Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
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Web ID: 8513739Love Backman’s writing but this fell short for me.
I recently finished "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman and it’s clear why it’s a favorite for so many. The story and characters drew me in completely and the masterfully crafted narrative had me falling hard for Backman's writing style so I was eager to dive into the sequel, "Us Against You," to see how he would further expand these complex characters. However, as I began reading, I found myself getting bored early on by the lengthy recaps of events from "Beartown." While I recognize the necessity of revisiting key points for continuity, this extensive summarization led to a loss of momentum and made it difficult for me to stay engaged in the story. I also noticed strong foreshadowing that was heavily woven into the narrative which built anticipation for significant revelations that, unfortunately, never seemed to materialize. I expected to witness some character growth, but it felt like we were treading the same ground as before, revisiting familiar struggles without much progress which raises a crucial question for me. Was it truly necessary to expand this story by another 430 pages? A tighter narrative might have kept things fresh and engaging while allowing for an even deeper connection to the characters I fell in love with in the first book. It feels a bit like a missed chance to rekindle that spark, and I left this journey with a sense of wanting more!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Guess who’s back with another BANGER!
I read Beartown soon after it was published and consumed it as if it were a stand alone book. Once I finished I thought “cool, holy sh%*, wow, geez leweez, ok ummm, fu%*, welp that’s now my favorite book and WHY DO WE ONLY GET ONE.” Then I start to hear rumblings like when the water in the cup starts to shake as the T Rex approaches in Jurassic Park. Rumblings of a sequel!!! I was tremendously excited, but also worried. I wasn’t sure if there was enough story left to tell for an entire second novel. I was an idiot not to trust in the BackMan!!! Of course there is more because it’s his beautiful brain in charge of the story and he always delivers. I was so happy to be back in this world that feels so realistic and human to me. Most of all I realized how much I’d missed reading Benji who is similar to me in ways that both absolutely crush me and give me immense hope at the same time. Another Backman novel in my top 10!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Backman understands the human condition...
Oh Fredrik Backman, how I love thee. Everything he writes hits home for me. As mentioned in my Beartown review, Backman just has a knack for understanding the human condition, all our ins and outs, strengths and weaknesses. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he had a degree in psychology or sociology - he just gets it! In this sequel to Beartown, we once again enter this small hockey community still in the midst of the unraveling triggered by Kevin Erdahl's crime. The novel slowly unfolds with each character's story, but Backman's brilliance is in the connections that readers don't see until later when they are skillfully woven together from the fragments. Now that funds have been redirected to their nemesis, the neighboring town of Hed, Beartown is forced to regroup despite the raw emotion of it all. In the midst of all the change, new challenges arise, fresh loyalties are forged, and everyone's limits are tested. This novel was just as well written as Beartown with even more intricacies and a fee new characters to fall in love with.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Disappointing
I was so impressed by the first book of this trilogy, Beartown, that I bought copies of that book for several friends as Christmas presents that year. Because of this, I was excited to start reading Us Against You and catch up with what had been going on back in the small towns of Beartown and Hed. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with this one. I consider Beartown to be a brilliant novel, one I’ll never forget, but Us Against You seems disjointed, and lacking a coherent message. The storyline wandered, and I kept trying to understand what the author was trying to say, but in the end, I didn’t get it. However, I plan to give the third book, Winners, a try since I’m amazed at what Backman is capable of writing, and still hopeful to read another masterpiece.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com