It was interesting in the way that it kept me riveted, but I expected much more to happen and it ... didn't?
The fast-paced, "tense" parts mostly justIt was interesting in the way that it kept me riveted, but I expected much more to happen and it ... didn't?
The fast-paced, "tense" parts mostly just consisted of the main character jumping to conclusions about things happening and blowing them out of proportion. Not to mention she wasn't the most relatable or interesting, which kind of made the entirety of the story lack emotional impact.
However, the pacing was good! It didn't drag for too long in certain places and the cast of characters (besides the MC) were interesting, hence the three stars :)...more
This is one of those stories that you can tell is a personal "heart story" for the author—and not just because she basically says that in the author's note. ...more
Beautiful, witty and humorous, featuring unreliable narration and a story that unfolds, bit by bit, told with immense empathy for those who struggle aBeautiful, witty and humorous, featuring unreliable narration and a story that unfolds, bit by bit, told with immense empathy for those who struggle alone.
Perhaps we hurried by each other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against mine for a single moment and then we were gone. I don't know who you are. But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well. There'll be another one along tomorrow. ...more
This little story so accurately depicts a myriad of fears that both the elderly and their loved ones face as a life approaches its end. What do we do This little story so accurately depicts a myriad of fears that both the elderly and their loved ones face as a life approaches its end. What do we do when their brains fail before their bodies do? How will they live on? Will their stories and their journeys be preserved? And then there's that fear too, the fear that we will always fall short of even absorbing all of their life stories, that there will always be more life that's slipped through the cracks.
Backman presents these fears with so much heart and depth, demonstrating the beauty and miracle of human lives even as they come to a slow end. It's a celebration of the way people young and especially old have shaped us, and how they lead us home when we can't find our way.
This story was unexpectedly profound in all its simplicity and depiction of the messiness of life. Schmidt has a way of drawing meaningful, relevant tThis story was unexpectedly profound in all its simplicity and depiction of the messiness of life. Schmidt has a way of drawing meaningful, relevant themes out of works of literature such as Shakespeare (The Wednesday Wars) and this book is no exception, with all the insightful connections he makes between reality and mythology. The result is something with both a compelling plot and an undercurrent of enduring wisdom to support it.
It's a beautiful story of community, a tribute to the people you will find in unexpected places. The people who will come to love you far more than you know. The people who surround you and hold you together when you can't do it yourself. And while it's a tribute, it simultaneously serves as a challenge: to endure. To love. To accomplish big things, hard things.
Only you don't have to do it alone.
I wonder if what Hercules was most afraid of when he was holding up the sky wasn't that he was going to have to hold it up forever. It was that he was going to have to hold it up forever while he was by himself. That's a kind of scary thing to think about. Maybe, the stuff we hold up, we don't have to hold up by ourselves all the time. Maybe sometimes we can let someone else hold it up too. Maybe that's how we can get by. Maybe that's how we can do a whole lot better than just get by. ...more
To be fair, this book had all the potential of the past two books in the series—the same fantasy-but-noThe endings of trilogies are hard to get right.
To be fair, this book had all the potential of the past two books in the series—the same fantasy-but-not-particularly-confusing setting, the loveable characters, and the political conflict revolving around an illness that's slowly staining the land. Not to mention Kemmerer's writing style flows easily while efficiently building tension as the story continues.
However, I think a majority of this book lacked the external tension of the earlier two. There was quite a bit of character development, and some more fast-paced scenes, but nothing exactly moving the plot along as a whole. To be fair—most of the POV characters were stranded on a faraway island, so that's kind of a thing. ...more
Conversational and with an energetic writing voice, Batterson provides a general, big-picture view of how we can hear God's voice and discern His willConversational and with an energetic writing voice, Batterson provides a general, big-picture view of how we can hear God's voice and discern His will one step at a time. I found the discussion questions at the back of the book essential for delving into deeper conversations about some of the subjects Batterson presents....more
I think it's fair to say that I rarely write bad reviews. But personally? Considering I read the majority of this book on public transportation in JapI think it's fair to say that I rarely write bad reviews. But personally? Considering I read the majority of this book on public transportation in Japan, and when I finished proceeded to get so frustrated it kind of ruined my afternoon (I was going to write a review then, but wanted to give some distance and needed time to cool down), I think it may be deserving of one.
