Review by samanthabush14 - Beartown

samanthabush14 's review for:

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

"Words are not small things"

True to his form and style, Backman delivers a story much more about humanity and who we are in the dark than hockey. Beautifully written and easy to read, though tough to handle. This book and it's lines have stuck with me for years and held up just a well on a reread. It is fine as a standalone, but the next book is also worth a read.

"Never trust people who don't have something in their lives they love beyond all reason."

You will get mad, you will yell at characters, you will cry, you will hope, and you will love.

His foreshadowing is perfection. His insight into human motivation is haunting. Each chapter jumps around to touch different characters - it's his writing style, and it's not for everyone, but it is a necessary reprieve in places. Rather than use comedic relief where it would be insensitive, he gives you a break from heartbreak to see hope somewhere else.

"Everyone has a thousand wishes before a tragedy, but just one afterward."

TW: an on-page rape plays a significant part in the rest of story, though you could skip the on-page chapter and not miss mich, mild homophobia, locker room talk

Content Warnings