Us Against You (Beartown) Paperback – 5 Mar. 2019

In true Backman style, it’ll draw you in, lead you astray, and tear you apart. I read Beartown, the first book in this series, in May last year. I took a chance on a book about hockey, only to fear its sequel wouldn’t live up to the small town’s original magic. I’ve never been happier to be so wrong.Backman’s writing isn’t overly complex. But it still has an enthralling and addictive quality that makes it difficult to resist. And it’ll leave you with a book hangover. His tone of voice is so realistic, so frank, and so straightforward. That quality, mixed with Backman’s natural storytelling ability and intricate web of characters is what makes this series of books so special. It has the captivating feature of a good story, with the poignant touch of pragmatic reality.In a similar essence to Beartown, this book’s atmosphere is somehow both nostalgic and claustrophobic at the same time – like living in a small town. This story takes place only three months after the last, but the number of characters increases and so does the level of heart. While it was easy to have one favourite in Beartown, I really struggled to single out just one character in Us Against You. The storylines in the book are richer, with deeper roots and even heftier consequences.I absolutely love how layered and nuanced the characters in this book feel. They’re not just elements of fiction, they’re personalities that you get to know and understand. They have quirks and habits that you come to know so well you can almost predict, which is why it’s so easy to get lost in their lives. Plus, the interlinking relationships and storylines gives the book and even stronger pull.There are chapters in Us Against You that are like peering into a pack mentality. It's truly fascinating, but understandable perplexing. Allegiance and loyalty play major roles in packs and teams, but this book questions how far we can be carried without genuine respect, honesty, and trust. I also loved the exploration of masculinity and respect in this book. Some characters chase and crave it, while others barely acknowledge it. It’s insignificant to some, and so crucial it could break bones for others.Following the events of Beartown, this book also dives deeper into anxiety, specifically guilt and paranoia. Although Backman has a humour to his writing, can write with sarcasm, and effortlessly deliver deadpan expressions, the milder and warmer tone of voice when exploring such topics was very refreshing. Still, I love that the author doesn’t shy away from honesty in his writing. There are some sentences that are hard to read. So despite the sensitive storylines, the perspective feels balanced.Us Against You highlights the best and worst in humans, and the strengths and flaws in love. It’s a story of devotion and redemption, and like many of Backman’s books, leaves plenty of room for poignant and deep discussions. There are some moments that are full of tranquillity and quiet, and others that are so tense you’re holding your breath. And while it may not have the same tight grip on me Beartown had, it’s still just as spectacular.After loving A Man Called Ove, Beartown, and Anxious People, I can’t wait to see what Backman gives us next. The third book, Those Who Run Towards Fire, is already on my pre-order list.

It is a rare thing in an author to make me care so passionately about a group of characters and the town that they live in, but Backman has achieved this beautifully.Without a doubt, my favourite character is Benji. Benji is violent, stubborn, and deeply flawed and is the moral, destructive compass of the book. My fellow readers agreed and throughout the book I found myself chanting 'Not Benji, Not Benji, Not Benji' like some Yoga mantra. Benji is the heart of this book and the violence meted out on him is hard to read at times.But even the other characters are human, flawed and fully rounded - a vicious gossip who will always quietly cook food for anyone who dealing with a bereavement; a taciturn father who will read the Harry Potter stories to his children at night as he learns to live without his wife; a grizzled bar-owner who is the town's mother and a boy with impulse control who just wants to play hockey and is tentatively embarking on his first relationship. The characters are not good or bad, there are no 'black hats or white hats' here. These are deeply human, deeply flawed but all with a core of humanity. They could be one of us, our friends, family or neighbours.Backman, just as in Beartown writes beautiful, strong women; Ramona, Maya, Ana and Benji's 3 wonderful Sisters. All working to stay alive, survivors. I believed in every single one of them.Let me talk about 'The Pack' - a group of Beartown Hockey's toughest supporters, violent and yet all brothers in arms, they stood up for Maya and her father, Peter after the events of the previous book. The hate the rival town of Hed and its hockey team and this spills into a wider conflict - a fight for jobs and economic recovery. All stage-managed by puppet-master Richard Theo.The writing about relationships is beautiful and sensitive. Peter and Kira are struggling and this is all depicted with the metaphor of 2 wine-glasses turning into a single glass. Both craving a moment to sit and just be with each other, but pulled apart by events, and dealing with those on their own.This is a novel about the power of sport, how sport and rivalry can spill into violence and hatred. But ultimately how it can unite and bring love through a shared love of the sport. I defy you not to have a tear in your eye when one team and its supporters, truly broken are uplifted and supported by their greatest rivals.Throughout there is a sense of dread with this novel. I found myself waiting for a punch that I knew was coming. I was truly reading with a heavy load on my back and there was relief in the release. It's hard, yet beautiful.I'm awarding this book 4.75 stars. It nearly was another 5 Star read, but at the start I felt that the first few chapters needed to settle into itself. It is a measure of how good the author is, that I have come to expect only perfection. Also, there was relatively little of another of my favourite characters Amat, and his dignified mother, who I adored in this previous book, but this is really nit-picking now.The rest of the novel is wonderful, awful, emotional and terrifying all at the same time. I loved this and it was an excellent and suitable follow-up to Beartown.

