“There are few words that are harder to explain than "loyalty." It's always regarded as a positive characteristic, because a lot of people would say that many of the best things people do for each other occur precisely because of loyalty. The only problem is that many of the very worst things we do to each other occur because of the same thing.”
Beartown is a small community deep within the forest. The town's junior hockey team is about to compete in the semi-finals, and they actually have a chance at winning. The entire town has very high hopes, as this town is known to be a "hockey town". Carrying this heavy burden is a bunch of teenage boys who make up the junior hockey team. Before the highly anticipated semifinals, a violent act was committed against one of Beartown's residents, and we follow how these accusations are handled by all the residents of Beartown.
Backman's writing feels simple yet exquisite. The plot takes a while to develop, but it was executed perfectly. There is a strong sense of community and the descriptions of the town gave an atmospheric, small town vibe. There are many profound bits of wisdom on almost every page that makes it a very quotable book.
This book explores many things. It explores the societal complicity of a town when a wrong is done. It stresses on blind loyalty and how dangerous it can be. How said loyalty can trump morality in a way that's truly heartbreaking to read about. It looks at parenthood and the responsibilities that come with it. It highlights themes of friendship, and underscores the feeling of wanting to belong and what people will do just to remain a part of something. The harmful effects of misogyny is also explored.
Beartown is an important read and I can't wait to read Us Against You, the next book in this series.
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