Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

201 reviews

nessawinnie'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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism

khackett411's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Islamophobia, and Alcohol

isabella__nesh99's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

(review after 2/4/25)
i love going back and annotating books during a reread, it's so relaxing and soothing and helps me procrastinate doing homework which is like exactly what i need rn

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder

There are some pretty overt and heavy themes discussed in this book, but Backman has nothing if not a deft and compassionate hand. While the personal contexts of every character is given, even the rapist's and other people who do not-good things, Backman never gives any excuses for bad behavior, and he also doesn't tell you, the reader, how to feel. He lets you draw your own conclusions while providing context.

laelolou's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

I find it hard to describe just how this book made me feel, like it was so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It made me so angry and frustrated but also I couldn't help but tear up at moments. I will be thinking about this for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Rape

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Child death and Homophobia

jazzy_xazzy's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.5

The story and characters in this book are so well fleshed out. There are so many characters, yet every one of them has a detailed back story including Beartown itself.
At first, the number of people does seem a little overwhelming and it takes a bit of time to get into the book, the only reason I haven't rated 5 stars.
It is an incredibly difficult book to read, with an on page rape and discussions of rape throughout. This is dealt with tastefully and the author somehow makes the male characters seem like they were written by a man and the female characters like they were written by a woman.
It really packs a punch and is such an impactful book, even with such a dark topic. It is incredibly realistic, especially in the way things work out legally and I credit the author for this, not trying to hide what most often happens when a girl/woman is raped.
Please, please read at your own pace and with caution, I did have to take a break from reading this book for a while after the rape occured as it is extremely hard to read about.
Overall a really impactful novel about the people within a small town are all impacted by the actions of one person and about the difficulties girls and women often face throughout their lives.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child death, Gun violence, and Violence

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

roguetm's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Racism

jenvald's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

Heavy but charming as expected with Backman, who always writes beautifully. The subject matter is important but unfortunately nothing new—even still, it was really well done. But I will say that there were too many characters!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, and Rape

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Racism

gremlin000's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

deelightfulreads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

this was such a beautifully written novel. all these characters were so well developed, i had a hard time believing they weren’t real 😭 it was so devastating, tragic and traumatic but hopeful the way the good triumphs the evil in the end. i can’t recommend enough, but please check the trigger warnings! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Domestic abuse

thehannahclaire's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail