Book Review: Beartown by Fredrick Backman
The moment I read the first few lines, I knew it was one of those books that would stick to me. This story is about a small community that is obsessed with hockey because, it’s all they have ever known and all that they have. It started out simply talking about what hockey means to all the members of the community and why it is such a big deal. It might just be a sport but through hockey, the people in Beartown, who never really get a lot of luck, get their tiny moments of happiness. For this town, hockey is pretty much everything. Hockey gives them a reason to move forward everyday and economically, hockey is their last hope to bring in more jobs and more investments in their town.
I love sports. I grew up a basketball fan so when Backman is describing why a sports team can break or make people’s lives, I understand it completely. When Backman writes “the only thing the sport gives us are moments, but what hell is life, Peter, apart from moments?”, it encapsulates the feeling that you get as a sports fan and much more as an athlete.
As it continues to introduce the people inside the community, it goes to another level of storytelling as each one gets their own stories and you then realize things are much more complicated in Beartown. And throughout, you will find the people you will root for and wish they could get the win they deserve. The rest? You will understand them.
That is an achievement for Backman that he created characters that are real. They are not black or white, good or bad. No one character is as straightforward as they seem to be on face value. Everyone goes beyond the dichotomy we tend to have when viewing people. This is so crucial in making the book so honest and sincere because really, when was life ever as simple as that?
This story is beautifully written, I was on a highlighting binge while reading this and all the lines weigh heavy on my chest, like it was speaking to me. In every chapter there would be a line that would hit me and I would need to pause to appreciate how powerful his words are.
It also put into words one of my life’s truths:
“Never trust people who don’t have something in their lives that they love beyond all reason.”
I know passion has been repeated over and over in our society the past years. When I started looking for jobs, saying you are passionate seems like a good thing. Now, it’s one of the no-no’s when describing yourself. It’s not a cool thing anymore. I, however, am not a walking personification of cool and it’s a good thing, because I love passionate people.
I love it when people care for what they do. Even when things get crazy hard, they will still do it because they are fueled by something. That’s a characteristic that I always admire and I find it hard to respect those who do not have this burning love for something in their hearts. I went on and on about it just now but what I’m trying to say was perfectly captured by Backman.
A lot of the things were repeated though and it felt at some point that the introductions and setting up of the stories kept dragging for dramatic effect. It could be a negative thing for most, but I am a fan of repeating key messages. I find it to be effective and at times gut wrenching when you remember that it has been mentioned before. Usually the first time it is said randomly. Second time, it’s with a different context that catches you off-guard.
As the story unfolds, there were far too many times I said “oh shit!” because I was sincerely shocked and didn’t see what would happen next. I should’ve known actually, because it happened way too many times in the book, wherein you think it’s pretty obvious what will happen then boom, PLOT TWIST!
It’s been four days now since I finished it and I still keep thinking about the characters and going back to my highlights.
This book made me smile, laugh, angry, happy cry and sad cry. There were just too many emotions and all grounded in very human stories and sports. Two things that I love the most. Two great sources of narratives about strength and overcoming the impossible.
I read from the author’s official Facebook page that there would be a second book and I’ve seen a couple of times on Twitter that this is actually a trilogy.
I think it goes without saying, but to be perfectly clear, I cannot wait for the next two books.
