Beartown

I love Backman. This novel is more plot-driven than character-driven and makes sense they would pick it up for TV. I prefer A Man Called Ove and Anxious People as beautiful deep character studies, but found his delicate treatment of a difficult topic well done. His descriptions of a hockey town really resonated, as did the town people's reactions to the conflict. It felt real.
Having read his character novels first, it disappointed me that some characters weren't richer or deeper but he had a lot of characters to navigate (I couldn't distinguish David from Peter for a lot of the book.)
All of that to say this book is another great Backman novel. He's still my favourite :)

Wow, what a good book. A third of the way in I was skeptical, because as beautifully written as it was (a trademark for Backman), I am not a hockey person and detest “hockey culture”, growing up in a relatively small town in Canada, the entire thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I shouldn't have worried. Once the central event happens, you understand what this book is trying to do and from there, everything is a rollercoaster of emotions.

After having trouble with both this and Anxious people initially, and then loving both of them, I now understand that Backman has my full confidence to tell the story he's trying to tell in, in a way only Backman can do. I'm gonna have to read all of his books.

5 stars this book is incredible

4.5 ! tears all ‘round

I'm in love with everything about this book!

I almost didn't pick this one up, because I have zero interest in hockey. But man, I'm so glad I did. This book, although centered around hockey, is about SO much more than that. It's very much a character driven story. I fell in love with almost everyone in Beartown.
This book also tackles a difficult subject and ended up opening my eyes to new perspectives.

I can't recommend this one enough!

What happens when one night of secrets pours out into a town that is fierce with competition and loyalties? Where hockey players aren't seen as young men who should be raised well morally, but seen as commodities that will bring money and glory to a dying town?

What a well written and heart-hitting story. My heart was all over the place feeling the full spectrum of emotions. This is the first book I've read by this author and all I can think is what in the world took me so long.

This book took me a while to actually get into and enjoy. Once I got about halfway into it the story picked up and I enjoyed it a lot more. Still trying to process my thoughts on this book as it dealt with some heavy topics such as rape and sexism.

I can't believe I'm saying this about a contemporary novel, but this is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. Top 10 if not Top 5.

I did not know what this book was about, other than a small town that loves hockey, and I honestly believe that was the perfect way to go into it. The way Fredrik Backman handled every aspect of this story, from the big moments to the most subtle, is superb.

I can't adequately express my thoughts about this book. For now, I'll just say I loved it and you should read it.

Haunting, infuriating, and hard to put down.

But PLEASE BE AWARE: SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIGGER WARNING

Haunting, infuriating, and hard to put down.

But PLEASE BE AWARE: SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIGGER WARNING

Really this is 4.5 stars for me...I just can't decide whether to round up or down at this point.

I read a couple of reviews going in so I knew this wasn't going to be the usual whimsical work that I love from this author. And yet, it wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be. The teaser description makes it sound like this is a story about an underdog hockey team and the people and town who breathe, sleep and eat the sport. In reality it's a coming of age story about people who happen to have hockey as part of their lives.

I've been reading A LOT of fantasy this year, full on epic fantasies that are often really lengthy and in-depth and after finishing the mammoth that is The Priory of the Orange Tree I felt the need for a little break, a little bit of contemporary and so I picked up Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

I have heard nothing but amazing things about Backman's books and have been promising myself to get to them but when I saw this on the library shelf I couldn't stop myself from picking it up. I knew a little about its plot, that it was about a hockey-mad small town in the middle of nowhere where a young girl accuses the town's hockey star of rape and the fall out around the events as the town takes sides.

This book was hiding something much more between its pages though, I quickly fell in love with this book because what I found Backman did so well was to be able to introduce a whole myriad of characters from Beartown and make us care about all of them, whether they were a central character or one of those on the periphery. Each and every person lets us into their world and tells us about their world in Beartown and what it means to them and this makes for a powerfully emotional story that feels multi-dimensional and full of amazing relationships.

Through lots of hockey analogies and coaching techniques, we delve into whether or not the town and the hockey team might be to blame for what has happened, whether they have raised the team in the town to believe they are untouchable. We also explore the divide between how boys are treated by the community versus the girls. It's a highly volatile story and one that will prick at the conscience.

I haven't read much contemporary at all over the past year or so, I could count on one hand the number of books of this genre as often I haven't enjoyed them as much but I loved Beartown. I really enjoyed the beautiful writing of Backman and I am now desperately awaiting arrival at my library of the second Beartown book in the series, Us Against You which will allow me a chance to spend more time with all the wonderful residents of this small town.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it stands out as one of my favourite books of 2019 so far.

