Beartown
Ratings163
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings163
Average rating4.3
A dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.
People say Beartown 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
Featured Series
3 primary booksBeartown is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2016 with contributions by Fredrik Backman.
Reviews with the most likes.
I will not be rating this because 1. I can not know what to rate this book b. I wanted to read a book for personal enjoyment instead of obsessing over the rating I'd give.
This is technically my second book by the author, as I had dnf'ed a man called ove. This took me a bit by surprise and inserted me into the story. I laughed, well, didn't exactly cry, but my heart broke so many times for some of the characters while I wanted to kill others.
This is one of the best books about sports I've ever read. Of course, it's about far more than sports. The justifications we make for them. The toxicity of fans. It's a dark book in many ways. But it's very worth reading.
Actual rating: 4/5 stars
Read for Winterween 2022: book with a winter setting & book with snow on the cover
I really did love the themes in this book. This book is very important and this made me understand why people really love team sports which is a weird thing to get from this book. I have never really been a sports person even tho I played them when I was younger but I never understand why people are always so committed to them. This made me understand that. Besides that I really like how all the perspectives mattered to tell a story of how sexual assault can impact so many people especially when sports players are involved. The writing wasn't my favorite and it was a bit too slow for me but besides that I adored this.
Fantastic. You ever have a feeling like you are reading something important? Not in a preachy, political, or agenda-driven fashion, but just meaningful beyond the words on the pages or what's being delivered on the surface? It doesn't happen often for me, but it was clear early in the book that this one was special...at least to me. It was a combination of the complex, realistic characters, the interwoven storylines, writing style, setting, and content...really everything.
I'm not gonna go deep on a review. Just do yourself a favor and read it. I love sports, but hate hockey. I think being able to relate to the love of a team did play a part in my experience, but I'm not convinced that tie is essential.
Can't wait to read it again.
Featured Prompt
2,097 booksWhen you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