A wonderful and very moving book. I was reluctant to read it as I am not interested in hockey but this is about so much more. It is really a book that can change how we think about relationships - which is so important these days.

I loved Beartown and if it's possible to love its sequel more, then I do. I don't enjoy all of Backman's books but these two, and this one in particular, are up among my all time favourites.In Us Against You, Backman takes us back to the small town with ice hockey at its soul and into the aftermath of tragedy and scandal. His characters are imperfect and human, with inner stories and hurts that are woven together to portray the impact that loud and one-sided voices make in a community fighting for survival.Gloriously gritty and unputdownable. 5 stars.

Really like this authors style of writing - read this after Beartown and it did not disappoint. Relevant to all ages.

It's a nice 2nd book after Beartown. We find the same characters and explore a bit more the town of Beartown. I'm not that convinced about the end... The future of the characters are either super great or very bad...not much of a spectrum.

Enjoyed the characters progression, development and the continuation of the story.

It took ages to get into the story. Ok if you like ice hockey.

Enjoyable read, with great characters and great understanding of human emotions and behaviours. Not even a big hockey fan but loved the story.

4.5 stars!“Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did. We'll end up saying that violence came to Beartown this summer, but that will be a lie; the violence was already here. Because sometimes hating one another is so easy that it seems incomprehensible that we ever do anything else.”I don’t know whether to be happy or sad, whether to cry or smile. Every word written by him is like a wave of feeling, crashing over me and leaving me breathless with its intensity. I feel my heart breaking and mending all at once, and I am unable to shake off the impact of his words. And that is a Backman for you - an extraordinary writer whose each and every word drips with emotions.This second book is about the aftermath of the devastation that rocked Beartown in the first book. It is how the people of Beartown react to the tragedy that occurred. We feel all the deep emotions that swirl within the town's residents - anger that boils, frustration that gnaws, guilt that consumes, and despair that threatens to swallow them whole. This is not merely a tale of hockey. It really really is not. It is about family, friendship, love, envy, unity, and.. loss.Who or what impacted me the most you may ask? I would say Beartown - the residents of Beartown - each and every sad, quirky, mad, emotional, scary, funny, loveable, angry character of Beartown. Be it Benji, Maya, Kira, Amat, Bobo, Peter, Elisabeth, Ana, Teemu, Ramona, Vidar. Ah, my heart.. Just like the first book, this story exposes the raw and flawed nature of human beings. No one is perfect, and it is this imperfection that makes each character relatable. You will hate someone only to empathize with them in the next. You will love someone, yet understand when they make mistakes.I took my time reading this book because I wanted to savour each and every word. Those little nuggets of wisdom - on the unconditional love of parenting, dynamics of marriage, profound friendship, community, on hope, love, and loss. Every page teaches you something and forces you to introspect. There were times when I closed the book and just absorbed the brilliance of his writing, his thoughts, and his understanding of human emotions.A moving and thought-provoking story that affirms Fredriks's prominence as one of the greatest authors. Absolutely recommend.

Una novela increíble!! Y más para los seguidores de Hockey

I was thrilled that my long wait for the sequel to the wonderful Beartown had finally come to an end. After finishing Beartown, my favourite book of fiction in 2017, I was impatient to learn what was next for the town and its people. I felt a close connection with the deeply drawn characters. Love some and hate some; they were always intriguing and compelling. The author has a great understanding of human nature. Us Against You doesn’t disappoint. It was possibly even better than Beartown. Fredrik Backman writes with emotion and is an exceptional story teller. His characters come to life on the pages and in our hearts and minds. There is humor but also great tragedy and passages of wisdom. At times heartwarming, but also heart wrenching and heartbreaking, I found it an intense reading experience as there was foreboding throughout which made me worry that something bad lay ahead on the pages. This is the story of a small town in decline set in the Swedish forests. The people live for hockey and the local games are the highlight of the lives of players and their many fans. This should not deter any reader. I have no interest in hockey, but none is needed. It is about so much more: it is about the lives of people and the good and bad choices they make. It involves family connections, friendship, love, hate, rivalry, violence. Sometimes I had to interrupt my reading to wipe tears from my eyes. I have heard there will be a third book and hope it is true. I want to know the future for Maya, Ana, Benji and his sisters, Ramona, Peter, Amat, Leo, Bobo, Zackell, Alicia, Teemu and all the others I have to come to know and love. Have already ordered a book as a gift and one for myself. Now for the long wait for the next book in the series!

Dieses Buch ist der Hammer, die Fortsetzung von Beartown und man steht immer noch da, als beobachte man ein grosses Unglück, kann aber einfach nicht wegsehen. Hockey ist wohl der Grundbaustein, aber dieses Buch ist so viel tiefer, so menschlich, so stark, ich konnte es kaum weglegen, hätte dafür am liebsten Urlaub genommen. Die Leiden von Benji, Amat, Bobo, Maya, Ana, Vidar, Peter, Kira, Leo und dem Rest der Truppe, sie sind zur Familie geworden. Am Liebsten würde ich es gleich noch einmal lesen. Steht dem ersten Teil in nichts nach,.