Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Os mod jer by Fredrik Backman

80 reviews

labinsky's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

*sobbing* we are the bears… the bears from beartown 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

wellreadjill_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

stephsbooktalk's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“The best friends of our childhoods are the loves of our lives, and they break our hearts in worse ways.”

WOW! I did not think that it could get any better than "Beartown" but this one delivered.
I was nervous because some of my book friends either reallly loved this or didn't care much for it compared to the prior. I think after meeting the characters in the first one, it made me way more invested in this book. 

Now that I am familiar with Fredrick's writing style it made reading this one smoother. Backman has a way with his writing that you think one thing is happening and then it's something different. 

Once again we have multiple storylines with the characters going at the same time. I kind of wish I did read them back to back because there was some details that I had forgotten but for the most part I was able to follow along. 

I definitely have my favorite characters and I was so happy to continue their journey in this 2nd book. I am really excited for the 3rd which is slated to be out later this year to see how they all wrap up.

If anything happens to Benji, I will truly be HEARTBROKEN!!!!!!!!

I did a buddy read with my friend Cam and his friend and it was just so awesome being able to discuss the book along the way.

Just like with the first book, I have never flagged so many lines and paragraphs in a book. His writing is truly incredible. Some other quotes that I loved:

• “Life is a weird thing. We spend all our time trying to manage different aspects of it, yet we are still largely shaped by things that happen beyond our control.”

• “Feelings are complicated. Actions are simple.”

• “Sons want their fathers' attention until the precise moment when fathers want their sons'.”

• “Grief is the price we pay for love, Ramona. A broken heart in exchange for a whole one.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Death and Rape

Minor: Death of parent

erinnz's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Drug use, Car accident, and Death of parent

rachellewiski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Grief, Car accident, and Outing

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent

carmenvillaman's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death of parent

bookstorian's review against another edition

4.0

After reading 'Beartown' earlier this year I was interested in seeing how the story would continue and so when I finally found a copy of the sequel at Petrarch's Bookstore in Launceston in October I purchased it, brought it all the way back to Brisbane and popped it on my shelf for a few months before reading it. Like a true bookworm. 

'Us Against You' continues the story of the residents of Beartown who are dealing with a multitude of personal, family and social issues that seem to find each and every household. Heart wrenching, tragic yet beautifully told 'Us Against You' continues to raise important issues not only about politics within sport, social economic status but also about sexuality, survival and dreams. 

There is so much I love about the story, here are a few things: 
-plot: filled with foreshadowing, twists, turns, highs and lows. I love how something might be dropped into the story and then circled back to. 
-characters: there is just so many of them and so much light and shade to each. It's amazing how one feels like the enemy and then becomes the hero or vice versa. 
-writing style: the short sharp paragraphs with frequent page breaks, shifts in characters and unifying moments threaded within chapters and throughout chapters. It leaves me in awe thinking about the logistics of writing a novel such as this. Everything is intertwined so elaborately.  
-ending: I knew from the get go it was going to be earth-shattering. It was. 

The politics dragged a little for me and I had some strong urges for the first 1/8th of the book to put it down as I just wasn't that interested in the story and it is incredibly heavy. I am glad I persisted for the sake of the plot and the characters through! 

This is an important read for anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Rape, Car accident, and Death of parent

sofiija's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness

lostpaperbacks's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Misogyny

Moderate: Deadnaming, Hate crime, and Outing

Minor: Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

mollyb13's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

2023: I did a reread of this book so that I would remember what was going on before taking on the final book in the series. My second read was even better than the first and I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars! While I have enjoyed the other books I've read by Backman, none of them hit me like the Beartown series does. Growing up in a small town and giving everything I had to a sport that was heavily influenced by outside politics, I relate to so much in this story. Backman captured details and feelings that I could swear he took right out of my head. And in general, this series captures humanity in a beautiful and heartbreaking manner. I continue to recommend this series to everyone that I can, as this series, and the people of Beartown, have my entire heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol