Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Beartown

I love the pacing of this book. It’s slow, but necessary. I feel it’s a must read for anyone. It captures a real life culture in a small town well. Very sad and tense at times, deals with dark topics. The way that the author writes about the experiences and thoughts of the characters is impeccable. I think, anyone who grew up or lives in a small town will relate much more to this book. If you grew up in a larger town, you may not connect with it as much.

strong content warnings about rape, Suicide, murder, gangs, alcoholism, fighting

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mccutiereads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

My favorite Fredrik Backman book TO DATE. So different from everything else he’s written, but so beautiful and human. I hated and lived reading it. I hated and loved the characters. This was a painful reminder of the power of actions and choices in a community (big or small). So floored and will be thinking about this book everyday. Now officially grieving. TW for SA!!

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sizzlesteaks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

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hanhantap's review against another edition

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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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bookishinnj's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious 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

5.0

“Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds.”

Beartown is a dying town with only one thing going for them, their hockey club and this year is going to be the year their junior ice hockey team puts them back on the map. It's just what the community needs, but this bright light soon has a dark shadow cast over it. The already struggling townsfolk will be come more divided than ever and the one thing that brings them together is about to tear them apart.

This is such a difficult book to review without giving too much away, there's really no middle ground. The first time I tried to read this I struggled and stopped but I know so many who loved it that I knew I had to give it another try and I'm so happy I did. The story tackles some complex and deep rooted issues that many are faced with every day by telling the story through the lives of a group characters who are very different from each other. Backman also does this by using what I found to be a really unique writing style. It's impossible not to immerse yourself in the thoughts, feelings and actions of the characters because they feel like they are people you know. While going in blind was perfect for me, I suggest checking trigger warnings for anyone who may want to steer clear of some heavy topics.

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samlo28's review against another edition

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slow-paced

5.0

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