Us Against You: A Novel
by Fredrik Backman
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
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Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, United States
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About This Item
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown returns with an unforgettable novel "about people—about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men" (Jojo Moyes).
Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did.
Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too.
A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don't expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they've always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it's a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback.
Reviews
On Jul 21 2018, a reader said:
4.5★s
Us Against You is the second novel in the Beartown series by Swedish blogger, columnist and author, Fredrik Backman. It is translated from Swedish by Neil Smith. Midsummer in Beartown and there's no ice hockey to be played, but the events of spring, "the scandal" as some referred to it, still looms large in the town's collective consciousness. The (unpunished) perpetrator may have left town, but the victim still bears the blame.
When the Regional Councillors decide that the Beartown Bears Ice Hockey Club will be liquidated, a hearty cheer goes up from their rivals, the Hed Hockey team, while the blame is placed firmly on the shoulders of the team's manager, Peter Andersson and his daughter, Maya. One councillor, however, has plans of his own: a stranger arrives in Beartown on a mission from this politician. His plan brings hope, but is he to be trusted?
In this sequel, all the characters from The Scandal (Beartown #1) feature, but with their backstories expanded, their futures speculated upon and their present reactions to events explored. "Inside every large story there are always plenty of small ones." Some new and interesting characters also appear. As with the first book, there is a lot of Ice Hockey in this story, but it could actually be centred around any team sport in a remote town to the same effect.
There is quite a long and slow build-up to the climax, which may be frustrating for some readers, but patience is rewarded. Backman presents moral and ethical dilemmas in a realistic fashion, there are some lump-in-the-throat moments and many wise words: "Men are busy, but boys don't stop growing. Sons want their fathers' attention until the precise moment when fathers want their sons'." Moving and thought-provoking.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Janson Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- Bib2020LJ005504
- Title
- Us Against You: A Novel
- Author
- Fredrik Backman
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Paperback
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
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Janson Books
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About the Seller
Janson Books
Biblio member since 2015
Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania
About Janson Books
Covers a broad range of fiction, biographies, general sciences with some concentration in a variety of biomedical and chemical science titles which reflect the owner's lifetime interests.
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