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stellahadz 's review for:
Beartown
by Fredrik Backman
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In my experience, books that become popular on social media (Booktok, Bookstagram, etc) are usually pretty hit-or-miss, but I was really impressed with Beartown. The writing flowed well, the third-person omniscient narration was masterfully done, and the translator definitely deserves their flowers for capturing the emotional landscape of the story and the almost lyrical quality of the writing. It starts off pretty slow, but having the background information on the town and the different characters pays off in the end. This would have been great as a standalone book, but I'm absolutely planning to read the sequels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Gun violence, Suicide, Islamophobia