Earlier this year, I read the final book in the “Beartown” trilogy by Swedish author Fredrik Backman. I had come across the first book by accident, and don’t actually even remember when and how. I just knew that I was intrigued. Not just because a huge part of the plot is about hockey and its importance for both of those small communities, but also because I just loved the characters in the book. The rivalry between those two Swedish (fictional) hicktowns, Beartown and Hed, not just on the ice. The tragedies, but also successes. The highs and lows. There was simply something about that book that had grabbed me and didn’t want to let go again.
So when I saw that there’s a sequel called “Us Against You”, I knew I had to have that one as well, and just like with the first installment of the series, I moved into the Swedish forest and lived there for the duration of the book. Heartbreak. Happiness. Joy. Sorrow. And everything in between. I just couldn’t stop reading, as it was a bit of a page-turner – and at the same time, I didn’t want the book to come to an end. I wanted the story to continue.
…which it did.
Some time last year, I found out that there’d be another “Beartown” book, called “The Winners”, and yep, you guessed it, that one moved in here. This time, while I was once again hooked on it, it took me a lot longer to finish that one than the previous two. Part of it was due to my concentration having gone to shite and I couldn’t really focus on immersing myself in a book for more than a couple of minutes (which, if we’re being brutally honest here, SUCKS). Part of it was also because I decided to crawl into the book again.
After I had eventually finished it, I was legit WRECKED. Wrecked by a book (well, a trilogy, to be precise) about two small Swedish hockey loving towns and their respective inhabitants. Somehow, a part of me is still digesting the book, although I’ve read several other ones by now. But the fact that one certain quote at the end of “The Winners” is still stuck with me shows you HOW big of an impact that damn novel had on me.
“What is life, other than moments? What is laughter, other than a small victory over sorrow? A single moment, just one, when everything inside us isn’t broken.”
I can’t even pinpoint it, but that quote for some reason hit home. I put it as my Twitter bio, because I just cannot forget it. Then, while I was sitting here, thinking about Beartown and that particular quote, I knew what I had to do. I fired up a graphics program on my laptop and looked for the perfect picture to go with that quote. And I really do think I managed. There were a lot more amazing quotes in the book, but that one sticks out …and is still stuck on my mind.
When I found that particular image to go with the quote, I also remembered how much at peace I am whenever I am at the beach. Just watching the world go by, being stuck in the moment. The moments of tranquility (also on my mind). Peace. Happiness. Away from sorrow and pain. There is some truth to the saying that we should rather collect moments, not things. Because things get broken, but the moments stay with us – in our memories and our hearts.
Yes, usually, it’s song lyrics that have a major impact on me. It’s been several months now that I finished “The Winners” and the fact that I think about that particular quote almost on a daily basis should tell you something as well. I love when books have such an effect. You think back about them. Maybe also re-read them at some point – which I might actually do with the “Beartown” trilogy. And write down ALL the inspirational, memorable quotes I come across as I go along.
For now, I will leave you with another quote from “Us Against You” which also fucking NAILS IT:
“Sometimes people have to be allowed to have something to live for in order to survive everything else.”
*******
photo: mine; quote: Fredrik Backman; App used: Canvas
Ocean Soul 