“Bears shit in the woods, but everyone else shits on Beartown, so forest people have learned to take care of themselves.”
(Beartown, p.30)
Okay hellooooooooo I have a lot of things to say about this book. Like, a lot. It’s been a good two months since I’ve read this book, but I’m still reeling from it. I remember being unable to put the first book down, and starting on book two immediately after I finished book one – which was at 2 in the morning. Backman manages to create compelling characters that you love despite their flaws – or maybe even because of them. Benji, my bright beautiful little baby you DESERVED SO MUCH MORE. And Ana!!!! Brave, crazy Ana. You’re my spirit animal.
I have to admit, I started this book because of the hockey (duh), but I stayed because of the writing. It’s just so. damn. good. The way this story is just little pinpricks, moments that we’re offered from character’s lives, expertedly woven together until you start to see the bigger picture. I eat that shit up.
Beartown (Björnstad) is a story about a tiny tiny town up north, surrounded by forest. The people there are weary and hardened by a life in the cold and the dark. According to the narrator, their only light is the junior hockeyteam. A group of teenagers, carrying the joy of and happiness of an entire town on their shoulders. A group of teenagers, getting told they’re hometown heroes, over and over again. And then they break. And so does the town. AND THEN, YOU BREAK TOO BECAUSE HOLY HELL. I cried so much when reading this.
I would also like to shout-out all the hidden societal criticism that is mentioned in this book. It’s *chef’s kiss*. The best part of it is that half of the time it’s not even outright mentioned, you just gotta read between the lines. The story is clearly about misogyny and social insecurity, combined with suspense that builds up and barrels you down right to the last few pages. So you’re getting hit in the face with sexism and misogyny but at the same time you’re reading as fast as you can because you need to know how to the story ends. It’s a ride. Plus, despite all the shit and the pain that these characters have to go through, Backman seems to be able to hide a tiny light of hope somewhere in there.
The only critique I have – and I’m dead serious about this – is: WHAT THE FUCK WAS BOOK THREE
It’s not that it sucks. Even more so, I might tentatively say that it’s the best one out of all three. Maya’s, Ana’s and Benji’s stories continue, and their lives aren’t magically healed because they grew up. They still struggle, and they still fear, and they still make the wrong calls sometimes. It’s heartbreaking to read about their lives, because you know your heart is gonna shatter even more than it already did after book 2 and 3, but you still do it. It still has Backman’s intense way of writing and it actually touches upon such an important part of our society. The story moves from its prior topics and focuses more on class instead. More characters are introduced, and their background already decided how the story will end for them. It’s a painfully true description of how unfair and unjust our society is at its root, and it really brings perspective. On paper, everything about this book is amazing.
However. Book three broke me, my heart and my soul and I still haven’t recovered from it. I knew it was gonna happen, and I kept hoping until the very end that it wouldn’t, and when it still did I wasn’t even surprised.
So here’s some advice when you’re reading The Winners: have some motional support snacks at hand. And tissues. And maybe something you can throw against a wall in rage. (Because I almost threw my e-reader, so please learn from my mistakes.)
Explorarosa, over and out. Have fun reading about hockey and fucked-up little towns that are a painfully realistic depiction of our actual society. *salute*
P.s. apparently there’s a series made about these books??? Now comes the everlasting question: do we risk watching it? Has anyone seen it who can confirm it’s not gonna traumatize me as much as the PJO film did?