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dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Homophobia
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first Fredrik Backman book and wow, what an experience.
Trust me when I say, you do not need to be interested in ice hockey to read and fall in love with this book. Beartown is a book about ice hockey, yes, but it's also a book about what it is to be human. Every page is dripping with raw emotion, and was written with such tender care.
Backman has a wonderful way of making you feel deeply connected to every one of the huge cast of characters he introduces. Whether they're one of his main characters or a nameless person with whom we spend less than two pages, each and every character is fully realized with their own stories and flaws, working together to bring Beartown to life.
I deliberated giving this 5 stars, but ultimately decided that personally, if there are any questions about whether a book is 5 stars or not, then it's not! The only reason this lost points for me was how long it took me to get hooked—the first 40% or so dragged just a touch. However, this was more than made up for in the second half, which I devoured in one sitting, ending the night staring at the wall, decompressing from everything I'd just endured.
Trust me when I say, you do not need to be interested in ice hockey to read and fall in love with this book. Beartown is a book about ice hockey, yes, but it's also a book about what it is to be human. Every page is dripping with raw emotion, and was written with such tender care.
Backman has a wonderful way of making you feel deeply connected to every one of the huge cast of characters he introduces. Whether they're one of his main characters or a nameless person with whom we spend less than two pages, each and every character is fully realized with their own stories and flaws, working together to bring Beartown to life.
I deliberated giving this 5 stars, but ultimately decided that personally, if there are any questions about whether a book is 5 stars or not, then it's not! The only reason this lost points for me was how long it took me to get hooked—the first 40% or so dragged just a touch. However, this was more than made up for in the second half, which I devoured in one sitting, ending the night staring at the wall, decompressing from everything I'd just endured.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Violence
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Rape
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
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
a wonderful story about the relationships we have in our lives and the knowing that we don’t always have to keep them. An important reminder about power and how family can be everything!! All in all, a great book. I just didn’t love how he wrote women in the first act of the book. But after the incident, it seemed more realistic so I appreciate that.
I recommend this book and will be picking up the next in the series!!
I recommend this book and will be picking up the next in the series!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Nobody can create characters like Fredrik Backman can.
This book follows the residents of Beartown as a star hockey player is accused of rape. However, whilst this is the centre of the story, the lives of the characters within is what makes this book gripping, emotional and unforgettable.
The themes of class, sexuality, grief, found family, friendship, parenthood and so much more are explored through the characters we meet. One of the most lovable characters for me was Benji and I hope he is the focus of one of the other two books in the series.
This book is beautifully written and well suited to readers that enjoy fully realised and relatable characters.
This book follows the residents of Beartown as a star hockey player is accused of rape. However, whilst this is the centre of the story, the lives of the characters within is what makes this book gripping, emotional and unforgettable.
The themes of class, sexuality, grief, found family, friendship, parenthood and so much more are explored through the characters we meet. One of the most lovable characters for me was Benji and I hope he is the focus of one of the other two books in the series.
This book is beautifully written and well suited to readers that enjoy fully realised and relatable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Medical content, Abandonment
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Vomit
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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
This book is devastating but so beautifully written. Backman understands humans and their motives so well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
challenging
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book intrigued me from the first page. I wasn’t expecting it to be what it was about necessarily, but it makes sense.
I really loved the structure of this book. You only get a few paragraphs most of the time on one person/people, before it switches to another perspective. That really keeps you on edge, because all of the stories are interesting. It made it hard to put the book down because I was so desperate to find out what happens next.
I really enjoyed the way the author wrote about how small towns work, and what happens when you take on the “promising young man” in town, the town hero. I was very pleasantly surprised at how the author handled that rape, and the aftermath of it. It felt very real to what happens in our lives, when something like this happens. It’s always the girl who is at fault, for not reporting it sooner, for being scared to speak up, for what she was wearing or what she had to drink. Even with a witness, no one wants to ruin a promising young man’s future.
I’m very interested to read the other books in the series. I haven’t looked at their descriptions yet, so I have no idea who or what they’re about, but I hope they’ll keep my attention the way this book did.
I really loved the structure of this book. You only get a few paragraphs most of the time on one person/people, before it switches to another perspective. That really keeps you on edge, because all of the stories are interesting. It made it hard to put the book down because I was so desperate to find out what happens next.
I really enjoyed the way the author wrote about how small towns work, and what happens when you take on the “promising young man” in town, the town hero. I was very pleasantly surprised at how the author handled that rape, and the aftermath of it. It felt very real to what happens in our lives, when something like this happens. It’s always the girl who is at fault, for not reporting it sooner, for being scared to speak up, for what she was wearing or what she had to drink. Even with a witness, no one wants to ruin a promising young man’s future.
I’m very interested to read the other books in the series. I haven’t looked at their descriptions yet, so I have no idea who or what they’re about, but I hope they’ll keep my attention the way this book did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence
Moderate: Classism
dark
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts