This was my first exposure to Backman and I was totally impressed. I knew within the first few pages that his writing style was going to work for me. I can’t recall another book I’ve read which did a better job at introducing so many characters and weaving together storylines. While characters are plentiful, as a reader you still feel like you’ve been given the chance to get to know them all and sympathize with each one of them. They are each flawed and yet have redemptive qualities. The amount of characters alone implies a plethora of storylines- again, masterfully woven by the author. Bear Town as it’s described could be Anywhere and yet its atmosphere is crucial to the story. Again Backman brilliantly succeeds in depicting this. Oh and then there’s ice hockey, driving the story for what it’s worth. This book is heavy. The main plot line deals with the rape of a teenage girl and the town’s reaction to it. There are sub plots dealing with other difficult issues which may be triggering for some. Keep this in mind should you decide to read. I would recommend this to many and I plan to read additional books by this author.