Beartown

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.

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.

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 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.

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