It has a large cast of characters and a bit of a slow start, but at about a third of the way in, I was riveted and immersed into this story. Set in Beartown, a fictional small town in Sweden, it is a place whose love of youth hockey binds this remote town and impacts many lives - the GM, coaches, teammates, fanatical parents, and community members alike. In Beartown, hockey is king and the teen boys who play are treated like celebrities (some with egos to match) and ferocious parents and townsfolk who fan the fire.
But fear not my fellow non-hockey people! Beartown is so much more than hockey. Although I'm Canadian, I was never into hockey, my kids never played and the only time I watched hockey was when Canadian Olympic teams are kicking ass. I still don't understand all the rules (Off-side? What? Icing? Huh?). But I loved this book.
Beartown is a story about morality, community, small-town dynamics, and doing the right thing. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so I'll just say that it deals with serious, emotional subject matter and has an interesting cast and is a truly captivating story that has a message of hope and resilience. Backman is a talented storyteller and I love how he adds foreshadowing and leaves wee teasers at the end of some chapters to keep you reading 'just one more chapter'.
I'm so glad I finally started this popular series. The audiobook was well narrated by the talented Marin Ireland, and it is a story that lives up to its hype. I have just finished the second book in the series, Us Against You which I've also posted today and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Simon and Schuster Canada will send me an advanced copy of the upcoming third book, The Winners, soon so I can be ready for Backman's appearance at a local author event next month.
My Rating: 5 stars
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Type and Source: eAudiobook from public library
Run Time: 13 hours, 11 min
Narrator: Marin Ireland
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
First Published: September 15, 2016
Book Description from GoodReads: The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.
People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest; it is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is 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.
Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is 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, leaving no resident unaffected.
Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
I recently read Beartown and really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. The characters were so well drawn, I thought, and the storytelling very powerful.
ReplyDeleteIt was my favourite book of September! I've also read the second book and I'm in the middle of The Winners now! I hope you get a chance to read the rest of the series soon.
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