I think I've read all of his books now but I really think this one is my favorite. I love the way he developed these characters. He manages to tell the story of imperfect people and weaves together something beautiful. By the end of Us Against You I adored Benji, I found myself like Maya just rooting for him to live a good life. The boy with the wild eyes and big heart. Then there was Bobo, the oaf with the biggest heart. When he first spoke with Johnny in the garage I had to pause and absorbe how beautiful his proclamation of love was, without even saying that word. Wise beyond his years.

During the actual final event I was led to believe that other people were shot too. I thought mumble was dead and then he casually just said he continued to play hockey. Do you think mumble should have told his story? Would they have forgiven him eventually?

I'd love to hear everyone else's take on this series. It's so interesting how the people around you can bring out the best or the worst in you.

Comments

the-eyes-on-you t1_jdr5we5 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 3:27 PM

#2,371,670

Backman is my favourite author, I absolutely love his books but I think the Winners was the first of his books that didn't make me cry. I can't put my finger on why, something about it just felt off to me and I wasn't able to get into it as much as I had the other 2 books in the series and his works in general. I'll gather my thoughts on the specific story and come back to add them in a while!

boxer_dogs_dance t1_jdr6hu9 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 3:31 PM

#2,371,752

I loved a Man Called Ove. Anxious People was fun. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets longer and longer was a punch in the gut.

I'm currently in the middle of Things My Son Needs to know about the World. If Dave Berry wrote about fatherhood, it might look something like this book.

Great author.

the-eyes-on-you t1_jdr6nd9 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 3:32 PM

#2,371,772

Replying to the-eyes-on-you (#2,371,670)

I read it a while ago so the details are fuzzy but part of the problem is I thought Matteo and Mumble were the same person, so I was confused at the end when they weren't? Unless I missed something? That happens regularly. 🤣

cerebellum0 OP t1_jdradt5 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 3:59 PM

#2,372,231

Replying to the-eyes-on-you (#2,371,772)

Oh yeah that would be confusing. It was revealed that Mumble was outside the room when Matteo's sister was r worded. But, he was also threatened and manipulated into it by her attacker, so while he didn't speak up and he should have, he was also sort of a victim. He carried tons of guilt about it and ended up walking into the woods at the end of his hockey career and potentially unaliving himself, at least that's what was implied.

the-eyes-on-you t1_jdrentp wrote on March 26, 2023 at 4:29 PM

#2,372,754

Replying to cerebellum0 (#2,372,231)

I think I need to re-read it and give it a second chance knowing what I know now. Thanks for clarifying!

cerebellum0 OP t1_jdrrskf wrote on March 26, 2023 at 6:01 PM

#2,374,208

Replying to the-eyes-on-you (#2,372,754)

I think I need to reread the first book. I read it a while ago but enjoyed the second and third book more due to the character development.

cerebellum0 OP t1_jdrs71w wrote on March 26, 2023 at 6:04 PM

#2,374,256

Replying to boxer_dogs_dance (#2,371,752)

I haven't read Things my son needs to know yet, but I also really enjoyed the other ones you mentioned. A Man Called Ove was so sweet and heart breaking. Anxious People was disarming in its heavy subject with cooky sweet characters. I just love the way he writes about people so much.

the-eyes-on-you t1_jdrx2jk wrote on March 26, 2023 at 6:39 PM

#2,374,790

Replying to cerebellum0 (#2,374,208)

That too. I was so excited when this book came out, I thought I could just jump right back in but it became evident pretty quickly that I should have re-read the previous books first, it had been a few years since my last visit.

blahdee-blah t1_jdscf6c wrote on March 26, 2023 at 8:27 PM

#2,376,640

I cried like a baby. I was so invested in Benji by the end.

cerebellum0 OP t1_jdsdbjo wrote on March 26, 2023 at 8:33 PM

#2,376,767

Replying to blahdee-blah (#2,376,640)

Oh me too. Of course he did the only thing he ever did, run towards the danger to protect others. He told us over and over it was going to happen and it was still devastating to read.

Side note though, I watched 10 Things I Hate About You last night and now I strongly believe that young Heath Ledger would have been the perfect Benji.

implicitlyput t1_je5um8h wrote on March 29, 2023 at 5:02 PM

#2,453,392

The author’s ability to intersect different generations and make it appealing to such a variety of demographics is brilliant. I only wish I could read it in its original language, I think some of his humour gets lost in the translation and can come off corny. Some of the quotes regardless of being translated are so brilliant.

cerebellum0 OP t1_jea4r9d wrote on March 30, 2023 at 3:04 PM

#2,486,875

Replying to implicitlyput (#2,453,392)

That's a great point, I usually forget I'm reading a translated story, which is an amazing feat for the translator. But I would definitely love to read it in the original language.