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A review by major_sholto
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
2.0
As a wide-eyed teenager in 1977, I saw Star Wars for the first time. As the end credits rolled, I sat in the darkened movie theater, craving more. I wanted to know what happened to Darth Vader as he spun into space. What would happen to the plucky Rebels? I needed more Han and Chewie. Star Wars was such a captivating story, and I was greedy for more.
These days, my taste for good storytelling is more stoic. I now hold the rare opinion that George Lucas should have moved on in 1977 and stopped with the one great film. I would argue that Godfather II was unnecessary (great, but unnecessary). And don't get me started on Godfather III. But Hollywood is a capitalist machine, and good stories can make the cash register sing—especially when the story has "extensibility."
I loved Fredrik Backman's Bear Town. I enjoyed the characters, the omniscient narration, the growing tensions between two hockey towns, and the gut-punch event at the center of the narrative. It was a solid book and a great story. When I finished the book and saw there was a sequel, "Us Against Them," I admit my earlier greed for more rose to the surface, and I eagerly picked it up.
It was a good book, but unnecessary. You see where I'm going, don't you?
When The Winners was announced, I couldn't help myself, I pre-ordered it. I'm a bit of a completionist—what can I say?
It's a good book, but unnecessary.
The book's final chapters are heavy on artificial sweeteners and rival The Return of the King for the longest wrap-up/ending—warning: they may induce a diabetic coma in some readers.
My advice: read Bear Town and move on.
These days, my taste for good storytelling is more stoic. I now hold the rare opinion that George Lucas should have moved on in 1977 and stopped with the one great film. I would argue that Godfather II was unnecessary (great, but unnecessary). And don't get me started on Godfather III. But Hollywood is a capitalist machine, and good stories can make the cash register sing—especially when the story has "extensibility."
I loved Fredrik Backman's Bear Town. I enjoyed the characters, the omniscient narration, the growing tensions between two hockey towns, and the gut-punch event at the center of the narrative. It was a solid book and a great story. When I finished the book and saw there was a sequel, "Us Against Them," I admit my earlier greed for more rose to the surface, and I eagerly picked it up.
It was a good book, but unnecessary. You see where I'm going, don't you?
When The Winners was announced, I couldn't help myself, I pre-ordered it. I'm a bit of a completionist—what can I say?
It's a good book, but unnecessary.
The book's final chapters are heavy on artificial sweeteners and rival The Return of the King for the longest wrap-up/ending—warning: they may induce a diabetic coma in some readers.
My advice: read Bear Town and move on.