Reviews with content warning for Blood - Kleine Stadt der großen Träume

Well...I was really expecting to be totally sucked into this book and have the raving reviews I always see, but, I have to be honest, this did not reach the expectations I had set for it.

The story started a bit slow and was really weighed down by the emphasis on hockey (which I understand is basically one of the main plot points of the book), but I felt like it took a good third of the book to go by before I became invested in the characters and plot.

I will say that I found myself really mad and frustrated. Mad at the situation. Mad at the turn of events. Mad at the characters. Mad at the pure lack of support given to Maya from the majority of the town. But I think this was a good mad. A mad from good writing. A mad that made me keep thinking about the book and the depth of the characters and how Backma reflected what reality can look like for someone in Maya's situation.

This is a chaotic review, but this is still a book I will tell others about (with some reservations).

Content Warnings

twistykris's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.75

"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.

Content Warnings

catherineleigh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective 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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halceeeeeeeee's review against another edition

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5.0

What a beautifully translated book! Absolutely loved it and flew through it in 2 days - live laugh love Benji 🕺

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e_gracereads's review against another edition

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challenging 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

This is a book about hockey. And small towns. And everything in between. Every five star I’ve ever seen about this book has been entirely, unequivocally earned. Backman doesn’t waste a single. Damn. Word. In this entire 400+ page book. I genuinely wouldn’t change a single thing. While this could definitely read as a standalone, I’m sure, I’m so eager to read Backman’s other works that I’m buying the rest of the trilogy as we speak.

Amazing. This might be the best book I have ever, ever read.

Content Warnings

franklola's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.75

Content Warnings

oliii_24's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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sophaloph's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

MAJOR TW: RAPE

this book was gripping and backman‘s writing is fantastic as always. I personally love hockey, but I don’t think you have to to enjoy this book.
the first half was a little slow, as you get to know all of the characters.

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