Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Kleine Stadt der großen Träume by Fredrik Backman

62 reviews

clarrotttt's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book has something for everyone. Something for teenagers, parents, and everyone in between. I am usually staunchly against second-person present-tense writing, but it is clearly an intentional choice on Backman's part and only serves to enhance the tension and mood of the book. As a writer, I tend to read books with a critical eye, but I had very little to criticize about Beartown. I found myself fully immersed in the world, not being suddenly thrust out by flaws in the way the book is written. A very good story that is very well written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual content

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Self harm

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Death of parent

tnociti's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Backman is a master at getting into his characters and making them so real and so relatable - whether you like them or not.  You feel their humanity and it affects the entire reading experience.  There is nuance in the good and the bad.  Gorgeous setting - the forest is one of the characters that is quietest but touches everyone.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, and Child death

Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Homophobia, and Pregnancy

hhannah18's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Love Backman’s writing style, almost poetic at times. He’s able to write from so many characters’ perspectives without it being confusing. Each character stands so plainly in my mind. I never thought I’d read a book about hockey, but it’s really not about hockey. It’s a look at humanity as a whole through the lens of a small town. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Gaslighting, Cursing, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Child death, Child abuse, Self harm, and Alcoholism

wellreadjill_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Self harm, Child death, Sexism, Grief, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual content, Homophobia, Medical content, and Misogyny

chamaeleontis's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical content, Drug use, Rape, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, Sexism, Terminal illness, Blood, Cursing, Bullying, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Cancer, Child abuse, and Child death

Minor: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Self harm, Body shaming, Cursing, and Gun violence

jjeonghan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Misogyny

Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Transphobia and Self harm

emusing's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Medical content, and Self harm

For many of these things, they are not described graphically, but they are central to the premise of the book, so if you don't want to think about rape or violence, you will have a problem. There are also several moments which Backman writes around to make you think that one thing is about to happen, but in the next section reveals that it was not part of the plan all along.

For example, Zacharias goes into the school thinking about suicide and carrying a bucket to stand on when he hangs himself (you think), but it's actually a bucket of water to wash hate speech off of lockers. There are also fake-out moments about homophobia when David discovers that Benji is gay, and when Maya goes out, supposedly to kill someone.

wetblanket's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Child death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexism, Self harm, and Homophobia

amzyrebecca's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Racism, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexism, Homophobia, Racism, Murder, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Self harm

mmqin's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts