Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Os mod jer by Fredrik Backman

76 reviews

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Fredrik Backman is an incredible writer. His emotive writing and stunning characters just grab hold of my emotions and wring them out for all their worth. I haven't felt this big a book hangover since A Little Life. Thank goodness there's a third and it's a chonk!

I read Beartown almost a year ago, and I wasn't sure I'd remember a lot of the detail or character specifics. But it turns out this town and its glorious inhabitants live rent-free in my brain, and combined with Backman brilliantly spinning plot and recap together, I was soon immersed again; possibly more than last time. Now I knew history, I knew conflict, and I knew just how much there is to love in all of these beautiful, broken people.

The first half of the book is very contemplative and deals with some heavy emotion as the town comes to terms with the events of the first book. Upheaval and scandal threaten the future of the hockey club, and everyone is affected. We learn more about The Pack and its history with hockey (my goodness, I love Teemu!) as the club begins to rebuild itself.

The conflict between the teams in Hed and Beartown is incredibly tense at times, which builds throughout the book. The events that lead to the climax at the end are so clever, so intricate and often devastating. But there is genuine kindness littered throughout the town (as well as real moments of humour), and I finished so many chapters weeping at the beauty of it all.

This is such a human story, filled with survival, love and tragedy (often all hand in hand), and I completely adored it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, and Rape

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Death

cannesi's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

4.25

A good follow up to Beartown, but nothing could ever beat the first book. I still loved this book and being able to follow the same characters throughout their lives. The end with Peter made me chuckle because what makes him think he is qualified?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Hate crime, Car accident, Drug use, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Cursing, and Death

mmalone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Bullying

rcshamey's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Death, and Death of parent

miriamped's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Car accident, and Homophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury

eellinor's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Bullying

labinsky's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.0

*sobbing* we are the bears… the bears from beartown 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Child death, Death, Sexism, and Homophobia

wellreadjill_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexism, Car accident, Misogyny, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing

Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault

stephsbooktalk's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

5.0

“The best friends of our childhoods are the loves of our lives, and they break our hearts in worse ways.”

WOW! I did not think that it could get any better than "Beartown" but this one delivered.
I was nervous because some of my book friends either reallly loved this or didn't care much for it compared to the prior. I think after meeting the characters in the first one, it made me way more invested in this book. 

Now that I am familiar with Fredrick's writing style it made reading this one smoother. Backman has a way with his writing that you think one thing is happening and then it's something different. 

Once again we have multiple storylines with the characters going at the same time. I kind of wish I did read them back to back because there was some details that I had forgotten but for the most part I was able to follow along. 

I definitely have my favorite characters and I was so happy to continue their journey in this 2nd book. I am really excited for the 3rd which is slated to be out later this year to see how they all wrap up.

If anything happens to Benji, I will truly be HEARTBROKEN!!!!!!!!

I did a buddy read with my friend Cam and his friend and it was just so awesome being able to discuss the book along the way.

Just like with the first book, I have never flagged so many lines and paragraphs in a book. His writing is truly incredible. Some other quotes that I loved:

• “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.”

• “Feelings are complicated. Actions are simple.”

• “Sons want their fathers' attention until the precise moment when fathers want their sons'.”

• “Grief is the price we pay for love, Ramona. A broken heart in exchange for a whole one.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Bullying

Moderate: Death and Rape

Minor: Death of parent

erinnz's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, and Car accident