Us Against You (Beartown)

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.

I suspect my main issue with this book is that it isn't Beartown. Beartown won a special place in my heart and little if anything was ever going to be able to rival it for my affections. Us Against You makes a reasonable attempt, but falls just that little bit short of the target set by its predecessor. This is undoubtedly beautifully written and stunningly translated, but it didn't quite hold me in the same way that Beartown did. It can't be the characters, for although all of the previous favourites return for this sequel there are some new characters that take your breath away. Aspects of the last book that were touched on are developed and expanded, with the black jackets being of particular importance, but by no means are they the only ones. As with his previous novel however, Backman touches on so many issues that are hidden within a commmunity; both the large and the small, the good and the bad. He has a way with words and sometimes his words really do just take your breath away. Sometimes I found myself re-reading a paragraph for exactly that reason. And at the finale, he knows how to use those same words to break your heart into a thousand pieces. Backman's writing makes most other authors look clumsy in comparison and his characterisations can make you weep. But it still didn't quite hit the pinacle of Beartown and there's possibly a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, the tone is far less innocent I suppose. Whereas Beartown is all surrounded by individuals actions and the way they can spiral a situation out of control, Us Against You is just as heavily based on one mans ability to manipulate a series of situations and a variety of people. All of the events were far more calculated and whilst that made for a good read, it didn't make for the spell-binding read that Beartown was. Beartown didn't need a single individual's meddling fingers to keep the events spiralling... this did, and that detracted from the tone of the novel quite a bit for me. I also found the constant active foretelling of something dark on the horizon to be somewhat tedious after a while, particularly when everything is so slowly paced. Whereas with Beartown you get build up and repurcussions in almost equal proportion with the events spiralling out of control somewhere in the middle, here it is nearly all build up. It's well written build up and it showcases the characters beautifully, but it's missing something. And when I hit the finale, I won't deny that I cried, but somehow I can't help but feel that the book wasn't quite balanced as perfectly as Beartown. But at the same time, this still reflects some of the greatest lights within humanity at the same time as it shines a glow on some of the darkest. It is still beautifully written with passages that will haunt me for long to come. It is still a novel about humanity; about loss and love, marriage and belonging, community and hatred. It still has those astonishing nuances and interlinking characters, with stories that spill over unwillingly into others lives. It's still a story about ice hockey and it is still so much more than that. Is it Beartown? No, not quite. Is it worth something in and of itself however? Yes, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

I read this immediately after U finished reading Beartown. Both books absolutely gripped me and I couldn't put them down. A great storyline, beautifully told with really well developed characters. This book often made me fearful - but not always with sadness!

Love the way Fredrik writes, so different. I feel I know all the people and families in this book. An amazing story.

Insightful continuation of Beartown. Clear explanations of why characters do what they do and how none of us are completely one thing or another. The characters deal with choices between family or friends or jobs. Written as only Fredrik Backman can. Love it, even if I knew nothing about hockey!

I loved the Beartown book, so was confident that I would enjoy this too. Once again its so compelling and I was immediately drawn into Beartown and Backman really draws you in to the community. Once more, I felt that I lived and had grown up in this town. The writing is beautiful and there is so much heart and emotion. It really is special. This book focused less on the hockey and more on the people. I think 'Beartown' had a greater balance and ultimately a more believable story. I felt that the author wanted to develop the stories of the people of Beartown but may have been better served doing a few more books as this one has such a lot going on and it felt a bit busy at times. The writing is incredible and teh charcaters are brilliant. I can really pay the book and the author no greater compliment than to say that despite being based in the North of England that 'WE ARE THE BEARS FROM BEARTOWN

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.

Eu descobri este autor em Um Homem chamado Ove e, de lá para cá, não consegui deixar de ler nada que ele escreve. A maioria das vezes, como na série sobre Beartown, não tenho paciência de esperar pela tradução para o português (que demora muito, por sinal). Em Us Against You, que é a continuação de Beartown,, o autor volta a abordar temas sérios, mas ele o faz com tanta leveza e sensibilidade que a leitura se torna muito prazerosa. Enfim, é mais um livro do Backman que leio e, até hoje, não li nenhum que fosse menos que excelente!

Get ready to cry ugly. This isn't an easy breezy book to read.

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

5 ⭐️ - it was perfect! 🎶 Happiness - Taylor Swift “When you strip away all the nonsense surrounding it, the game is simple: everyone gets a stick; there are two teams, two nets. Us against you.” Us Against You was a stunning, heartbreaking, consuming continuation of the Beartown series. This one started a little slow in the beginning since it has a decent amount of recap from book 1, but I was happy to be back with these characters and immediately feeling an array of emotions as their new rivalry unfolded. Backman has a way of writing such complex characters that makes it difficult for me to hate even the very worst of them. I feel like I know this town and these people, so when they face difficulty or challenges or grief I feel it right alongside them. Despite being a hockey-centric series, it’s more so just an achingly realistic depiction of the human experience. Happy endings aren’t always reality, and there’s something tragically beautiful about being able to escape into a series like this. I’ve met some of my most favorite fictional people in Beartown, and while I’m scared for my mental state to read book 3, I’m excited to continue to see these characters grow. What you can expect: 📚 contemporary fiction 🏒 small hockey town 👫 character driven novel 😭 emotional story 🌪️ consuming, atmospheric writing 🧠 mental health representation ⌛️ coming of age