Backman is an amazing storyteller. While the plot isn't unique, the lyrical writing and the memorable characters make this a page turner. The most interesting characters to me aren't the major players but the supporting ones whose choices, and how they justify them, have a significant impact on the outcome. I know there's a sequel, [b:Us Against You 36373463 Us Against You (Beartown, #2) Fredrik Backman https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1516019348s/36373463.jpg 56772779], but I'm not sure I want to read it; I'd rather leave the perfect ending that Backman has for this book as it is.

“Bitterness can be corrosive. It can rewrite your memories as if it were scrubbing a crime scene clean, until in the end you only remember what suits you of its causes.”

The books deals, of course, with a heavy topic but the at the core is not what happened but aspects of the human condition overall. The author describes very vividly the core of a small town and its inhabitants, it could be a town anywhere, the fundamentals still apply. He's also good at characterization, it's easy to get into the minds of these characters so it's not surprising when you end up caring for them. The way he describes hokey is also skillful. I am, generally, completely uninterested in sports but throughout reading this book I actually got it.

Even though I greatly appreciated this book there was still something holding me back from getting completely immersed it, I can't put my finger on what it was. Maybe the pacing?

Excellent, recommend

Great plot. Great composition: how many different members of a community act and interact and carry the plot forward after something disruptive happens in their midst. Great style, but weirdly repetetive and consistent use of same stylistic devices of repetition and simplification and ... whatsitcalled... Beartown is a city. But not all cities are Beartown. Such phrases. And again. Again. Again.

Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else's forehead, and pulled the trigger.This is the story of how we got there.I love reading and I love books. I rarely take them personally, though. Mostly, I forget their contents soon after having read the final page. This is part of why I've started writing reviews in 2019. A few rare and precious books, though, stay with me, unforgettable. One of those is “[b:Beartown 33413128 Beartown (Beartown, #1) Fredrik Backman https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1482108618l/33413128.SY75.jpg 54171514]” by [a:Fredrik Backman 6485178 Fredrik Backman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1493098924p2/6485178.jpg]. I read it in 2018 and while I've forgotten some details, I vividly remember the story which to this day, five years later, makes me tear up. There's also a very personal aspect to this because I gave this novel as a present to my mother for her 81st birthday, joking that if she had time for one more book, she should read this one. She died three days later.So, this review, which I felt unfit to write at the time, comes five year “late” but it will never be too late for “Beartown” because I still believe that this novel is such a unique* masterpiece that everyone should read it.“Beartown” is a beautifully written novel that captivates the reader with its raw emotional depth and stunning prose. Backman has crafted a masterpiece that explores the complexities of human nature and the power of community, all within the context of a small, remote town where hockey reigns supreme. Don't be discouraged, though: Yes, hockey plays a role in this but “Beartown” is very much not about hockey...At the heart of the story is a group of young hockey players who dream of making it to the big leagues. Their passion for the game is palpable and contagious, and Backman expertly captures the intensity of their training and the thrill of their victories. But beneath the surface, there are darker currents at play, as the town's obsession with hockey and its players leads to a culture of toxic masculinity and entitlement.When one of the team's star players is accused of a heinous crime, the town is torn apart by conflicting emotions and loyalties. Backman masterfully navigates the moral complexities of the situation, exploring themes of loyalty, justice, and forgiveness with nuance and sensitivity.But what makes “Beartown” truly special is its portrayal of community: Backman has created a cast of characters that are richly drawn and deeply flawed, but ultimately bound together by their love for their town and each other. Through their interconnected stories, Backman illustrates the power of community to both heal and harm, and the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult.One of the most important relationships in “Beartown” is the friendship between Maya and her best friend, Ana. Maya is a strong and determined young woman, with a fierce loyalty to her family and her town. Ana, on the other hand, is more reserved and introspective, but no less passionate about her beliefs.Through Maya's and Ana's friendship, Backman illustrates the importance of empathy and compassion, and the power of human connection to bridge differences and create understanding. Their relationship is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for healing and reconciliation through the strength of our bonds with one another.Another character at the heart of this fantastic novel is Benji, a character who struggles with his identity and his place in the world. He is a talented hockey player but he is not a star on the team. Benji is also grappling with his sexuality and the fear of being rejected by his peers and the community at large. His journey in the novel is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as he comes to terms with who he is and finds the courage to be true to himself.One of the most touching aspects of the novel is the friendship between Benji and Maya. They have known each other since childhood and have a bond that is deep and unbreakable. Maya accepts Benji for who he is, and their friendship becomes a source of strength and support for both of them. Benji's loyalty to Maya is unwavering, even when he faces pressure from his teammates and others in the community to betray her.Throughout the novel, Benji's story is a reminder of the importance of acceptance and love in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. Backman handles his character with utmost sensitivity and empathy, and the reader can't help but root for him as Benji navigates his way through the challenges he faces. By the end of the novel, Benji's journey is one of the most powerful and inspiring in the book, and his growth and transformation are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.Another of the novel's standout characters is Peter Andersson, the team's general manager and a former hockey star himself. Peter is a complex and nuanced character, haunted by the mistakes of his past and struggling to balance his loyalty to his team with his responsibility to his family and the town. Backman's portrayal of Peter is both heartbreaking and inspiring.Another amazing character is Kira, Peter's wife, Maya's mother, who is fiercely protective but also a deeply compassionate and empathetic person. Backman's depiction of her journey through grief, anger, and forgiveness is both moving and thought-provoking, challenging readers to examine their own beliefs about justice and mercy.Not only these few characters are brilliantly, empathetically and masterfully portrayed, though, but actually every single character makes sense, is believable and plausible in their respective actions. Not just the “hotshots” matter but everyone, including the local hooligans and the cleaner.Overall, “Beartown” is a truly remarkable novel that deserves all the praise it has received and now I finally added my voice to it to go with the five out of five stars it easily deserves. *: I'm well aware and have read its two sequels (and liked them) but despite their respective successes, personally, I believe “Beartown” should have remained the solitary triumph of literature it is.Blog Facebook Twitter Mastodon Instagram Pinterest Medium Matrix TumblrCeterum censeo Putin esse delendam

