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A review by joriekae
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
medium-paced
3.5
I'm reluctant to write this review because I know this book is an all-time favorite for so many. While I by no means hated this book, I didn't love it. SPOILERS AHEAD
<Spoiler> The first half of the book, I was in it. I loved the development of the characters. I loved explaining the importance of hockey to this town and how it touched all aspects of life in Beartown. But then after the act of violence at the center of the book, I was SO angry. And I was angry about the response to this act. I think Backman got so much of this right. People would absolutely try to minimize what happened for the sake of someone/something they love. There would be a lot of people who would lose their integrity in covering up or dismissing the act of violence. But also, there would be people who were mad and wanting justice. Yes, Beartown has these people in it, but they weren't mad enough. Kira is the only one who seems to be really upset. But I wanted more characters to be willing to lose their status in order to stand up for what is right. I wanted more people pissed off and mad about it. I don't know. I know there are characters who do sacrifice for the truth, but it felt like so few in this entire town. By the end of the book, I had no interest in continuing on with this group of people. I just couldn't stop thinking what a terrible community Beartown is. Oh, and Kevin's mom sobbing into Maya was so maddening. It felt immensely insensitive to Maya and completely insincere. It felt like such a cruel thing to ask Maya to comfort and forgive her when she had made no recompense for what happened. I'd much rather her not apologize (I can understand how difficult it would be to want to protect your son but also know he is at fault) and have the reader know she is sorry then for her to apologize but do nothing for her son to take ownership. Phew, sorry. I had big emotions reading this book. And for that, I give a lot of credit to Backman. He built a town that I cared about. He created this intricate web of reasons why people behaved the way they did, and much of that was believable. I just felt like there were too few who were vocally angry. I don't think you need to be the mother of the victim to be livid. There was SO much that was so well crafted in this book. I just had a very visceral response to it, so it made it less enjoyable for me in the end. I definitely understand how other readers would love this book though.
I don't really know what to do with Backman. I was nonplussed by A Man Called Ove. Then I picked up Anxious People with very low expectations and absolutely loved it. And now with Beartown, I'm again ho-hum about Backman. Maybe I'll have another Anxious People experience with another Backman down the line, but I don't think it will be another Beartown book.
<Spoiler> The first half of the book, I was in it. I loved the development of the characters. I loved explaining the importance of hockey to this town and how it touched all aspects of life in Beartown. But then after the act of violence at the center of the book, I was SO angry. And I was angry about the response to this act. I think Backman got so much of this right. People would absolutely try to minimize what happened for the sake of someone/something they love. There would be a lot of people who would lose their integrity in covering up or dismissing the act of violence. But also, there would be people who were mad and wanting justice. Yes, Beartown has these people in it, but they weren't mad enough. Kira is the only one who seems to be really upset. But I wanted more characters to be willing to lose their status in order to stand up for what is right. I wanted more people pissed off and mad about it. I don't know. I know there are characters who do sacrifice for the truth, but it felt like so few in this entire town. By the end of the book, I had no interest in continuing on with this group of people. I just couldn't stop thinking what a terrible community Beartown is. Oh, and Kevin's mom sobbing into Maya was so maddening. It felt immensely insensitive to Maya and completely insincere. It felt like such a cruel thing to ask Maya to comfort and forgive her when she had made no recompense for what happened. I'd much rather her not apologize (I can understand how difficult it would be to want to protect your son but also know he is at fault) and have the reader know she is sorry then for her to apologize but do nothing for her son to take ownership. Phew, sorry. I had big emotions reading this book. And for that, I give a lot of credit to Backman. He built a town that I cared about. He created this intricate web of reasons why people behaved the way they did, and much of that was believable. I just felt like there were too few who were vocally angry. I don't think you need to be the mother of the victim to be livid. There was SO much that was so well crafted in this book. I just had a very visceral response to it, so it made it less enjoyable for me in the end. I definitely understand how other readers would love this book though.
I don't really know what to do with Backman. I was nonplussed by A Man Called Ove. Then I picked up Anxious People with very low expectations and absolutely loved it. And now with Beartown, I'm again ho-hum about Backman. Maybe I'll have another Anxious People experience with another Backman down the line, but I don't think it will be another Beartown book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Bullying, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide