Beartown: A Novel for the Community

The 2018 Audie Award Finalist for Fiction, the number-one New York Times best-selling author of A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman, returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream and the price required to make it come true. Beartown, a tiny community nestled deep in the forest, is slowly losing ground to the ever encroaching trees, but down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. This ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today, as their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semifinals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys, and being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden.

The semifinal match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made, and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world. People say Beartown is finished, but the old ice rink stands as a testament to the resilience and dreams of its people.

The novel delves into the complexities of human relationships, the power of community, and the consequences of our actions. Backman's characters are richly drawn, each with their own hopes, fears, and motivations. The story unfolds with a masterful blend of empathy and tension, as the reader is drawn into the lives of the Beartown residents and the ripple effects of the traumatic event that shakes the town.

Through this story, Backman explores universal themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the weight of responsibility. He skillfully navigates the nuances of small-town dynamics, where everyone knows everyone's business, and the boundaries between public and private lives become blurred. The novel is a powerful commentary on the human condition, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, there is always the possibility of redemption and the strength to overcome.

Beartown is a poignant and compelling read that will resonate with readers long after the last page is turned. Backman's masterful storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of a community make this novel a true tour de force in the world of contemporary fiction.

product information: