
"What an uncomfortable, terrible source of shame it is for the world that the victim is so often the one left with the most empathy for others."
What an absolutely heartbreaking read. This book is about hockey, but it's also about people and how they react to terrible events that shape their town. So many moments left me with a deep ache in my heart. Both for the terrible event itself, but also for the way the town (children, and adult men and women) reacts. It's all too familiar as a woman growing up in this world; we are the victims, and yet we are to blame.
"She already knew that the world is a cruel place for a girl. Her parents couldn't imagine that this could happen, but Maya simply hasn't expected it to happen to her."
'Fucking men ! YOU'RE the problem! Religion doesn't fight, guns don't kill, and you need to be very fucking clear that hockey has never raped anyone! But do you know who do ? Fight and kill and rape? [...] MEN ! It's always fucking men!"
Like some, I found the beginning to be rather slow. There was a lot of character establishment and exposition of the town politics and overall setting the scene, but future readers: do not be put off by it. It's important information and besides, it's beautifully written. Backman does a fantastic job of telling a story using repetition, foreshadowing, and switching POVs, to show each character's story leading up to and following the tragic event.
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism