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dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Rape, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t read much 3rd person omniscient—or books that follow this many characters—so it took me some time to get into the flow. That said, each character here, flaws and all, is handled with such care and tenderness. It’s quite masterful. This was very slow, with the plot taking place over just a couple of weeks (and the first ~30% taking place over one day).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
All the characters were true and raw. Their emotions were deep and relatable. Peter, Kira, Maya, Ana, Amat, Bobo, Ramona, Benji, they will all be remembered.
This is not a perfect read because Backman decided to introduce and include every single citizen who lives in this town, but he did make me extremely emotional about a junior hockey team.
It might be a little concerning how I was a little disappointed that Maya didn’t pull the trigger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the way the author handled all of the perspectives of the characters with the content of the story was amazing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Grief
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Warning: This book will make you feels all the feels.
This was my second book by Backman and it has definitely landed him a solid place as a favorite author. I've already got the rest of the series on its way; I can't wait to continue my journey in Beartown. And I can't wait to see what else Backman has to offer.
This story was hauntingly beautiful. It made me feel everything: happiness, joy, sadness, anger, outrage, fear, and even more. I'm not a hockey fan, and this is a book about hockey, but oh is it about so much more. It's about growing up and being a person you can face every day in the mirror. About standing up for what, and who, you believe in. It takes the harshness of the world and make it even more real somehow.
Backman doesn't shy away from hard topics. I like that. What I like more is how he goes about those same topics. It's done with grace and compassion. He is a master storyteller.
And Benji. 🖤
This was my second book by Backman and it has definitely landed him a solid place as a favorite author. I've already got the rest of the series on its way; I can't wait to continue my journey in Beartown. And I can't wait to see what else Backman has to offer.
This story was hauntingly beautiful. It made me feel everything: happiness, joy, sadness, anger, outrage, fear, and even more. I'm not a hockey fan, and this is a book about hockey, but oh is it about so much more. It's about growing up and being a person you can face every day in the mirror. About standing up for what, and who, you believe in. It takes the harshness of the world and make it even more real somehow.
Backman doesn't shy away from hard topics. I like that. What I like more is how he goes about those same topics. It's done with grace and compassion. He is a master storyteller.
And Benji. 🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Racism, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a strange book. There were good parts, bad parts, and mind-numbingly boring parts.
While the story revolves around a hockey town, I didn't realize, perhaps stupidly in retrospect, how much the book actually revolved around hockey and the sports mentality that naturally follows a story like that. The locker room talk made me super uncomfortable, and while I'm sure that was the point, it grated on my nerves each time something highly sexual or discriminatory was said. The belief that certain people should get a pass in life just because they're a "sports star" or a "prodigy" also annoyed the ever living crap out of me. I'm completely aware that Backman was highlighting the hypocrisies and injustices that happen in life more often than we care to admit, but God, it doesn't mean it wasn't frustrating to read.
Some smaller issues I had with Beartown was the large cast of characters and the narrative style that Backman used throughout. Having each character get a little snippet or arc in each chapter really wasn't for me, as it made it hard for me to connect with them (as well as remembering who they actually were), and it detracted from any tension being built up, rather than highlighting or reflecting upon it.
Overall, this book was fine. I don't really understand why it's such darling of the literary world, but I'll just have to conclude that it left others feeling more profoundly moved than I myself felt. Also, I honestly believe that Backman could have called this book "Boys Will Be Boys" and I think you could derive everything you need to know about the plot from that title alone. (3 stars)
While the story revolves around a hockey town, I didn't realize, perhaps stupidly in retrospect, how much the book actually revolved around hockey and the sports mentality that naturally follows a story like that. The locker room talk made me super uncomfortable, and while I'm sure that was the point, it grated on my nerves each time something highly sexual or discriminatory was said. The belief that certain people should get a pass in life just because they're a "sports star" or a "prodigy" also annoyed the ever living crap out of me. I'm completely aware that Backman was highlighting the hypocrisies and injustices that happen in life more often than we care to admit, but God, it doesn't mean it wasn't frustrating to read.
Some smaller issues I had with Beartown was the large cast of characters and the narrative style that Backman used throughout. Having each character get a little snippet or arc in each chapter really wasn't for me, as it made it hard for me to connect with them (as well as remembering who they actually were), and it detracted from any tension being built up, rather than highlighting or reflecting upon it.
Overall, this book was fine. I don't really understand why it's such darling of the literary world, but I'll just have to conclude that it left others feeling more profoundly moved than I myself felt. Also, I honestly believe that Backman could have called this book "Boys Will Be Boys" and I think you could derive everything you need to know about the plot from that title alone. (3 stars)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts