A review by maziodynes
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

3.75

I loved this book until the
rape happens halfway through the book - it's hard to explain, but the town's reaction and her emotions felt too real and clinical. I know fiction isn't always intended to uplift when exploring serious topics, I didn't feel like it added anything to my own artistic explorations and knowledge. I know how badly rape cases go when the perpetrator is well loved in a small community. It only drove the knife in further and made me sad.
This put me off of the otherwise heartwarming exploration of a town and its messy dynamics and relationship with hockey, which I greatly enjoyed! the character writing was superb.
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