Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

38 reviews

majca's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

If only she hadn't existed, then none of this would have happened, why didn't she think of that.

This turned out to be the wrong read at the wrong time for me. I didn’t expect the “event” to be what it was, and the emotions it stirred felt uncomfortably close to current real-life frustrations. Sadly I just wanted the book to be over at a certain point.

That said it's still a good novel, as the conflict and characters are deeply heartfelt and realistically drawn. With a large cast like this, it’s impressive how coherent and authentic each character feels. However, the rapid shifts in perspective may not suit everyone.

I docked 1–1.5 stars for a few personal grievances. Even under different circumstances, the topic is too authentic and painful and too frequent a real life story that I don't particularly enjoy reading about it in fiction. Additionally, the narrative style didn’t work for me. The heavy, intentional repetitive phrasing. The foretelling and narrative prolepsis. And perhaps most of all the decision to resolutely use the characters roles instead of their names. Initially just distracting, this became grating by the end.
It's admittedly very quotable though, sometimes contrived or nonsensical, but often on the spot as well.

And when enough people are quiet for long enough, a handful of voices can give the impression that everyone is screaming.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy

m0dp0dge's review against another edition

hopeful reflective

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Eating disorder, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

reddeddy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

taylorparrott99's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

emi_momo's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Drug use, Gun violence, and Sexism

Minor: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy

bookswithisabel's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

mackennac's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

hi_its_micah's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence and Homophobia

Minor: Pregnancy

hanhantap's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

andrewhatesham's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, and Sexism

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism