A extremely well-written, engaging story of small town life: specifically, its challenges. It is an examination of toxic masculinity. and the ways in which jock culture can poison so many other parts of life.
It's my first Backman novel (apparently his others are quite a bit lighter, more whimsical). Very much looking forward to reading more by the author. This is a powerful, gripping, and important read.

The review below was posted on my blog on May 13, 2017, at https://www.thecuecard.com/books/beartown-hillbilly-elegy-sun-also-star/

I like sports stories, which is good because this one is a lot about hockey and what a winning junior team can do for a small dying town. The novel has an alluring premise and setting, and it skips around in snippets among a lively cast of quite a few characters that includes players, coaches, parents, the GM’s family, the town’s bar owner and others. Of these, I liked the young immigrant boy, Amat, who is small but very fast on skates and is trying to make the team. A lot rests on him and what he knows in the aftermath of the crime.
This was my first book by the Swedish author — who also wrote the bestseller “The Man Called Ove.” He definitely seems to know his hockey. My only trouble with it was that the first half of the novel seemed a bit repetitive about how important hockey and the team meant to the dying town — there’s quite a bit of backstory that takes awhile to get where it’s going — and while the novel’s second half moves better with the crime and aftermath, I found it a bit heavy-handed and lacking in subtly. There’s an occasional voiceover narration — in addition to those of the characters’ — that seems to drum its message into you. I guess I didn’t care for that, or being molded about how to feel about the situation — let us decide for ourselves.
Still judging by all the raves on Goodreads, I’m in the minority on this one, giving it three stars, which to me means I liked it fine but didn’t overly love it. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an e-copy of the book to review.
For my complete review of it, go to http://www.thecuecard.com/books/beartown-hillbilly-elegy-sun-also-star/

RATING: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)

This novel is different than [book:A Man Called Ove|18774964], but has the same emotional rollercoaster of a read. The novel takes us through the town of Beartown and its beloved hockey team. The characters were well-written and captures the realism of any small town with big issues that divide friends and neighbours. I wasn't sure how this book would end, but it left me more satisfied than I thought. I highly recommend this book, but this book does involve violence against young people by other young people.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

Beartown is a small and little known town that is obsessed with hockey. I absolutely loved this book though I don't usually enjoy reading novels that talk about sports too much although I do happen to love hockey. The writing is amazing, and this is probably one book I will read again. Now I am off to read other books by Fredrik Backman.

I loved this book about a small town whose main driving factor is hockey.
"It's only a game. Everyone who plays it gets told that from time to time. A lot of people try to tell themselves that it's true But it's complete nonsense. No one in this town would have been the same if that game hadn't existed."
Hockey is so important to the town of Beartown, that when one of its elite players does something so egregious, the town is torn apart. We know from the description that something bad occurs. I kept reading with a feeling of dread, waiting for the "event" and the fall out. When it occurred and the reaction it elicited from the whole town was so emotionally devastating.
The author captures the players, the parents, the coaches and some of the townspeople who are impacted by this game of hockey. Backman knows how to create unique characters-flawed, quirky, believable people!
He brings the world of hockey to life- the fanatical parents; the politics surrounding hockey; the driving force in these young players; the win at all cost attitude.
Loyalty means a lot to team players- are you to remain loyal at all costs? Is being part of a team more important than being honest and moral?
The ending was strong- it totally satisfied me. I was mesmerized by this book. Bravo to the author!

Beartown is calling out to Book Clubs everywhere. Being from Canada, and a small hockey-loving town, I could totally relate to how driven a community can become over the success of a team. At times it made me uncomfortable, but that also challenged me to keep reading. It is one of those books that needs to be talked about with others who have also just turned the last page! So much to discuss and hash out! Well done Fredrik Backman. Thanks NetGalley for sharing this book with me!

I received this book from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Bear Town is a novel about Swedish hockey town which is on the brink of being selected to have a major sports facility constructed in their town. Their chance lays on the local hockey team winning the hockey tournament. On the day of the finals, one of the players is pulled off the team bus by the local police and accused of a major crime against the GM's young daughter. The team lose the finals and the town is on a witch hunt.

I have always been a hockey fan and was raised in a hockey town. My small 5000-people community has seen two of their young hockey players move on to the NHL. This is a rare feat. Beartown is an exciting read and will keep you guessing to the end.

