Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Beartown
Fredrik Backman
Review by Priscilla Comen
Beartown
Fredrik Backman
Review by Priscilla Comen
Beartown by Fredrik Backman is the story of the will and perseverance of all the characters in this town, Beartown. Backman wrote the best selling novel “A Man Called Ove,” and continues to explore deep, human feelings in this book. Peter, the general manager of the town’s champion hockey team, his lawyer wife Kira, and his children are all major players.
Sune is about to be fired from his position as coach, Amat, the skinny, young fifteen-year-old boy is determined to be a fine hockey player; all are dedicated to hockey in this small town. He practices every day from dawn to dusk to become great. His mother, Fatima, is the janitor at the club. Her back is sore all the time, and Amat hopes to relieve her of her need to work. It’s also about the other players, Benji, Kevin and his dad David, who all strive to be better, to be best. Will they win the semi-final game to go for the championship? Author Beckman pulls us into their lives, their dreams, anxieties, and problems. Hockey is the most important thing in their lives. Amat likes Maya, Peter’s daughter, but is too shy to speak to her. Kevin invites them both to a party after the game. Peter and Kira have lost a baby boy to infant crib death, and after moving to Canada, have moved back to Beartown to be involved in hockey again. David coaches his "A" team with love and laughter; he tells jokes before the game. Kevin goes to the party, and his best friend Benji leaves. He goes to the next town, Hed, and meets a bass player. We have a clue as to what happens there. Kevin takes Maya upstairs to the bedrooms and rapes her. Hockey players are taught by their parents and coaches to take what they want. And they do. Kevin is grabbed off the bus going to the Juniors play-off. The team vows to win for his sake, although no one knows why he’s in police custody. Maya’s mother, the lawyer, is with her daughter, vows to prosecute Kevin.
Will the truth come out about Kevin and Maya? Will the hockey team win in the final contest? Will Peter be able to fire Sune without feeling guilt? Find out on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
Sune is about to be fired from his position as coach, Amat, the skinny, young fifteen-year-old boy is determined to be a fine hockey player; all are dedicated to hockey in this small town. He practices every day from dawn to dusk to become great. His mother, Fatima, is the janitor at the club. Her back is sore all the time, and Amat hopes to relieve her of her need to work. It’s also about the other players, Benji, Kevin and his dad David, who all strive to be better, to be best. Will they win the semi-final game to go for the championship? Author Beckman pulls us into their lives, their dreams, anxieties, and problems. Hockey is the most important thing in their lives. Amat likes Maya, Peter’s daughter, but is too shy to speak to her. Kevin invites them both to a party after the game. Peter and Kira have lost a baby boy to infant crib death, and after moving to Canada, have moved back to Beartown to be involved in hockey again. David coaches his "A" team with love and laughter; he tells jokes before the game. Kevin goes to the party, and his best friend Benji leaves. He goes to the next town, Hed, and meets a bass player. We have a clue as to what happens there. Kevin takes Maya upstairs to the bedrooms and rapes her. Hockey players are taught by their parents and coaches to take what they want. And they do. Kevin is grabbed off the bus going to the Juniors play-off. The team vows to win for his sake, although no one knows why he’s in police custody. Maya’s mother, the lawyer, is with her daughter, vows to prosecute Kevin.
Will the truth come out about Kevin and Maya? Will the hockey team win in the final contest? Will Peter be able to fire Sune without feeling guilt? Find out on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.