By Fredrik Backman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Goodreads: 4.29)
GENRE: Drama
PART OF A SERIES? Yes {Beartown, #1}
WORTH READING? Yes
SUMMARY:
Beartown is a tale of a small town with big dreams… to be ‘the best’ at ice hockey. The dreams and aspirations of the entire town rest on the young shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.
The boys can scarcely handle the immense pressure they’re under. The semi-final match becomes the catalyst for a tragic event, leaving a young girl traumatised and the town in disarray. Accusations abound which touch every resident of this small community.
Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes to stand up for what’s right. Fredrik Backman has found the entire world in this story of a small forest town.
Opening lines: “Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barrelled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else’s forehead, and pulled the trigger.”
This was my third time reading Beartown and its sequels (I have not read any other books three times in 4 decades of reading, so that should tell you something!)
Fredrik Backman is incredibly talented at showing his readers the very soul of his characters. He gives his characters beautiful arcs, right from the second we are introduced to them. And this is one of the reasons why I will always say Backman is one of the best storytellers around.
Given Beartown’s subject matter, it is somewhat surprising that Fredrik Backman has been able to interlace his wit throughout this book (and its sequels). I wasn’t expecting to laugh out loud as many times as I did.
Beartown is full of Fredrik Backman’s customary nuggets of wisdom, such as: “It doesn’t take a lot to be able to let go of your child. It takes everything” and “A great deal is expected of anyone who’s been given a lot.”
Backman shows, rather than tells, the reader things with finesse. E.g. “The room is silent enough for everyone to hear when his heart breaks.”
The imagery of the puck being hit repeats as a motif throughout Beartown. Backman places ‘Bang, bang’ in the most perfect places. Backman’s use of it is so effective I could almost hear it each time. ‘Bang, bang’ is also used for a couple of other reasons (which I won’t spoil for you), which is very clever.
Although not a comprehensive list, some of the themes in Beartown are: Teamwork and dynamics, family, friendship, death and loss, careers, hero complexes, and the frailty and resilience of the human spirit.
This novel is a poignant reminder of the strength and fragility of community and family bonds. I highly recommend the Beartown series to anyone looking for deeply moving and thought-provoking reads. If you are not into sports particularly, please do not let that put you off. Yes, the book is, on the surface, about ice hockey. But you don’t have to look far below the surface to see that Beartown is about so much more than sport. Fredrik Backman has created a microcosm of the entire world in this series.
The Beartown books will forever hold a fond place in my heart. I cannot overstate how much I love them! When asked to recommend a book, the Beartown series is always at the top of my recommendations. The characters are so special, not only the main but the peripheral characters, too. I cared deeply for them all. I challenge you all to give this book a go. Fair warning to you, though… you may need a tissue or two.
Click here to purchase Beartown
To purchase the other two books in the series:
Click here for Us Against You
Click here for The Winners (AKA Those who Run Towards Fire)
N.B: I earn from affiliate Amazon links
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