A review by storieswithannej
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

Beartown started slow for me. I stopped at 30% after THE INCIDENT because it pained me as a woman, to see my kind hurting that much. I needed to breathe for weeks because of that.

When I get back to Beartown, my hands can never put it down. So I tried to stay up late to finish it and failing to do so and instead wrap it up the following morning.

I was wearing a poker face at first when I went in. Good thing I brought some other masks as my expression changed from happy to sad to anger to depressed then anger again, shouting “IDIOT!” with Backman, each one louder than the last. I figured I brought the wrong head gear, or costume, in this matter. I should’ve fit myself in a whole hockey set. Because while the silent battles happen inside the victims’ heads, I want to knock my stick to every adult I pass just to put some sense in their heads. “And you dare call yourselves ‘adults’?!,” I might shout at them. I wish I have my helmet on as I fight with and for Amat inside the cafeteria and outside with Bobo as these kids try to disarm a kid who will always be the strongest warrior in the room even without his armor on. Okay, just second best, because Maya is the first. I long to have my own pucks to write messages for Maya, just to let her know that I care. I CARE SO MUCH that I wish I was there to save her.

I just want to be their friend. Even though it’s a town that stays silent, no “thank yous” or “I’m sorrys” and instead passed as “would you like a drink?” through meaningful eye contacts, I want to do the opposite. I want to hug Ramona and the men in black leather jackets, and repeat what Tails said to her: You are the strongest man in Beartown I know. I want to shout at Maggan Lyt, at the police, at everyone who’s turning a blind eye on what happened. But I think this is how the system works, in most countries, and sadly, in our society today.

I kept musing that maybe there’s a hidden meaning in all this. There’s something to study underneath this. Backman will always have my heart, mind, and soul in chokehold. His books make “souls fly” as he’d phrased. I am always grateful for the way he writes about humanity – with hearts and souls, not just with useless minds. What I love most about his works is the message that it is not too late for us. That there’s still goodness left in this world – if only we know how to “keep the right company.”
Expand filter menu Content Warnings