The plot and the characterization of this novel are good and unique, but there is something about the writing style that just doesn't work well for me - a little too prone toward firmly stated "insightful" pronouncements and too much backstory on peripheral characters.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about so much more than hockey. What starts off as a story about a small village and their hockey team takes an unexpected turn in both character dissension and storyline. Backman exposes the small town mentality of its residents and walks a fine line with his characterization of "crazy hockey parents" that are almost too stereotypical, but because his story is compelling, he gets away with it.

Beartown is universal in topic and appeal—sexism, homophobia, racism, and politics are issues prevalent in every town, anywhere. In Beartown, as the underdogs that represent a community built on hockey, residents are willing to do whatever it takes to make their mark, including covering up a terrible crime against a young girl. The mentality is staggering and mind blowing. It is all too familiar where it is the victim that is the one bullied, threatened, and emotionally abused. How society puts sports figures on a pedestal, they are untouchable, and not held responsible for their actions because they are hailed as some kind of hero.

Backman explores hope, perseverance, and the love of sport and juxtaposes it against the crippling burden of being the best and doing whatever it takes, no matter how high the price and at what cost.

This was my first book I have read by this author and boy I was not disappointed in the least . This story hit home with me , living in a small town in Canada . Hockey is everything and when something happens in the small town .  On the eve of the big semi final match things get out of control and lives are changed forever . A young girl is traumatized beyond belief and the whole town is in turmoil.  Will everyone survive in the wake of the tragedy ,
    This book starts with someone walking into the woods with a shotgun and shooting someone in the head . The murder happens right at the start and the rest of the book is how we got to the murder. The causes and effects of what happened . While trying to win the national semi finals in their hockey league . These kids have such a burden on their shoulders to make their town proud of them and also trying to get out of the small town   Each character is someone you will know . if you lived in a small town . The characters are all complex and all have things that they are hiding and want to keep hidden . The author pulls out all the inner thoughts and demons in his characters . Which makes for a very intense book . 
    I read this book in the course of 2 evenings . I couldn't put the book down . I was on the edge of my seat for most of the reading. Even though the beginning started off just a little bit slow . I really picked up as you are trying to get to the bottom of the murder and the aftermath that has happened . The story is so involved and complex you will be blown away . The author takes us on a journey that will make you think maybe the bad guys aren't as bad as you think they are and the good guys aren't as good as you thought they were . You will cheer and shed a tear for all of these characters .  This is an intense book that will keep you reading all through the night

Beartown appears to be about hockey, but is really about people, relationships, loyalty, justice, and growing up. The people of Beartown live and breathe hockey. There are those that play, those that support them, and those that worship them. And then there are those that wish to belong.

When one of the golden hockey players does something to tarnish his shine, the people of Beartown find themselves divided and things get dirty.

Apparently this is the first in a trilogy. I look forward to reading how the story continues to unfold.

Frederik Backman is one of my favourite authors. Having read three of his previous works, I was really excited to read Beartown despite the fact that I am not a hockey fan. I was drawn into the very human dramas that Backman is so skillful at weaving. A small town struggles to put itself on the map and winning a hockey game is the only way to do it. It's just a game, everyone tells themselves. But it's not. It's their future.

This novel was a departure from Backman's usual manner of storytelling. It was intense raw drama. The one issue I had with the book was the myriad of characters. I personally lost interest half way through the book, The book is also overly rife with "colourful metaphors" and I found this to be unpleasant.

I look forward to reading more of Backman's work in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to preview this book. This story was much darker than the previous two I have read by Backman. but that doesn't make it any less fantastic! Although it is a major premise of the story, I found the book to have a little too much "hockey is life" in it. Notwithstanding, the characters and their development and interaction is fascinating and well-done. Strongly recommended.

I have enjoyed all of Bachman's books but this one was much darker and harder to read. Despite this fact, the author's understanding of people and their motivations is amazing and the story was artfully told.

This novel gives you an opportunity to witness Beartown and its people from a safe distance. You learn people's secrets, past, future and you watch the choices they make in their present. I experienced deep sadness multiple times, laughed out loud few times, and after I finished the book I felt complete along with the story.