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jennireadsmaybe 's review for:

Beartown by Fredrik Backman
challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Fredrik Backman is immensely talented. Everything about his writing style is consumable, but it's also haunting. I don't know if there's another author I've read from that would have been able to write something like Beartown. 

Beartown is traumatizing. Backman doesn't pull his punches. You know something horrible is going to happen. There were times when I was reading that I would step away to do things and I would be sick to my stomach. It's brutal. 

Not only is Backman a talented writer, he is phenomenal at character work and setting. All of the characters read like someone that could live down the street. I was in the run down, small, forest town the whole time. I wouldn't go so far as to recommend this to anyone unless they are looking for a horrific experience. 

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