It's really hard to give a book that tore your heart, made you sick to your stomach and feel lost and horrified too many stars, but I suppose that's what I'm doing here. Would I recommend this book? Not really. Maybe to someone who doesn't believe in the relation between date rape and sports. Or the people who think that sports are more important than everything else because this book is real life. And it doesn't have to occur in a small town. It happens EVERYWHERE.

But if you enjoyed Backman's other books then this will probably be a shock. This is no heartwarming tale with quirky, lovable characters. This book is full of people I wanted to throttle and wish death upon. And the ending was not satisfying. I wanted to throw the book. I wanted to cry.

But it was also filled with characters who were everything.

“She stands there and howls with an echo that will never fall silent in her heart.”

I picked this up because I am a cheerleader in one of the groups on Goodreads and so many of the members had read or were excited to read it I felt compelled to give it a shot.

Bearstown is a dying, rural town that has placed all its economic hopes on the town's hockey club. When the star player is accused of raping the daughter of the club's general manager a week before an important championship tournament the town is torn apart and it must decide what its soul is worth.

The plot crawls at first, depending heavily on “clickbait” teasers to keep the reader intrigued. The timeline in fluid, filled with flashbacks. It takes some concentration on the part of the reader to locate oneself correctly in the ensuing fog of time that drifts across the pages. We see the character 10 years in the future. Then the narrative in the next paragraph returns to the present only to jump to a flashback several paragraphs later.

The prose is simple and sparse — like a blog post. At first it felt annoying then it began to feel relentless The characters are strongly defined.

This was a fantastic book - I devoured it in 2 days. I read a Man Called Ove and loved it. While this is very different - a little darker and heavier - it is still a great examination of the human condition and community. Fredrick Backman is quickly becoming a favorite author and I can't wait to read the rest of his books.

Fredrik Backman knows just how to rip my heart out. This was really intense for me, because I didn't just read this book, I LIVED in this book. I know that because several times Matt had to ask me if I was okay, and I was not, because I was busy shaking with rage or sobbing with the weight of all the things we're expected to put up with — as women, as a town, as a community, as a team — and what happens when you can't live with that weight anymore.

I don't even like hockey, but I loved this book. I loved Ramona, and Ana, and Benji for loving so fiercely even when it was against their best interests. The first time Ramona talked about Holger and her watching hockey together before he died, it socked me in the chest and it was all I could do to not start crying at work. And ugh, Backman is so good at describing shame. So so so so good.

The author does a good job of using Beartown and the residents' relationship with hockey to demonstrate the inherent messiness of life. Life here, like everywhere, is lived out in shades of gray. This is a character driven novel, so a reader looking for a lot of action might find the story to be slow moving. Recommended for readers who enjoy literary fiction.

I don't have words to describe how good this book was. It brings up all the right emotions about a lot of things that need to be talked about.

Fantastic. You ever have a feeling like you are reading something important? Not in a preachy, political, or agenda-driven fashion, but just meaningful beyond the words on the pages or what's being delivered on the surface? It doesn't happen often for me, but it was clear early in the book that this one was special...at least to me. It was a combination of the complex, realistic characters, the interwoven storylines, writing style, setting, and content...really everything.

I'm not gonna go deep on a review. Just do yourself a favor and read it. I love sports, but hate hockey. I think being able to relate to the love of a team did play a part in my experience, but I'm not convinced that tie is essential.

Can't wait to read it again.