Book Review: Us Against You

Published June 5, 2018
Pages: 448 

                                                              👠👠👠👠

"At some point almost everyone makes a choice. Some of us don't even notice it happening, most don't get to plan it in advance, but there's always a moment when we take one path instead of another, which has consequences for the rest of our lives".

Disclaimer: Fredrik Backman is one of my favourite authors of all-time. 

"Us Against You" is the second book of what will be a trilogy. The trilogy is essentially about the very small community of Beartown. Beartown is obsessed with hockey. Hockey IS Beartown. In the first book, a violent act committed by the star hockey player, shakes and divides the people. The book is darker and wholly different than Backman's previous novels. The second book is the aftermath, the fall out. It is about the community and its individual families trying to navigate the consequences of the first book; and how irrevocably it has changed so many lives and relationships. 

I have to admit, the first 125 pages (I counted!), kinda dragged for me; and the foreshadowing was a tad overdone. Also, while I really liked Beartown, I never felt completely hooked. I read peoples reviews where they would say "Benji is my favourite character!", and I just didn't have one. Not in the same way I cared for Ove or Britt-Marie in his previous novels. The thing is though, I LOVE Backman's writing; and the remainder of the book reminded me of that, hence the rating.  As always Backman has the most eloquent quotes and the deepest reflections on life. 

Am I going to read the final book in the trilogy when the time comes? 

Honestly, he could write instructions on assembling Ikea furniture and I would hang on every word.