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branamalyssa10's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
staceykay's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
kailiyahknight's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
mackennac's review
- 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
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
taracloudclark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The first half of this book is a lot of exposition, setting the stage for the driving action. But it’s done well, creatively, interestingly. In other words, “nothing happens,” and I was *almost* bored with it, but I only had to push through a little. It kind of reminds me of Spoon River Anthology with the intertwining of lives and stories of a small town where everyone knows everyone and always have (except the newbies, but that’s not portrayed as harshly as many of this trope).
While it’s a sports town, the sport itself doesn’t take a front seat. It truly is the background while still sating any love for it.
This definitely borders on literary fiction bc the structure is done in a very precise and lovely way, using almost poetic mechanisms such as repeated phrases and parallelism. The narrative style also has a starkness that reflects the setting and the situation, and vice versa. Tension and foreshadowing are done in an obvious but not ridiculous manner. The *way* it was written is as well done as the story itself.
This is definitely a book for consideration. The story is laid out, and while there’s no ambiguity as to “what happened,” there is much speculation to be made as to why and how and what the underlying issues are and how else they affect society. There are no stark answers given. Bad behavior is mentioned, implicated, but not condemned outright. That’s for the reader to determine, negotiate in some cases. Anyone who feels this is moralizing is probably on the more brutal side of the issue.
The narrator Marin Ireland does very well in complimenting the narrative style as well. It’s 3rd person, and the author is male, but I’m pleased they chose a female to tell this story. Such topics through the male perspective can be troublesome, but I feel like the author did well and the narrator helped convince me of it.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jenhawkins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was nothing like I expected, and yet everything I have come to experience from this author. Fredrik Backman has a skill for creating the most compelling, most fleshed out crew of characters, very similar in some aspects to James McBride’s “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”. He differentiates the more central voices and stories from others, but does not narrow his scope at all. The Beartown team, their friends, their parents and their parents’ friends, the woven tapestry of the town comes into full focus in this novel. The community has sharp, contrasting characters, some to root for and others to bristle up against.
I went into this book expecting a heartwarming tale about a hockey team fighting against all odds to succeed in a world that sees them as the underdogs. This is not that book. This book shines in its portrayal of the spectrum of human kindness and human fallibility, in spotlighting what distress and challenge does to different people. How their environment is not just a passive sleepy town in the forest, but a living and breathing PRESENCE in their lives, with expectations all its own. At its heart, this novel is about how perspective shapes the stories one tells to the world and to themselves. Passion, the destructive and healing powers of community, and a loss of innocence at all ages are fiercely returning themes as well. It was heart-wrenching and raw and persevering. I was hooked immediately.
The faults I had with this book were minor but bugged me enough to keep this one floating around 4 stars for me. One thing I noticed that gets on my nerves a bit in books is that some of the characters, the children in particular, did not speak to each other or to adults like people. They often said things that, while profound, did not match a natural person’s thoughts and opinions. Lines were often delivered for emotional impact and commentary on society rather than if they were being delivered to a best friend, or a mother. I also thought there was a bit of a leaning to wrap some of these story threads up too neatly. Some characters “learn their lesson” clean and clear, almost to give the book some strong sense of a hopeful ending. Perhaps this is part of the message of the novel, but I found it less compelling than the rest of Backman’s writing.
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
rhubarbpi3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, and Sexual harassment
a_wistful_writer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
singalana's review
- 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
4.5
During the course of the story we get to know a cast of characters whose lives revolve around hockey in one way or another. Each of the characters have their own struggles in life, but when one of the players is accused of rape, people will have to decide who to believe and what hockey really means to them.
The story paints a vivid picture of Beartown and all its inhabitants. It does a good job shedding light to the complex motivations people have behind their actions, and also allows the reader to read between the lines when necessary.
At first, the book allows us to get to know the characters and their circumstances. Then a hockey player rapes a girl. The scene isn't described in needless detail, but is impactful nonetheless. When the events are made public, the people of Beartown react.
This book deals with shame, rape culture and culture of silence. It touches on many important topics with gentleness and respect.
The ending surprised me, and I thought it was as satisfying as it could be, considering the circumstances. I think everyone who spends time in testosterone filled environments such as a hockey team would benefit from reading this book.
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism