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A review by pragmaticallypassionate_reader
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
4.0
True to Backman's style, this book is full of humor, subtleties, and strikingly heavy moments.
Much of the power of this story comes from the unexpected climax of the book, where the unthinkable happens. For the rest of the book, Backman evaluates the human response - sometimes with glimpses of light and hope, and other times showing the twisted, blind reactions that are all too common. As he does best, Backman presents an unprecedented view of human nature and understanding of society.
But of course, even the beginning of the story is deep and filled with little sidetracks that pull back the covers on people's motivations, thoughts, and fears.
I do think the Beartown suffered from being a little too long, and I'm not sure how the next book will pick up the story. Regardless, I am hooked.
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**content notes: heavy, heavy language. lots of sexual joking. hints of violence (it is hockey, after all). attempted sexual assault/rape of a minor by a peer on-page. hints at suicidal thoughts. one character reveals his sexuality as gay, another character struggles with what was ingrained in him about this (this lasts about a chapter).
Much of the power of this story comes from the unexpected climax of the book, where the unthinkable happens. For the rest of the book, Backman evaluates the human response - sometimes with glimpses of light and hope, and other times showing the twisted, blind reactions that are all too common. As he does best, Backman presents an unprecedented view of human nature and understanding of society.
But of course, even the beginning of the story is deep and filled with little sidetracks that pull back the covers on people's motivations, thoughts, and fears.
I do think the Beartown suffered from being a little too long, and I'm not sure how the next book will pick up the story. Regardless, I am hooked.
.
.
.
.
**content notes: heavy, heavy language. lots of sexual joking. hints of violence (it is hockey, after all). attempted sexual assault/rape of a minor by a peer on-page. hints at suicidal thoughts. one character reveals his sexuality as gay, another character struggles with what was ingrained in him about this (this lasts about a chapter).