Beartown is a rural Norwegian village, but its inhabitants, fully described by author Fredrik Backman, are exactly like your neighbors, wherever you live. Beartown used to be more robust, but its failing economy has left a few wealthy businessmen thriving in the rich part of town and too many others struggling to make meaning of their lives outside of drink. What they all have in common, even those not paying close attention, is the rise to national prominence of the town's youth hockey team. Even if we are like excluded sisters, mothers, and insufficiently athletic boys, violated and chastised by A-teamers, we find ourselves as readers caught up in the challenge of competition and camaraderie of teenage boys training to become great players and young men. A third of the way through the book, as the Beartown Bears head toward a championship showdown with a better team from the big city,
Beartown takes a hook that will send you sprawling across the ice. Screaming parents, pampered stars, and some of the truest friends you will ever wish were yours will rise or sink and you, dear reader, will be racing toward the goal, not to see who won the final game, but to learn what kind of people succeed at the game of life. Marin Ireland's narration is outstanding.
Comments
Post a Comment