I didn't really enjoy this. It wasn't suspenseful or intriguing. The whole story had a gloomy cloud over it - just sorta blah. I don't understand the hype of this series. Just not for me, I guess.

Beartown is a hockey town. It's the first thing anyone would tell someone. The entire town is consumed with the play of the junior league and the adult A-team. The stars of the junior league, who have made it to the semi-finals so far this year, are Kevin, the main scorer and Benji, his best friend and defender on the ice. Their coach is David and most of the team has played for him for years. They regard him as a father and would do anything for him.

Peter Andersson is the general manager of the teams. He played here growing up, made it out to the NHL and when his career was over, returned to his hometown. He and his wife have two children, Maya, fifteen, and Leo, twelve.

On the night of the semifinal victory, the team meets at Kevin's place for a party. Things get out of hand and a crime occurs there, a crime that would put Kevin, the star, in jeopardy of not being able to play anymore. The town immediately takes sides, most on Kevin's side as he carries their hopes and dreams on his back. Will goodness triumph over self interest?

This book is immensely popular and it is well deserved. Backman gets the intensity of team sports exactly right, the way the athletes devote their lives to it, the loyalty of the team to its members, the love for teammates and coaches. Backman is a Swedish author and his novel outlines the controversy between evil and team sport loyalty as well as talking about the secrets various members of the team keep to themselves to fit in. This book is recommended to readers of literary fiction.

I started this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to rate a book that I wasn't able to finish.

FTC Disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I checked out the audiobook from my library through Overdrive.

Fredrik Backman's signature blend of humor, charm, and heartfelt portrayals of close, life-shaping relationships is right up my alley. His novella brought me to tears, and his novels have warmed my heart. His most recent novel, "Beartown," has a different tone, but was deeply affecting nonetheless.

In "Beartown," we meet a small town whose very heart is its hockey team. Indeed, at this point, the town doens't have much else going for it, with jobs dwindling and people moving away. Backman presents a large cast of characters, all of whom are connected to the town's junior hockey team: players, classmates, coaches, parents, ardent fans. The team is headed to the national championship playoffs when its star player is pulled due to a horrific act he commits at a victory party.

The town is rocked by the allegations and Backman has characters on all sides. He portrays these characters with empathy without excusing the reprehensible acts of some. Right and wrong are clear, as are the paths that lead characters to their decisions and actions. Readers feel deeply for them, and never more so than when two sides of the same relationship are shown.

This novel lacks Backman's humor that lightened the heavy subject matter n ""My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" and "Britt-Marie Was Here" (thugh readers of the latter will recognize a tiny bit of overlap). This more somber tone fits "Beartown"'s serious central themes, and the novel does not suffer for it. Rather, it rises to the occaision, having a deeper impact on the reader for its sincere, serious portrayal of this town and its community members at a time of crisis.

Verdict: Affirmed. For both fans of Backman and those who couldn't connect with the humor in his previous novels, "Beartown" is an excellent novel.

"Beartown" by Fredrik Backman, translated by Neil Smith, published by Simon & Schuster on April 25, 2017. Audio narration by Marin Ireland, published by Simon & Schuster Audio on April 25, 2017.

After languishing on my TBR pile for way, way too long I made a point to start catching up on all of Backman's back titles. I listened to the audio book of this one, and honestly, Marin Ireland is just superb and has an incredible way of narrating Backman's books that really connects with the story.

I also did what I never do, which was watch the TV series of Beartown before reading the book. I can honestly say that other than making a few small changes, the series truly captured every meaningful part of this story. The series helped me see the mob mentality, the way that sports culture and its protective insular sheltering keep certain people from being held accountable for their actions. The book gave me insight into the characters and most of their thinking and motivation behind their actions. I definitely got more of a sense of the characters from the book than I did on the screen.

Overall though, Backman's phrasing and way of writing totally connects with me and there is so much beauty and love among the broken people. Beartown is, it its core, a story of love. Friendship. Family. I never thought I would like a book about hockey, and that's part of the reason why I put off reading it for as long as I did. I have been to maybe two hockey games in my life and am not even sure about the rules. Yet this book has so many universal themes that I encourage reluctant readers to move past the hockey because this is about more than that.

