Backman’s style is unique. I always like reading his writing because the narrator always takes an objective view of the story. For this type of story I think it’s perfect because it leaves the reader to draw their own opinions on the story without feeling the bias from the author. This was the second book in a duology about a small town, Beartown, who love hockey more than anything else. Beartown neighbors a slightly larger town, Hed, that seems to get everything that Beartown doesn’t. It kind of reminds me of sibling rivalry but with a lot more violence. The towns like to turn their head at anything different and only agree on one thing hockey.

The second installment picks up from where the first left off. The town is fraying. At the ends after the Pack supported Peter and his daughter Maya after her rape by the star player. The events of the unraveling of all the people involved is messy, hurtful, and permanent. Some people recover and become better, stronger people. Others lose their sense of self and the most unfortunate lose their lives. The story is raw and thought provoking. What would you do if everything you loved hinged on this one game? If your livelihood depended upon the winning of this game? Would that cause you to lose it? Or would it not change you at all?

WHAT ARE YOU EVEN READING?!

EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU CELESTE NG

RUIN AND RISING LEIGH BARDUGO (3-3)