But don't worry, I'll try to be fair by starting with what I actually liked.
I think this story definitely had potential. It has a really rich and beautiful setting, the classic my-parents-are-hiding-secrets situation (which adds an element of suspense to an otherwise typical YA contemporary romance), and it's pretty clean in terms of language and sexual elements (probably intentionally so). The food descriptions are rich and only serve to enhance the story's setting. For the most part, the side characters were sweet—unusually accepting of a stranger, which was refreshing to read (especially when friendships and teen side characters in YA books can be so toxic and unnecessarily cruel).
With that aside, the two biggest issues I had with this book were 1) the main character (which affected my view of the romance) 2) the writing style, and 3) the plot disconnectedness.
To be completely fair, I expected the main character to be a lot older, based on what I've heard of the movie. She's actually sixteen. I don't have much of an issue with that (though I'm of the personal belief that a majority of teenagers aren't mature enough to date, it's irrelevant). The issue I had is that she literally speaks like a twelve-year-old. As someone who is around middle schoolers quite frequently, and has a younger sibling, the MC's sense of humor with her best friend literally gave me flashbacks to middle-schooler conversations I've overheard.
It frankly made me frustrated, because her social skills matched her sense of humor and way of speaking. There were moments where the adults in her life were trying to smooth over an awkward conversation and get to know her, and she knew that, but yet she literally was giving them one-word answers throughout and purposely not conversing. Rather, we as readers literally find her internally complaining all the way throughout about how awkward it is. Like, girl, I get that you're grieving and still adjusting to a new environment, but you really aren't doing them any favors here.
Honestly, the fact that the main character didn't act her age affected my view of the romance, too. I wouldn't exactly ship Ren and Lina, but the fact that they quite literally BOTH acted like twelve-year-olds made me ship them both even less. They just both didn't feel ... emotionally mature enough to, and that made me worry for them as I would any middle-schooler if they expressed falling in love with someone within the course of three days. ...more
Despite the slow pacing and many red herrings, this was a compelling read that kept me guessing at every turn, set within a distinctive and unforgettaDespite the slow pacing and many red herrings, this was a compelling read that kept me guessing at every turn, set within a distinctive and unforgettable small town and an imaginative writing style to match.
The biggest thing was I found myself resonating with the themes of beauty and perception that were dealt in this novel. There's only a handful of YA novels featuring plain or unattractive side characters—even less that are love interests—and as someone who spent much of my childhood insecure because I never felt like I met beauty standards regardless of what culture I found myself in, Petey's struggles with other's perceptions of her due to her physical appearance made me feel seen. This is uncommon in fiction and even more uncommon in YA—so, massive props to the author for tackling such a nuanced topic in a relatable and gently inspiring way.
And also—please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this is the same font of book as Wink Poppy Midnight, just executed better with an actual meaningful theme....more
Right off the bat, Backman introduces us to a character we can't help but take a strong disliking to. He's seProbably my favorite read of 2023 so far.
Right off the bat, Backman introduces us to a character we can't help but take a strong disliking to. He's set in his ways, hates cats, carries constant anger, and isn't afraid to speak (or shout) his mind. But as the story unfolds, the layers of Ove unfold and we realize there is much more to his bitterness than meets the eye. That etched within the creases of his hands is a tale of values and love and loss and grief that has shaped him into the person he is.