I'm moving on to the next book in the series to see how things continue and am interested to see that there's a third book slated for later this year.

I started and stopped "Beartown " probably four times--it never caught. Then, suddenly, I tried again and the novel took off. I couldn't put it down. I now understand why everyone loves this novel!

As with every other Backman novel I've read, I loved this. I bought the book when it came out. Backman is just so good at giving funny and emotional gravitas to his narrative and characters.

It is a fascinating read about the hockey team trying to revitalize the economy of the small town. Since I am not a huge hockey aficionado, the sports parts were hard to keep up with

Beartown is a story about a small town; sport (specifically, ice hockey); prejudice; and loyalty. Themes of justice, grief and loss dominate. Without spoilers, Backman pivots a number of sublots around one key event and in doing so, shows how deeply a town can become divided.

The story demonstrates how a person’s values inform (and are exposed in) their parenting. In my experience, there is nothing more telling than watching how parents respond to their child’s defeat on the sports field, and Beartown provides lots of well-observed and nuanced examples of this.

The last book I read by Backman was A Man Called Ove – charming, heartbreaking and in parts, very funny. In short, it’s a hard act to follow. While Beartown had memorable characters and a wonderful sense of place, in my opinion, it lacked the warmth and humour of Ove.

2.5/5 Still worth a read.

I received my copy of Beartown from the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a long time to read this book because I don't care for sports. The first half of the book is just hockey and how the people of the town have made hockey their lives and I just could not get into it at all. I put it down once at 33% for many months and then again at 50% and then I finally picked it up and finished it. I love Bakman's other books that I have read, but the excessive sports focus in this one was just not interesting to me. It is a good book and I think that people who do like sports probably will enjoy it more than I did. The book, however, really isn't about hockey, it is about rape and how sports fans, among others, tend to blame the victim. It is a well written story.

I would hate to see what my face would look like if any of you were to approach me and ask: “Wellllll, did you love it as much as I did?!?!?!?!” Because I am a terrible liar. Sorry I read this one wrong, everyone. Your billions of 4 and 5 Star reviews shall serve as evidence of my failure.

First, to all of you who were aware how hesitant I was to try this after my experience with A Man Called Ove and who promised this was really not a hockey book, I have this to say: It is 173% a hockey book – nearly exclusively for the first 38%, but really FOR.EV.ER. because “it’s a hockey town,” yo! And heaven help if they stop reminding you about that fact for one flippin’ page.

Next, here are some notes I made:

“If this another mother*&^%$# book about a girl who goes to a party and gets raped by an overprivileged white boy who then either ends up killing/threatening to kill him or the boy who loves her/the bullied fat kid/her bestie/her daddy decides to kill/threaten to kill him on her behalf Imma burn the fucking building down.”

I didn’t burn the building down! Yay me.

However, I am T.I.R.E.D. of these books. The subject matter at hand shouldn’t be a tired trope. Especially from an author who presents the viewpoint that “no one tells you it can be with someone you know.” EVERYONE knows that it’s most likely going to happen by someone you know and unless you live in a “Beartown” where no one teaches anything other than hockey, that’s what you learn growing up.

Obviously I didn’t like this. I didn’t like the stuff mentioned above, or how un(or under)developed the OH-SO-MANY characters were, or that there always seemed to be HUNDREDS of pages left to read because the pacing was non-existent, or that it was so devoid of emotion. (I noticed that the same translator who was used in Ove was not used here. Maybe he can shoulder part of the blame?) I considered bumping up a half Star simply for Ramona and Bobo . . . . but at some point I have to stop rewarding clichés, ya know?

I think I need to cut ties at this point, appreciate the one beautiful story I read by this author and not sullen my own memory of him further.

