A review by stephanies_reading
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Heartbreaking and galvanizing. I wanted to climb into this fictional town and shake sense into so many characters. Bachman handles a large cast with such ease I don't even realize I'm becoming invested in their stories until suddenly I am. I wanted to know what happened to everyone, even the people I disliked. I kept forgetting Beartown didn't exist because Bachman rendered it and it's inhabitants so clearly. It unfortunately helped that reactions and responses to violence against women were all too real and contemporary. I don't know what the sequels will be like or if my heart can take anymore heavy emotional discourse, but I may just have to read them anyway. 
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