Beartown: A Novel

If you read one novel this year, read Beartown. Backman surprises with a book unlike his earlier efforts which were excellent in and of themselves, but in this book you sense his full potential as a writer. I would risk going so far as to say it should become a classic with Catcher in the Rye and A Separate Peace. This is a book all men should read but sadly will not but even at 73 years of age, I found it something special. This story will tug at you in multiple ways and it will make you think deeply.

The story was good... very timely with strong characters. It explored some rather dark themes though, which was not exactly what I was hoping for in a book about small town hockey. I understand that's also what kept it from being a cliche sports story, so it's really just a matter of personal preference.

Speaking of personal prefs, for those that like a content advisory ahead of time: This book cointains frequent use of the F word and other profanities, a (non-graphic) rape scene, a homosexual minor sub-story, and some pretty violent fighting.

People can write and read what they want, but I wish someone had advised me about some of this book's contents me beforehand.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman is a very powerful book. It draws you in and doesn't let you go. I will be re-reading this book again probably starting tonite.

I highly recommend Beartown to readers: who like to think about the books they have read for days afterwards, like excellent fiction and have enjoyed other books by Fredrik Backman.

If you read one novel this year, read Beartown. Backman surprises with a book unlike his earlier efforts which were excellent in and of themselves, but in this book you sense his full potential as a writer. I would risk going so far as to say it should become a classic with Catcher in the Rye and A Separate Peace. This is a book all men should read but sadly will not but even at 73 years of age, I found it something special. This story will tug at you in multiple ways and it will make you think deeply.

The story was good... very timely with strong characters. It explored some rather dark themes though, which was not exactly what I was hoping for in a book about small town hockey. I understand that's also what kept it from being a cliche sports story, so it's really just a matter of personal preference.

Speaking of personal prefs, for those that like a content advisory ahead of time: This book cointains frequent use of the F word and other profanities, a (non-graphic) rape scene, a homosexual minor sub-story, and some pretty violent fighting.

People can write and read what they want, but I wish someone had advised me about some of this book's contents me beforehand.

I’m about 100 pages into this book. I just looked and saw it’s over 400 pages. There’s literally no way I can finish this. It is SO insanely repetitive. Nothing has happened at all so far besides boring daily stuff that’s less interesting than my own day to day life and the author has set the tone of what Beartown is like about 40 times when I already got it the first time. And it’s not because it’s all about hockey. I love hockey, I’ve been watching my brother play for 15 years. But wow this book is excruciatingly boring. Please save yourself the money and time. Read something else.

I’m about 100 pages into this book. I just looked and saw it’s over 400 pages. There’s literally no way I can finish this. It is SO insanely repetitive. Nothing has happened at all so far besides boring daily stuff that’s less interesting than my own day to day life and the author has set the tone of what Beartown is like about 40 times when I already got it the first time. And it’s not because it’s all about hockey. I love hockey, I’ve been watching my brother play for 15 years. But wow this book is excruciatingly boring. Please save yourself the money and time. Read something else.

A haunting dissection of the dangers of small-town desperation and obsession, plus timely commentary on feminist issues.

A great, diverse cast of characters, psychologically examined to perfection.

A simple but effective plot line that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each character and unfolds in an incredibly believable manner.

And an undeniably excellent writing style and story structure that highlight the powerful emotions behind the whole novel.

There's not really much else to say.

I have been hooked on Mr. Backman's books since A Man Called Ove, and this is his most realistic book yet. He always has great characters, but they are often socially awkward and outside of the norm. In BearTown, Kira and Peter's marriage is easy to identify with, and Kira's representation as a guilt-ridden working mother is spot on. As she drives off to work one day, she reflects "When children are young you think it will pass, the guilty feeling you get in your stomach when you leave home each morning. But it never does, it just gets worse". I have to wonder where Mr. Backman got such as astute insight into the mind of a mother.

The story is engaging, and I could not put the book down. Try this one!

A haunting dissection of the dangers of small-town desperation and obsession, plus timely commentary on feminist issues.

A great, diverse cast of characters, psychologically examined to perfection.

A simple but effective plot line that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each character and unfolds in an incredibly believable manner.

And an undeniably excellent writing style and story structure that highlight the powerful emotions behind the whole novel.

There's not really much else to say.

This book was amazing. It had everything you could ask for in a story, suspense, intrigue, feeling, personal connection. It taught you about life and told an intelligent story of the people in a small town who shared a common bond and like the facets of a diamond, all the ways it affected their lives. I could not put this book down without thinking about it throughout the day. This is one of those stories you hate to put down but don't want it to end.

This book is about high school kids and their families. It takes place in a fictional "hockey" town located in Sweden. I can't remember reading a more depressing book. I struggled to get through it. Many characters experiencing negative events throughout the entire story. Using too much foul language, drinking, rape, smoking weed, disrespectful, prejudice, and all the while only wanting to win, win, win at hockey! Please stop! Definitely not for me.