Beartown - Fredrik Backman

Beartown

By Fredrik Backman

  • Release Date: 2017-04-25
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 2,323 Ratings

Description

Now an HBO Original Series

“You’ll love this engrossing novel.” —People

Named a Best Book of the Year by LibraryReads, BookBrowse, and Goodreads

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People, a dazzling and profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.

By the lake in Beartown is an old ice rink, and in that ice rink Kevin, Amat, Benji, and the rest of the town’s junior ice hockey team are 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.

Under that heavy burden, the match becomes 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.

This is a story about a town and a game, but even more about loyalty, commitment, and the responsibilities of friendship; the people we disappoint even though we love them; and the decisions we make every day that come to define us. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.

Reviews

  • 5 Difficult Stars

    5
    By Scott_A_Miller
    5 Difficult Stars. Everything I heard about this book being great was absolutely true. I didn’t know how difficult and sad it would be. It was everything a great book strives to be though, I think. It was also too true, too typical of our world, too maddening. I was just mad during all the times I wasn’t sad. I can’t wait to see where it goes. I think that it should be easier. At least I hope so.
  • Emotional

    5
    By Pretty998
    I read the entire book in one sitting. The plot is relatable to an extent and you can really feel for the characters.
  • Beartown

    1
    By MEB*
    Seriously depressing. And the ending isn’t good enough to justify suffering through all those pages of awful. I laughed out loud on every page of A Man Called Ove. This is the exact opposite. It makes you want to cry on every page.
  • Bear town

    5
    By Marianheln
    As I hockey mom this was the most honest depiction I could have imagined. I recognized many of the characters as people I knew. I recognized many of the players… my own son among them. Read this book you will hate it. You will be depressed by it, and in the end you will believe in it and in human nature and love it.
  • Intense and heartbreaking

    5
    By ascerichan
    This book kept me awake for many nights, it’s intensity of the incident makes all the emotions so much more real
  • Amazing!

    5
    By Jbherrera
    One of the best books I have read in a long time.
  • Intense

    5
    By BrendaJTX
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its intensity. I am not a hockey fan but thoroughly enjoyed learning about the sport and the character development was excellent. There are some very serious topics and reading how a small town handles this is real and raw. Immediately getting the next book.
  • Extraordinary Storytelling

    5
    By asapr212
    What Louise Penny does for Three Pines, Fredrik Backman accomplishes in Beartown - the creation of a community you want to visit with people you want to get to know. The story is excellent, but at the end of the book its the characters you want more of. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
  • Makes my heart and mind sing

    5
    By laurapetsvet
    The character development and the way he links the scenes are just amazing.
  • An impactful story

    5
    By Yvette Br.
    I loved this book. The subject matter was tough and be writing was engaging. I loved a lot of characters and hated a lot of characters. I loved Maya and Ana’s friendship. Maya’s mom was amazing. I truly felt for that entire family. I really showed how favoritism, neglect, a “pack mindset” and power can really corrupt children and adults. I loved everyone who stood up for what was right. The ending was upsetting and sadly realistic. It’s just proof that we as adults have to be better so our kids can be too.