Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Book Review: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Title: Beartown
Author: Fredrik Backman
Series/Standalone: Beartown Series (Book #1)
Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 432
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Year Published: 2016
Format: Audiobook

"The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream- and the price required to make it come true.

People say Beartwon is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected.

Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world."

My Rating: 5/5

I have read another work by this author and enjoyed it thoroughly, this book was a different feeling. The subject matter is obviously more intense, but the author's ability to write dynamic multi-sided characters continues to floor me. As someone who grew up in a small town, this hit very hard for me. The way the town reacts to accusations and how rape culture is a huge part of our society, even still. I plan to continue this series as soon as possible, as well as watch the HBO series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

No comments:

Post a Comment