A review by jenmcreads
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book feels like a quiet scream, and it will certainly be sticking with me for a while. I think that Fredrik Backman's third-person omniscient narration which jumps from person to person regularly was uniquely well suited to this exploration of not just one incident of rape but of rape culture and the way the entire town is complicit in the difficulties the victim faces seeking justice. The characters in this felt very real, and Backman did an excellent job shading their conflicting motivations and morals. It is rare to find such a large cast each so individually compelling. I listened to the audiobook which I found to be excellently narrated. I look forward to the rest of the trilogy. 
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