Sorry I failed you all . . . yet again. The good news is I killed two birds with one stone – or hockey puck as the case may be here. I read a book I actually received as an ARC, but never opened because I was terrified of being the wrongreader (#nailedit) and I was able to check Book #1 off for the library’s Winter Reading Challenge by traveling to Sweden in my head for this selection.

ARC provided by NetGalley (over a year and a half ago – whoops) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Fredrick Backman is a brilliant writer. This book is about Bear Town, a small hockey town in Sweden, in the middle of a forest. The people in the town have made hockey their lives. They idolize the boys on the Junior Team. They are playing in the semi-final round. After the match there is a party at the star players house. That night will change so many people's lives and cause the town to split apart. Backman's insights into human emotions are amazing. Each character is deeply delved into. We learn people and the town are very complex. In the end is hockey the most important thing or is the town? You will feel like you are living in Bear Town. A must read.

Beartown is different in focus from Backman’s earlier books but in terms of strong, multi-dimensional characters, it’s another winner. Not only do the characters shine, but the setting is stellar. Beartown is a small town in the northern part of Sweden. Not much happens there so it’s no surprise that the entire town is focused on its Junior Hockey team. Years back they had an outstanding team and once again, they are hoping they just might make it to the national finals. The town’s focus on the team’s proficiency, on the players and on the winning coaches, is over-the-top but what else can the town celebrate?

This is not just for hockey lovers because this book transcends hockey. It’s a combination of the town, the players who put their hearts and souls into the game, the coaches and managers who are consumed with winning and even the businessmen who are crazily obsessed with the team. It’s about young men who feel empowered to do whatever they like without impunity and a community that will stand firmly behind them. A few stellar characters stand out for their courage and heart.

This is an insightful look at how society can elevate athletes beyond reason. The fixation with winning and with the collective pride can relate to many aspects of contemporary society. Furthermore, turning a blind eye to bad behavior is another sad, familiar societal norm seen at times today. Backman has written a book of great scope and depth. It is one that has broad appeal and will leave its mark on all who read it.

Bear town is a small close-knit community in Sweden, surrounded by forests. The town doesn't have much going for it, except that it's residents are believers that a better day is coming. The town has an ice rink and the junior teen ice hockey team are excited about competing in the semi-finals. Ice hockey and competition becomes all consuming.

There are a lot of characters in this story, each with their own story or personal issues. The pass for the sport is felt throughout this novel, but, there are also some tough issues that surface and the execution of these difficulties is beautifully done. Bear town may be a small town but, they still must deal with many of the issues larger cities face: Sexual assault, homophobia, bullying, peer pressure and the need to belong.

The story starts out a bit slow but once it gets going, it was hard not to become a little emotionally invested in the lives of Beartown residents. I started listening to the audio (beautifully done) and I also had the luxury of reading the print version as well. Recommended

Rating - 4/5 stars

What a great book! Story is well written. Fredrik Backman is a new favorite! I am excited to start reading Us Against You.

It only took one book for Fredrik Backman to become one of my all-time favorite authors. I've read and loved My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, A Man Called Ove and Britt-Marie Was Here. So, there's no excuse for the fact that it took me more than a year to read Beartown. It was always there, in the back of my mind, but I kept putting it off. The sports-focused summary didn't appeal to me, but I knew that the book would be a character study. And from the first two sentences, I was hooked:

"Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else's head, and pulled the trigger.

This is the story of how we got there."

It's hard for me to articulate all the reasons I loved this book. I supposed I should start with the fact that Backman was born to tell stories. Every word and phrase seems to be chosen with such care. And you know what's hard for me to wrap my mind around? His books are translated into English! If it wasn't printed on the book's title page, I would never guess. I have so much appreciation for this translator, Neil Smith, because he makes it feel seamless.

Backman's previous books contained more humor and whimsy, and the tone of this one was a departure. But, for me, the writing still felt so consistent with what I've come to know and love about his work. Rather than focus on one main character, as he has in the past, a place is the character at the heart of this story. Beartown is in the middle of nowhere and has almost nothing to show for itself. Except for its junior hockey team.

