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A review by sarahmcg
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
My first book by Backman and it won’t be my last!
Beartown drew me in. I could picture myself in the small town and feel the chill in the air. I really enjoyed how well-written the setting was. There was also a very large cast of characters - the hockey team, the staff of the hockey club and the board/sponsors, plus other people in the town.
But this town is all about hockey and honestly seems to be putting all their eggs in that basket: they plan to win big, bring in more sponsors, build a hockey academy that everyone will want to send their talented hockey players to, then they’ll need a shopping mall and other attractions and it will bring new jobs to this struggling small town, etc. Quite a bit of pressure on these 17-year-old boys.
Because there are so many characters, and the narrative jumps around often (multiple different perspectives within each chapter), I did have a little difficulty keeping everyone straight initially since I was listening on audiobook. I probably could have used a reference sheet or something.
What I cannot emphasize enough is the emotional rollercoaster this story put me on. I didn’t read the synopsis, content/trigger warnings, or any reviews before heading into this one. I’m a huge mood reader and just thought it seemed like a good winter book! It was but I would also caution anyone that may be sensitive to certain topics to take a look at the trigger/content warnings at the end of this review and take them into consideration. This book broke my heart, made me angry and frustrated, and I cried multiple times. Some characters disappointed me, while others pleasantly surprised me. Despite how many characters there are, Backman did an amazing job giving us insight to each character - their background, family dynamics, fears, heartaches, and what motivates them.
This book is a story about a hockey town. But it’s about a lot more than hockey. It’s about toxic masculinity, peer pressure, rape culture, entitlement, patriarchy/misogyny, dehumanization (mostly of women), the danger of silence, and power imbalances. How the whole town becomes complicit in a culture that is so toxic and has everyone thinking backwards about a terrible assault, blaming and slandering the victim, and making the perpetrator a victim himself.
I did appreciate the ending and will continue on with the series to see where things go from here!
“Culture is as much about what we encourage as what we actually permit. Most people don't do what we tell them to. They do what we let them get away with.”
TW/CW ⚠️: rape/sexual assault, victim blaming, suicide (happened in past, mentioned), suicidal ideation, child loss, homophobia, locker room talk including misogynistic and homophobic comments, guns.
Beartown drew me in. I could picture myself in the small town and feel the chill in the air. I really enjoyed how well-written the setting was. There was also a very large cast of characters - the hockey team, the staff of the hockey club and the board/sponsors, plus other people in the town.
But this town is all about hockey and honestly seems to be putting all their eggs in that basket: they plan to win big, bring in more sponsors, build a hockey academy that everyone will want to send their talented hockey players to, then they’ll need a shopping mall and other attractions and it will bring new jobs to this struggling small town, etc. Quite a bit of pressure on these 17-year-old boys.
Because there are so many characters, and the narrative jumps around often (multiple different perspectives within each chapter), I did have a little difficulty keeping everyone straight initially since I was listening on audiobook. I probably could have used a reference sheet or something.
What I cannot emphasize enough is the emotional rollercoaster this story put me on. I didn’t read the synopsis, content/trigger warnings, or any reviews before heading into this one. I’m a huge mood reader and just thought it seemed like a good winter book! It was but I would also caution anyone that may be sensitive to certain topics to take a look at the trigger/content warnings at the end of this review and take them into consideration. This book broke my heart, made me angry and frustrated, and I cried multiple times. Some characters disappointed me, while others pleasantly surprised me. Despite how many characters there are, Backman did an amazing job giving us insight to each character - their background, family dynamics, fears, heartaches, and what motivates them.
This book is a story about a hockey town. But it’s about a lot more than hockey. It’s about toxic masculinity, peer pressure, rape culture, entitlement, patriarchy/misogyny, dehumanization (mostly of women), the danger of silence, and power imbalances. How the whole town becomes complicit in a culture that is so toxic and has everyone thinking backwards about a terrible assault, blaming and slandering the victim, and making the perpetrator a victim himself.
I did appreciate the ending and will continue on with the series to see where things go from here!
“Culture is as much about what we encourage as what we actually permit. Most people don't do what we tell them to. They do what we let them get away with.”
TW/CW ⚠️: rape/sexual assault, victim blaming, suicide (happened in past, mentioned), suicidal ideation, child loss, homophobia, locker room talk including misogynistic and homophobic comments, guns.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Fatphobia, Sexism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail