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Life

Whatnot – 07/20/22

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The Last ChairliftWell, I never did get to the beach last weekend. I totally forgot that my daughter had my car so I just stayed home and watched TV and read for a bit. It was 105 degrees so those activities suited me just fine.  I finished Beartown. I didn’t love it. I know that is an unpopular opinion but I really expected to love it. My review is here. 

I wasn’t planning to read Irving’s new one until closer to its release date but how can you not read Irving when you have a review copy staring you in the face? It’s nearly 1000 pages so I am really looking forward to it. It’s been so long since I’ve read a chunkster. Click on the cover above to read more about the book.

I’ve been pretty busy and somewhat productive but I am in a weird mood. I get antsy if I sit still for too long but staring out into space is oddly comforting right now too. I try to balance the two! Work, work, work, stare off into space. Ha ha.

Tonight my book club was supposed to meet to discuss Crying in H Mart. However, a scheduling conflict came up so it looks like this meeting will happen, possibly, in September instead. I bought snacks from H Mart this past Saturday but I can always eat them myself. Ha!

There are so many awesome books coming out this fall. Which one do you have your eyes on?

Book Review

Review: Beartown

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Beartown

Beartown
By Fredrik Backman
Washington Square Press, 9781501160776, February 2018, 432pp.

The Short of It:

A small town finds community in the sport of hockey but it’s more than a sport for most of the players and coaches.

The Rest of It:

There is a big match coming up for this small town hockey club and it’s literally all hands on deck and the club decides that their only option is winning. Just win. That is the instruction that the boys are given and that’s what they intend to do. The on-ice ribbing of weaker players and the forced acceptance of a younger player into their immediate circle causes quite a bit of friction. To add fuel to the fire, coaches are being moved around and managers are encouraged to retire no matter how many years they’ve been in the club.

As Backman pulls us in with compelling characters and colorful town folk, the behavior and actions of one player, their star player, puts a damper on the pre-game excitement when he commits a crime. His punishment could cost them the win. As the town is divided over what to do, tensions rise and suddenly the game doesn’t seem as important as it once was.

I have read Backman before but I wasn’t prepared the the darkness of this story. I was just skating along, enjoying the healthy competition of the boys and their excitement over the game but then wham, you turn a corner and it gets very serious, quickly.

I know people who have loved this book and cried buckets of tears while reading it but I didn’t even tear up. I was angry and irritated and felt that I wasn’t prepared for where the story went. I know that it’s part of a series and that the new book hits in October, I believe, but now I am not sure I want to read the others. Someone convince me.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.