This small town lives and breathes hockey... and probably dreams of it while they sleep, too. I'm not a sports person, but I was still swept up in this narrative. Backman helps you understand why hockey is revered, how it has come to represent so much more than a game, and the way it's holding the town together. So, what happens when something happens that rips that community in two? That's what Backman explores in this novel.

I don't want to spoil what happens to change everything, but I will say that it's devastating. Backman focuses on numerous characters, something that I normally dislike. But it felt so necessary for this story, and I'm thankful he wrote it this way. You'll get to know some of the key team members, fellow students, parents, politicians, business owners, and local bullies. Some of the characters are central to the entire story, and others have brief roles to play. All serve a purpose and are complex and richly drawn. If you love character-driven stories, this is for you.

What I loved most about this book is that it made me think. It's been a month since I finished, and I can still feel my mind drifting to some of the questions raised in this book. Do sports teach teamwork and selflessness or breed groupthink and entitlement? How do you choose to react in the present to something that threatens your future? When an accusation is leveled against someone, who do you believe? What does it mean to be loyal?

“There are few words that are harder to explain than 'loyalty.' It's always regarded as a positive characteristic, because a lot of people would say that many of the best things people do for each other occur precisely because of loyalty. The only problem is that many of the very worst things we do to each other occur because of the same thing.”

Beartown is an emotionally draining read, but I cannot recommend it highly enough. I honestly loved everything about it! It's about so much more than a town obsessed with sports. It's timely and relevant to the world today, but I can see it being just as impactful a hundred years from now. Technology marches on, but human nature stays the same. And Backman explores the best and worst of what it means to be a parent, a coach, a friend, a teammate, and a sibling in these pages. I can't get these characters out of my brain, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Whether this is your first and fourth Backman, I hope I've convinced you to read it! This was on my list of best books I've read so far in 2018, and I know it will be on my final list at the end of the year. It's stunning, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. It further cemented Backman's place on my "auto-buy" list, and I cannot begin to tell you how many lines I marked in these pages. Nothing I've read in the weeks since I finished this has compared... until I got to the sequel, Us Against You. I'll be sharing my thoughts on that one tomorrow!

I'm having a difficult time reviewing this book because there was an equal amount that I liked and disliked in this story. First, I really love Backman's writing. He has a very nice flow with how he uses words and the story telling. Even though this story is told in alternating times it didn't get confusing and I never got lost in the story. One thing that was a bit troublesome for me though was just how many characters there were. I felt that if there were a few less story lines, some characters could have had their stories fleshed out a little bit more. For me, I think that is what just made this book average for me. I could not connect with any of the characters. The closest I came to was Kira but the parts of the her story were just not meaty enough for me to really identify with her.
Regarding the hockey aspect, I do think you have to appreciate the sport in order to be more engaged with this book. In my opinion if you don't like hockey then you might get turned off from this book as the characters live and breathe hockey.
Overall it was an average book for me, however i will read the sequel to see what it has to offer and find out if we learn more about any of the other characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was an unexpectedly enjoyable book for me, I didn't think I was going to like a book about a small town cocky team, but I was completely wrong. I loved A Man Called Ove and this ranks right up there with that book, but in a completely different way. This was an emotional story about a small town and the hockey team that means everything to the townspeople, the players and the community. And when the junior team makes it to the semi-finals, all hopes are riding on the young men to win and keep this small town relevant. But when a terrible act of violence affects one young woman, the ripples of that act threatens all the community and all that the hockey team means to the town. Nobody is left unaffected and nobody will ever be the same again.

This was a superb read, not the most comfortable as it goes around the toughest of the subjects, I found myself nodding, feeling angry, relating, being upset to characters, I wanted to hug some of them, slap some others.

The sexism in a small town especially everything whirling around the "hockey" , - e.g. guys being though, girls being playthings, gays being destined to get discriminated- was so atmospheric and real.
Overall I loved this book... Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fredrik Backman’s Beartown is a masterpiece in human nature and the way in which individuals handle issues in which they do not want to deal with and in which they want what is best for themselves whether it is right or wrong.