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A review by asourceoffiction
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Fredrik Backman is an incredible writer. His emotive writing and stunning characters just grab hold of my emotions and wring them out for all their worth. I haven't felt this big a book hangover since A Little Life. Thank goodness there's a third and it's a chonk!
I read Beartown almost a year ago, and I wasn't sure I'd remember a lot of the detail or character specifics. But it turns out this town and its glorious inhabitants live rent-free in my brain, and combined with Backman brilliantly spinning plot and recap together, I was soon immersed again; possibly more than last time. Now I knew history, I knew conflict, and I knew just how much there is to love in all of these beautiful, broken people.
The first half of the book is very contemplative and deals with some heavy emotion as the town comes to terms with the events of the first book. Upheaval and scandal threaten the future of the hockey club, and everyone is affected. We learn more about The Pack and its history with hockey (my goodness, I love Teemu!) as the club begins to rebuild itself.
The conflict between the teams in Hed and Beartown is incredibly tense at times, which builds throughout the book. The events that lead to the climax at the end are so clever, so intricate and often devastating. But there is genuine kindness littered throughout the town (as well as real moments of humour), and I finished so many chapters weeping at the beauty of it all.
This is such a human story, filled with survival, love and tragedy (often all hand in hand), and I completely adored it.
I read Beartown almost a year ago, and I wasn't sure I'd remember a lot of the detail or character specifics. But it turns out this town and its glorious inhabitants live rent-free in my brain, and combined with Backman brilliantly spinning plot and recap together, I was soon immersed again; possibly more than last time. Now I knew history, I knew conflict, and I knew just how much there is to love in all of these beautiful, broken people.
The first half of the book is very contemplative and deals with some heavy emotion as the town comes to terms with the events of the first book. Upheaval and scandal threaten the future of the hockey club, and everyone is affected. We learn more about The Pack and its history with hockey (my goodness, I love Teemu!) as the club begins to rebuild itself.
The conflict between the teams in Hed and Beartown is incredibly tense at times, which builds throughout the book. The events that lead to the climax at the end are so clever, so intricate and often devastating. But there is genuine kindness littered throughout the town (as well as real moments of humour), and I finished so many chapters weeping at the beauty of it all.
This is such a human story, filled with survival, love and tragedy (often all hand in hand), and I completely adored it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Homophobia, and Rape
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Death