Welll.... I really tried with this one. I haven't read the author's previous book, A Man Called Ove, which was critically acclaimed and seemed to be popular. I considered reading it several times, but each time I changed my mind. I just wedding think it was for me. I have been hearing a lot of buzz and recommendations for Bear Town, so I thought I'd give it a try. Turns out, this one just isn't for me either.

Brief Summary: Bear Town is a small town in the woods of Sweden. It's a hockey town, meaning that hockey is the only thing that really happens in this town - it fuels the economy and is the primary source of entertainment. The story begins on the day before a major semifinal game for one of the youth teams. We learn about many residents of the town - adults and children - from the hockey clubs General Manager, several players on the team, and Coaches. The plot takes us from the semifinal game to the celebratory party afterwards, which leads to the major conflict and aftermath of the story. we see how the celebrity of being a hockey star and the politics of sports can affect lives and the search for truth and justice.

What I Liked: I did like the sleepy, dark setting of Bear Town. I love hockey and watch a lot of NHL hockey, so I was intrigued by the hockey life and inside aspects of the sport. I also became interested in (but not really invested in) some of the characters, particularly Amat and Benji, two young hockey players. Both of these guys come from "the wrong side" of Bear Town, and served as a juxtaposition to other characters like Kevin, the star player who comes from the wealthy neighborhood. I always root for the underdog.

What I Didn't Like: I really didn't connect with most of the characters. First of all, I think there were too many characters, and the story jumps from different viewpoints, and I felt like I wasn't able to get to know any of them well enough. The writing just wasn't deep enough for me to get a real sense of who these people were and why I should or shouldn't like them. I felt that the connection with most of the characters didn't dive below the surface. Also, I just wasn't a fan of the writing style. I thought the book was way too long, and the language a little too flowery and literary.

Final Thoughts: although I didn't enjoy reading this book (I didn't look forward to reading it; I was hurrying through so I could finish rather than savor it the story and characters), I can appreciate it and understand how others would like it. I think my attention span is short these days and I need something faster-paced that grabs my attention quickly and holds it until the end. I almost put down Bear Town several times, but was hopeful that it would snap me attention and reel me in at some point. Sadly, it never really did.