Book Review: BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman

A Backman Classic!



After reading and enjoying "Anxious People" and "A Man Called Ove", I have been trying to get my hands on a copy of "Beartown". Despite the high praise I have heard, a hint of skepticism lingered. The earlier works I have read by Fredrik Backman have been phenomenal and have generated so many emotions in me that I didn't think it would be possible to top that. But little did I know, I was about to be proven delightfully wrong.

The author has poured his soul into every word, creating a piece of fiction that transcends boundaries and creates a world of its own in a town called Beartown. As I started reading,  in the beginning it felt like there might be a lot of characters in the plot and that  it might create some confusion in following through. But in a true Backman fashion, each character ends up bringing something unique to the story and actually staying in the reader's mind for a long time. 

The author has taken the time to show the town through the eyes  of many of its residents. This has given many dimensions to the characters and showed the true essence of the town and its inhabitants. This novel  has the unique ability to grab the readers attention and get them intertwined and involved in the plot, much like his other works. Since the story revolves around ice hockey, along with the spectators in the stands, the readers themselves will feel the adrenaline rush and the excitement of the game, rooting for the Beartown Ice Hockey team as if he or she has lived their entire lives there in Beartown and as if this club is a part of them.  

Much like in "Anxious People", the magical words of the author creates a sense of camaraderie in the readers, making us root for a fictional sports team. Fredrik Backman is truly a magician because how else can you explain mere words in a piece of paper stirring such a whirlwind of emotions and taking us to a place that only exists in his imagination? I cannot wait to read the other books in this series, "Us Against You" and "The Winners'. 

-Rithin. 

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