It's slow at times, and very character-driven, and you might disagree with Ove's actions and the way he tended to prematurely judge people (I certainly did), but the main thing that I appreciated about this story was from the very first page, it dripped with realism. From the way Ove spread newspapers around the seats of his car to the chaotic neighbors, Backman used tiny details to enhance the setting even more. There are no romanticized situations here. Characters die in this book. Others damage their cars and end up in hospitals for ridiculous reasons. A flicker of romance begins awkwardly. Small children do not behave.
And y'know, maybe the fact that I have been thoroughly sick and tired of romanticized and unrealistic YA made me appreciate this book even more, as a writer and just as a person. It also made me think too—how many Oves have I met and prematurely judged because I failed to understand them? What if under the surface, they struggle to carry the weight of a past that did not treat them kindly?
Basically—I cried over this book. I also laughed at parts (I was on a plane, too). There are things I definitely disagreed with, but I got the impression the author was not trying to push an over-romanticized, idealistic world and message. He wrote about the world the way Ove saw it, with all its grit and madness.
And the cat made it 10x better. Fight me.
CWs: 3 suicide attempts (on-page; (view spoiler)[ in which a character attempts to hang, poison, and shoot himself (hide spoiler)]), some cursing (mostly d**n and h**l, may have been one f-bomb), suicidal ideation, train accident...more
This is one of those books that contains so much depth, it requires a re-read.
And yes, Beartown was just as poignant—if not more Re-read | May 2024
This is one of those books that contains so much depth, it requires a re-read.
And yes, Beartown was just as poignant—if not more so—than I remember.
The biggest thing that stood out to me this time around was Backman's ability to contain a multitude of commentaries on human nature within a single 400-page novel. He doesn't just briefly touch on the opinions of various characters affected when tragedy divides a community, he delves deeply into the complex viewpoints, values, and thoughts behind each decision they make.
It's a dark book. The characters lie to themselves and to others. They turn to violence as a way to numb the sting of failure. They possess selfish motives that taint their decisions.
But this story isn't about all those things. It's about the moments people choose to unselfishly stand for one another despite personal costs. It's about the moments they choose to forgive despite having every right to hold on. It's about the moments they choose to love, to protect, and sometimes ... let go.
It looks, sometimes, like washing someone's locker when you have no one to live for. Like smashing a mirror and taking the blame. Like sitting with those who are sitting alone. Like playing Nirvana in an old garage.
There are very few books that have resonated with me the way Beartown has. Even fewer books that have resonated with me so much upon re-reading.
But what can I say? I love Benji.
Difficult questions, simple answers. What is a community? It is the sum total of our choices.
Original review | September 2023
This series has my whole heart, and despite the fact that the books are HUGE, each one will pull you in.
It also confirms what we all should already know—Backman is a master at his craft.
From the very first page, Backman introduces us to a cast of characters who feel human. They ache and they struggle with relationships and mistakes, but those things are what ultimately make us love and admire them all the more. Each character brings the town to life. Their backstories are knitted together to justify the small town's passion for hockey.
Meanwhile, the narrator hovers in the background, lending an ominous dose of foreshadowing to the individual stories of the characters we come to know and love. And guys, never once have I been more terrified of an author, because Backman shows time and time again throughout this series that he's unafraid of pulling punches and brutally killing off characters. And there's such a beautiful, raw way each character is written that you can't help loving or relating to them, despite their many flaws and bad decisions.
However, I would hesitate to recommend these books to all readers because they're all very dark. There's also quite a bit of language, focus on topics such as rape and homophobia, and plenty of violence (though not all of it is graphic). So for sensitive readers, these may not be the books for you (but if you'd still like to give Backman a try, I highly recommend A Man Called Ove, which is lighter in content and tone). This series is not written from a Christian standpoint, so while there are glimmers of hope and goodness and support within the pages, the tone of the books eventually fall back into the frailty of humanity once again.
In spite of all that, I personally think this series is still worth it considering the writing style, the interesting insights on human nature, and the CHARACTERS. It will make you think. It will strike you with a sense of empathy. It will make you wonder about the ambitions and dreams wrapped up in the form of faces all around you....more
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