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A review by diversifyyourreading
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
5.0
When it comes to books, I throw around the word ‘love’ like it means nothing at all - I fall in love, or lust, or whatever you want to call it with so many books that I read. In the moment, I love them so much because I become so wrapped up in the plot and the characters. And then I quickly forget about them, only thinking about them fondly from time to time when I see them on my ‘Read’ shelf. This one, though, this one is special…
Beartown is, hands down, one of the best books I can remember reading. Ever. This book is POWERFUL. And I don’t want to say much about it because I know that I can’t do it justice. But I at least need to spill my feelings a bit.
Fredrik Backman does an incredible job describing sports culture in Beartown. How something as seemingly unimportant as a ‘game’ can actually be the most important thing. To a group of people. To a school. To an entire town. How one victory can start a chain reaction that saves a town; or how a loss could ruin it, cause a town to essentially cease to exist.
Sports culture is a fascinating thing. And, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been completely wrapped up in it - as an athlete, as a supporter, and sometimes even as someone who has no idea what’s going on but loves the atmosphere. I attended a high school that had a great football team, a hockey ‘club’ that had more support than most official sports, and a group of athletes that played multiple sports and essentially ruled the school. I had friends on every team, attended games for almost every sport over my four years, and donned the schools colors proudly. During my junior or senior year, I started a tailgate before football games with a group of friends where we would all paint each others faces and walk into the games proud to be a part of it all. And I’ve carried that with me through the rest of my life, throwing myself into the hockey culture at Boston University and then into football (soccer) culture when I married a Brit. In fact, I’m literally writing parts of this review while at the pub watching the Champions League final.
Anyway, back to the book. In Beartown, one night leaves a young, 15 year old girl traumatised and a hockey loving town divided. Accusations are made against a hockey player. Sides are taken, most in favor of the hockey player. One night changes the town forever. And that got me thinking. A lot. Because, as a fifteen year old girl who was well and truly wrapped up in sports culture, I can’t tell you whose side I would’ve been on if an event like that happened at my school. If one of my athletic friends got wrapped up in something that I never could’ve imagined them being a part of. If it was just one teenagers word against another. And, to 25 year old me, that’s a terrifying thought. Because I know, at this point, I would’ve waited until enough information was out that I could make an informed decision. But at 15, I have no idea what I would’ve done!
But Beartown isn’t just about what happened at that one moment. Or how the town reacts to it. Or even about hockey. It’s about so much more than that. That’s what makes Fredrik Backman one of the most incredible authors I’ve ever read. Because here I am, hours after finishing this book, still thinking. About small towns, about my childhood, about sports culture and being a sports fan. About people, and how they think. How they live. About passion and how it can be both the best and worst thing for a person. About friends, family. I really just can’t get this book out of my head. Isn’t that the best kind of book?
I’m so looking forward to the release of the sequel in June! Please note that there are triggers in this book, though, so try to read some reviews that mention those before you decide to buy if you are sensitive to certain topics.
Beartown is, hands down, one of the best books I can remember reading. Ever. This book is POWERFUL. And I don’t want to say much about it because I know that I can’t do it justice. But I at least need to spill my feelings a bit.
Fredrik Backman does an incredible job describing sports culture in Beartown. How something as seemingly unimportant as a ‘game’ can actually be the most important thing. To a group of people. To a school. To an entire town. How one victory can start a chain reaction that saves a town; or how a loss could ruin it, cause a town to essentially cease to exist.
Sports culture is a fascinating thing. And, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been completely wrapped up in it - as an athlete, as a supporter, and sometimes even as someone who has no idea what’s going on but loves the atmosphere. I attended a high school that had a great football team, a hockey ‘club’ that had more support than most official sports, and a group of athletes that played multiple sports and essentially ruled the school. I had friends on every team, attended games for almost every sport over my four years, and donned the schools colors proudly. During my junior or senior year, I started a tailgate before football games with a group of friends where we would all paint each others faces and walk into the games proud to be a part of it all. And I’ve carried that with me through the rest of my life, throwing myself into the hockey culture at Boston University and then into football (soccer) culture when I married a Brit. In fact, I’m literally writing parts of this review while at the pub watching the Champions League final.
Anyway, back to the book. In Beartown, one night leaves a young, 15 year old girl traumatised and a hockey loving town divided. Accusations are made against a hockey player. Sides are taken, most in favor of the hockey player. One night changes the town forever. And that got me thinking. A lot. Because, as a fifteen year old girl who was well and truly wrapped up in sports culture, I can’t tell you whose side I would’ve been on if an event like that happened at my school. If one of my athletic friends got wrapped up in something that I never could’ve imagined them being a part of. If it was just one teenagers word against another. And, to 25 year old me, that’s a terrifying thought. Because I know, at this point, I would’ve waited until enough information was out that I could make an informed decision. But at 15, I have no idea what I would’ve done!
But Beartown isn’t just about what happened at that one moment. Or how the town reacts to it. Or even about hockey. It’s about so much more than that. That’s what makes Fredrik Backman one of the most incredible authors I’ve ever read. Because here I am, hours after finishing this book, still thinking. About small towns, about my childhood, about sports culture and being a sports fan. About people, and how they think. How they live. About passion and how it can be both the best and worst thing for a person. About friends, family. I really just can’t get this book out of my head. Isn’t that the best kind of book?
I’m so looking forward to the release of the sequel in June! Please note that there are triggers in this book, though, so try to read some reviews that mention those before you decide to buy if you are sensitive to certain topics.