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A review by vivalalinzi
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
challenging
dark
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
4.5
Beartown is something I’ve wanted to read since last Summer, but knew I’d want to read in Winter due to the setting. All I knew going in was that it was about a small town who liked Hockey.
That’s an understatement. The heartbeat of this small town is the hope that hockey brings to them, that one day the town will thrive if they get the right set of boys in the right team to win the right matches. Nothing else matters.
This book was a masterclass on how characters can make the reader vulnerable. The story follows several characters; their past, present and future are all included within the book in some way or another and I didn’t realise how emotionally invested I was in every individual character until I was reading the “end” outcome for each for this book.
Backman made me feel things about a book that I haven’t felt in a long time. I don’t want to share too much about the story because I think it had such an impact on me because I knew very little about it. The writing, context and content has still got me feeling vulnerable for all the characters, angry for some, supportive of some - hopeful for few, and has left me reeling with thoughts relating to power dynamics, toxic masculinity, timings of events and doing the right thing even though it’s been a few days since I finished the book.
I would definitely recommend this book - I’ve given it a 4.5 star currently but the more I think the more I believe it will be a 5 as I cannot stop thinking about it.
The Bears of Beartown will stick with me for quite some time.
That’s an understatement. The heartbeat of this small town is the hope that hockey brings to them, that one day the town will thrive if they get the right set of boys in the right team to win the right matches. Nothing else matters.
This book was a masterclass on how characters can make the reader vulnerable. The story follows several characters; their past, present and future are all included within the book in some way or another and I didn’t realise how emotionally invested I was in every individual character until I was reading the “end” outcome for each for this book.
Backman made me feel things about a book that I haven’t felt in a long time. I don’t want to share too much about the story because I think it had such an impact on me because I knew very little about it. The writing, context and content has still got me feeling vulnerable for all the characters, angry for some, supportive of some - hopeful for few, and has left me reeling with thoughts relating to power dynamics, toxic masculinity, timings of events and doing the right thing even though it’s been a few days since I finished the book.
I would definitely recommend this book - I’ve given it a 4.5 star currently but the more I think the more I believe it will be a 5 as I cannot stop thinking about it.
The Bears of Beartown will stick with me for quite some time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault