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A review by kristabooksandjams
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
5.0
Oh Backman, you did it again!
This book made me feel so many emotions. And I don't even like hockey! As I have heard over and over though, it truly isn't about hockey, but hockey is used as a framework or foundation to talk about so many other things - family, friendships, community, communication, honesty, teamwork, standing up for truth, good vs evil, morality, priorities, grief, and so much more.
Although the tone of this book was much heavier than the other two books I've read by Backman, the thing that has remained consistent is his amazing ability to write complex, flawed, realistic characters. There were characters in this book I hated, but then grew to have a respect for. Other characters I loved from the start, but they had their moments of weakness too.
His writing style at a sentence by sentence level is pretty simplistic at times, but he throws in these sentences that take my breath away. Sometimes they're a profound reflection of a truth he's touching on, sometimes it's a warning of things to come. Sometimes it's just a zinger that keeps me on the edge of my seat wanting more.
I absolutely love this book. I didn't laugh as much as his other books, but definitely felt tender toward some characters, angry at others, and absolutely heartbroken at times too. So good!
Oh, be forewarned that rape is a major element of the story.
This book made me feel so many emotions. And I don't even like hockey! As I have heard over and over though, it truly isn't about hockey, but hockey is used as a framework or foundation to talk about so many other things - family, friendships, community, communication, honesty, teamwork, standing up for truth, good vs evil, morality, priorities, grief, and so much more.
Although the tone of this book was much heavier than the other two books I've read by Backman, the thing that has remained consistent is his amazing ability to write complex, flawed, realistic characters. There were characters in this book I hated, but then grew to have a respect for. Other characters I loved from the start, but they had their moments of weakness too.
His writing style at a sentence by sentence level is pretty simplistic at times, but he throws in these sentences that take my breath away. Sometimes they're a profound reflection of a truth he's touching on, sometimes it's a warning of things to come. Sometimes it's just a zinger that keeps me on the edge of my seat wanting more.
I absolutely love this book. I didn't laugh as much as his other books, but definitely felt tender toward some characters, angry at others, and absolutely heartbroken at times too. So good!
Oh, be forewarned that rape is a major element of the story.