Heart-wrenching, hockey teams, desperation
Review:
This book broke me to put it in the simplest terms. I read it last year and with the third one coming out, it was time for a re-read. When I first picked it up, I thought it was going to be a typical inspiring story about a town rallying behind an underdog team. And while in a way that is true, Backman adds his introspective touch by highlighting the how blindly rallying around and idolizing human beings or teams can ruin lives. To Backman’s credit he seamlessly folds readers into the world of Beartown and makes you feel like you are part of the community - like you are a neighbor desperately relying on this team to save you.
Beartown illustrates the way sports have a chokehold on the world and how if a team is winning, people will always make excuses for the poor actions of players. It tests the strength of families and friendships and shows how easily morals can be thrown out the window. It begs the question of how far will you go to do the right thing at the risk of losing everything you’ve worked for.
Highlights: - The strength Maya shows in standing her ground in a town that is so steadfast on making her the villain - Benji’s character development - Ramona’s fierce ability to defend what is right despite being so broken with grief
Beartown moves you. It makes you question humanity, priorities, and just how far you would blindly follow your loyalties when things get ugly. This book broke me so fiercely I haven’t been able to bring myself to read the sequel until now. Backman is one of the best authors of our generation and I highly encourage you to pick up one of his novels.
Please, please read trigger warnings for this one first.
Rating:
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️