Review: Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (book-on-CD)

Us Against You
by Fredrik Backman [Compact Disc Backman]

When Fredrik Backman’s Beartown was one of the three finalists during the 2018 One Book – One Lincoln community reading program, I listened to it as a Book-on-CD. Though dealing with painful and sensitive topics, I thought it was a thought-provoking book and I particularly appreciated the excellent audiobook format. Thus, when I saw that a sequel had come out in late 2018, I decided to “read” this one as an audiobook once again.

This is yet another excellent volume from Backman. In Beartown, the main plot point was the rape of the local hockey club president’s daughter, by one of the star hockey players, on the eve of the hockey club’s biggest game. The end of Beartown left a lot of things hanging — it ended with enough plot points concluded to feel that that novel stood on its own, but the fates and futures of a number of the characters were left vague enough that Us Against You has fertile ground for additional storytelling.

Some of the characters from Beartown continue into Us Against You — Peter and Kira and their daughter Maya (and her best friend Ana), young hockey star Amat, and his teammates Bobo and Benji. But some of the most important characters in this sequel are new — new female hockey coach Elizabeth Zackell, wiley politician Richard Theo, as well as the leader of the local “hooligans” and his family. There are a lot of different stories playing out, all of which influence each other in some capacity — there are economic and social pressures, there are love stories and hate stories, there are regrets, both acted upon and repressed, and there are several cases of characters coming to terms with who they are following life-changing events.

This is a powerful novel, and the audiobook narration is extremely well done. Highly recommended.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Beartown, by Fredrik Backman.] [ official Beartown series page on the official Fredrik Backman web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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