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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’m glad I decided to continue the series. I was so angry after the first book but I liked the character development and growth in this book.
Its back to Beartown in one of the most soul-stirring book I've read in a long, long time.
I don't know how Backman does it but he is a genius at compelling prose that brings characters to life, situations and feelings to heart-rending reality, all the while throwing in profoundly deep gems at you. Some of my favorites :
"The worst thing we know about other people is that we are dependent on them."
"People will always choose a simple lie over a complicated truth, because they lie has one unbeatable advantage: the truth always has to stick to what actually happened, whereas the lie just has to be easy to believe."
"When it comes down to it, everyone has something to say about the life he should have had instead of this one."
"Sons want their fathers' attention until the precise moment when fathers want their sons'."
"Life is a weird thing. We spend all our time trying to manage different aspects of it, yet we are still largely shaped by things that happen beyond our control."
This is a book that will make you laugh, weep, leave you shocked, betrayed and cause your heart to break - all in a span of a few pages. A few hundred times. Really. Backman has proven, yet again, that he is a master at getting into a character's skin - and under yours- while giving us a book - and all its colorful characters (#Benjiforever!) and towns- that I will remember for a long, long time.
More please, Mr Backman!
I don't know how Backman does it but he is a genius at compelling prose that brings characters to life, situations and feelings to heart-rending reality, all the while throwing in profoundly deep gems at you. Some of my favorites :
"The worst thing we know about other people is that we are dependent on them."
"People will always choose a simple lie over a complicated truth, because they lie has one unbeatable advantage: the truth always has to stick to what actually happened, whereas the lie just has to be easy to believe."
"When it comes down to it, everyone has something to say about the life he should have had instead of this one."
"Sons want their fathers' attention until the precise moment when fathers want their sons'."
"Life is a weird thing. We spend all our time trying to manage different aspects of it, yet we are still largely shaped by things that happen beyond our control."
This is a book that will make you laugh, weep, leave you shocked, betrayed and cause your heart to break - all in a span of a few pages. A few hundred times. Really. Backman has proven, yet again, that he is a master at getting into a character's skin - and under yours- while giving us a book - and all its colorful characters (#Benjiforever!) and towns- that I will remember for a long, long time.
More please, Mr Backman!
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tinha muito tempo que eu não terminava um livro desse jeito. a morte do vidar acabou comigo. vivi 1000 vidas nesse último capítulo. fredrik continua sendo meu autor favorito
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Second book and same as the first, I lost count of how many times I had to put it down. Not just because I was crying but also because I would be so angry or gutted at some of the outcomes of the characters. Vidar wasn’t even really present in the novel until over halfway through and yet his short presence and death caused me to cry so hard! Backman’s ominous 10 years from now quote leads me to believe Benji won’t get his happy ending which makes me cry just thinking about it. I almost don’t want to read the 3rd book only because then I won’t have to find out and can just tell myself Benji ends up happy and thriving! I did find Theo’s manipulation tactics to move up politically oddly fascinating to read. Obviously, Zackell is such an odd character and so entertainingly aloof to everyone you can’t help but love her! I also enjoyed seeing how Maya and Benji helped each other get through the tough times in their own way. Him showing her and Ana his secret island and her walking into the school with him telling him to walk in head held high and make eye contact until they look away so that the bastards will never see you cry. I do want to know more of how Leo grows from everything that happened as well as see how Peter and Kira keep fighting for their marriage so I guess I’ll just endure more heartache and read the 3rd book now.
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
emotional
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
After the events of book 1 the town has been divided. Some stayed loyal to the town and others didn’t. Now the bonds are being tested again as a local politician seeks to gain while manipulating others for what he wants.