Book Review: Beartown

Wow!

One words sums up my thoughts after reading Beartown. Very few books leave a reader hanging in a sense, wanting more, needing answers like this title did. The feeling is similar to the thoughts felt at the end of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, only definitely not as shocking.

Beartown was a book club selection and one that remained on my to-read list after reading numerous reviews. Two of my coworkers raved about it. Life happened the week of the meeting and I was unable to attend, so I missed the discussion, which disappointed me. The book was so engaging – difficult to put down yet difficult to read at the same time because of the gut-wrenching emotions it evoked.

Writing a review for this title is hard and I have been contemplating it for more than a week. There is so much to say but so much that the reader needs to experience. In a way, the title is a thriller that continues to build until the very last page. That is a lot to provide reader’s advisory of in one small review. I almost feel that the author did not want to provide much in terms of a summary. The book jacket and many of the reviews are limited, which just makes reading it so much better. I had no idea what to expect.

Therefore, here are some of my thoughts regarding the book...

Beartown is a small community in the woods where life revolves around hockey. When the junior team wins the semi-final, the town realizes the potential that awaits – business deals, a new hockey academy and more housing. The fate of the town rests on the shoulders of these young men. Boys that do not even know a world without hockey and are under constant pressure from parents, the board, the sponsors and the coaches - to succeed to become professional, to save the town, to become strong men.

At a celebratory party following the game, an alleged sexual assault happens between the team's most promising player, Kevin, and the daughter of the club’s general manager, Maya. The tragedy shatters the town…blame is analyzed, revenge is contemplated and two teenager’s lives change forever. Jobs are on the line, friendships broken and families torn apart. All prompting the questions - how important is the game to the players? To the town?

There is bullying among the boys from the very beginning but it quickly turns dangerous after the party stemming from the dichotomy of race and class on the team. The team spends as much time together as brothers but there is no equality other than that they all play for the same team. They make clear distinctions between those with money and without, those of different races, those who understand the difference between right and wrong. Some of the bullying was the hardest parts to read, breaking my heart when Lyt and some of the other boys attack Amat with a pipe. However, Bobo shows his true colors when he becomes a traitor to his team and stands up for his new friend, Amat. The bullying, regardless of if it followed the sexual assault or not, is not stopped by the parents, coaches, etc. because the team members can do know wrong and look what they are doing for the town. And what kind of example are the adults showing when they show some of the same behaviors...

The book is well written. I love books that feature different points of view from each of the characters. This is much different from the typical format though. The section might only be a sentence or a short paragraph all merged in one chapter. It was interesting, kept the story moving. In addition, I did not realize some of the moments but there is a lot of foreshadowing done by the author, some more noticeable as you read.

I both loved and hated the ending. I craved more. I had unanswered questions. The author set up many plot lines that remained open. Of the four remaining players in Beartown...who died, who was the dad an who went professional? What happened if the teams in Beartown and Hed met in future games? What happened to the club? What happened to the parents? So many questions that actually could have answers awaiting, because the sequel comes out this summer in Sweden, so shortly after in America hopefully!

I will stop rambling now. I feel like this post ended up more of ramble than a clear thought out post, which it should have been for the time I spent on it.

I would definitely recommend this novel to almost anyone. It’s a thriller, it’s a sports story, it’s a coming of age tale, it’s a lesson in parenting. It’s an easy read that is hard to put down, so go check it out today at the library! Don’t wait!

Happy Reading!

Review to wait for in March: Little Women and FDR on this Houseboat

Book Review: A Walk in the Woods (Audio)

I finished the audio version of A Walk in the Woods earlier this week. For those not familiar with this well-known title, it is the detailed account of Bill Bryson's highly motivated yet sometimes hapless journey on the elusive Appalachian Trail. The reason I was so interested in reading this title is that one day I hope I would have the opportunity to hike even a small portion of the trail. It is one of my life goals and obviously one that needs more thought and training than just reading this book and heading out to the woods.

SIDE NOTE: That last sentence makes me laugh and reminded me of the scene in Gilmore Girls when Lorelai just decides to go hike the Pacific Coast Trail. If you know Lorelai, there was no training involved, maybe a little thought in that decision but when she got to the trail head after watching/reading the movie/book Wild, she heard the same question multiple times from the group waiting, “book or movie?” If I remember correctly, she went home after only a few minutes. Ha!

