avaritia

Everyone (and I do mean everyone) needs to read the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman

It’s a story about a small Swedish town that’s obsessed with hockey, and how that obsession and culture leads to tragedy. It’s a story about people, both about how good they can be, and how dark. it has honestly changed the way I look at storytelling, and I think everyone needs to at least read the first one

it does include graphic details of sexual assault, rape, alcoholism and car accidents so if these are triggers for you, please be careful!

If this doesn’t trigger you, I highly recommend it. the way the story is told is so beautiful, the writing is IMMACULATE and the imagery of a town that has a 9 month long winter is beautiful

in case you haven’t yet been convinced, here is a list of reasons why you should read it (in no particular order):

1. it has important messages about sports culture, and how teaching boys to take what they want during the game leads to an environment where they can’t take no for an answer

2. contains immigrants kicking ass

3. has an LGBTQ character that frankly I’m surprised Tumblr hasn’t discovered yet, they are so amazing and I’m pretty sure I would die for them

4. Shows complex friendships and the importance of forming your own opinions as opposed to conforming to a herd mentality

5. Has badass female characters

6. Discusses locker room culture and the effect it has on kids who are different

7. Demonstrates the impact of language

8. Shows that people are flawed; that no one is all good or all bad. Everyone is struggling, and everyone is human, and we can’t let ourselves reduce others to less than that.

F##k whoever made these bags.