Let us start with the fact that the author reads the book and it is amazing. He has such an interesting accent that I could have listened to him read many more books. I did some research because I know he had lived in England prior to writing the book and currently resides there but he is actually from the Midwest. His dialect is a wonderful blend of Midwestern and English accents. Trust me he is great to listen to when he reads! I have to say I've really hit the jackpot with audio books this year.

Many of you have probably seen the movie and that is why you recognize the title. I actually saw the movie before reading the book, which I honestly only watched because it starred Robert Redford. It did not ruin my thoughts about the book but only made me enjoy it more and realize the movie was completely awful. One of the biggest changes I noticed was that Bill Bryson was in his late thirties/early forties when he hiked the trail. Think about the age of Robert Redford. Yes, they had retirees hiking the trail in the movie, which gives it an entirely different perspective. The movie overall was just a huge disappointment in comparison. It is OK perhaps as a standalone but not based on the book.

I was not, however, as disappointed in the aforementioned movie, Wild. What I was surprised to find is that I loved A Walk in the Woods so much more than Wild and I loved Wild! The two have a similar theme yet are vastly different: self-discovery versus exploration of one's native country, female versus male hikers, Pacific Coast Trail versus Appalachian Trail and serious tone versus hilarious with notes of historical. The one thing they both have in common is that the hiker in each title is extremely unprepared for the task at hand...completing not just any old hike but one that involves wild animals, changing weather, mountains, etc. Don't get me wrong, both are great books that literally made me want to run out into the woods but A Walk in the Woods spoke to me more. Maybe it was listening to the author read or that I perceived it as better written or that it was literally in my backyard at times. Regardless, add both to your to-read list. (Read my post about Wild here.)

I am rambling now, so let us get back to the original post. A Walk in the Woods, as mentioned, follows Bill Bryson and his friend, Stephen Katz through the American wilderness on the Appalachian Trail. Bryson is a bit more determined and prepared for a hike of this nature than Katz, his out-of-shape friend. Katz provides so much comic relief throughout the book. Taking the shoelaces out of the hiking boots of some stuck-up yuppies; throwing anything that he deems too heavy, even his canteen in the dead of summer; and endless array of comments complete with profanity that leave you laughing out loud in your car while rush hour drivers are probably laughing at you...that's what Katz and at some point Bryson prompts while listening.

The humor was wonderful because it made the history lessons lighter. As a history lover, I found the these pieces very informative. I enjoyed learning about the formation of the National Parks, the history of the Appalachian Trail and even the background of how certain trees ended up in the places that they are located. Most likely I would never pick up a book on any of those subjects, so it was nice to have that knowledge intertwined throughout the story.

Even if you have no desire to hike the Appalachian Trail, I would still highly recommend this book. It educates. It entertains. It gives you the opportunity to live vicariously through Bill Bryson and hike the trail from the comfort of your couch.

Happy Reading! Stay tuned for my next book review: Beartown.

Book Review: The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Audio)

Do you listen to audio books? I do and I love them! I'm so busy that it's often how I finish books right now. I listen to them on my commute to and from work, as well as on my way to meetings and library visits. Sometimes I get so in to it that's its hard to get out of the car!

I actually read about this version of Winnie the Pooh in an issue of Parents magazine. It recommended titles to listen to in the car for the entire family. Everyone has read Winnie the Pooh and I'm not going to tell you about the story because you already know about that.

What makes this version so wonderful is the readers! There are multiple readers and they are all British. I love listening to books that are read by someone with a British accent and who better to narrate than Dame Judi Dench! It was so fabulous!

If that wasn't already amazing, the readers do a really great job of "acting" out the characters role on the audio... The actor that played Eeyore was hilarious and I kept thinking to myself that I knew this actor. I knew his voice.

And indeed I did... I thought and thought and finally came up with who it was... It was none other than Judi Dench's husband in As Time Goes By. So, imagine Lionel from the show and how he acted. Now imagine Eeyore. They couldn't have cast the role better. It was a perfect match.

Definitely go check out this audio book! It will make you smile and laugh, remembering how much you loved these classic stories as a child. It will make you laugh even harder if you ever watched As Time Goes By and if you haven't, you definitely need to!!

As we all know, this is a title that crosses generations and any age of audience would enjoy. Like I said, this was recommended for families to listen to together and what a great idea to revisit titles you enjoyed as a child that are still entertaining today.

Happy Reading!