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The Winners cover art

The Winners

By: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
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Summary

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO STAND TOGETHER?

‘It’s often said that winners write history, but there are no winners here’

This is a small story about big questions.

It's a story about family, community, life.

It starts with a storm - and a death.

But how does it end?

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

©2021 Fredrik Backman. English language translation ©2022 Neil Smith. Originally published in Sweden in 2021 by Forum as Vinnarna. Published by agreement with Salomonsson Agency. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, UK

Critic reviews

'I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown, and felt ripped apart by the events in the book' JOJO MOYES

What listeners say about The Winners

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic and compelling conclusion to the trilogy

I listened to all the books in this trilogy back to back and absolutely loved them all. Frederik Blackman is a superb author with a gift for drawing out our understanding of what should be the most unlikeable characters. Unfortunately this last book was slightly spoilt by the change of actor reading it. Characters that had been so expertly realised by the first actor have been completely changed by drawling American accents that conjure up images of spoilt Californian teenagers rather than country kids from a forest! For me it showed a really shallow understanding of the book and it’s setting. Shame, it would have been so much better to stick with the original actor.

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7 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Really disappointing

I loved bear town and to a slightly lesser degree the second but really struggled with this book. Ultimately got to the end but I didn't enjoy much of it. The highlight was the last hour or so where everything was wrapped up in, an admittedly, idealistic bow. The story suffered for being far too long as a result of introducing way too many characters. In spite of the length the majority of the back stories of the characters felt clunky and ultimately shallow. I just felt the whole story lacked direction, was disjointed and a real labour to get through. I just didn't feel as invested in the existing or new characters anywhere near as much as say in the traumatic first story. There were sad parts and just felt so detached from the story I really didn't care that much. It was all a bit piecemeal and really ultimately was a disappointment. The change in narrator really didn't help either with the americanisation of the characters to be at odds with the first two books. Real shame as I really loved bear town. Maybe it should have been a single book.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A fitting end to the trilogy

I loved this series - never thought I’d enjoy a book about ice hockey but it is about so much more. The characters are so brilliantly crafted and brought to life - and Bear Town itself is so very real. Only complaint here is on the decision to change the narrator for the third book - she’s a great narrator and I’ve enjoyed other books read by her - but it seemed so strange at this stage in a series to have some of the characters’ names pronounced completely differently and with an entirely different accent. I really enjoyed the previous narrator and how he gave personality to the Bear Town residents. To have names seemingly change was weird and to hear the name Anna pronounced as Arna - even when the narration itself says it should sound like the name Hannah, was very odd - but it didn’t spoil a wonderful story with a thread of tragedy throughout it and full of wisdom and little joys too.

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2 people found this helpful

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Not one I enjoyed

I loved Anxious People, and so tried this trilogy. In my opinion the story deteriorates across the three, and becomes cliched and cliche predictable.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

As always, beautiful writing, every emotion, thank you for sharing your glorious talent Mr Bakman

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Different like most of his books

This doesn’t blow you away but more tidys up the loose story lines. The trilogy is unusual and as always his characters are so well defined.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I’m speechless

I love the whole Beartown trilogy but this one was the best of them.

“We hoped. Oh, how we hoped…” 💚

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Winning Audiobook!

This was so, so good. I did not want it to end.

This is the third book and all of them have been great. Do not be put off by the ice-hockey. This is a story about people and communities that love each other. The characters are well drawn and the storyline has a variety of unexpected twists and turns. It is complex but simple tale, well narrated and satisfying to listen to.

Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love his books

Great story again -laughter and tears. The human condition. Brilliant. When’s the next one out?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic Read

Whatever you do read Bear Town first before you read The Winner. After reading A Man called Ove. I didn't think the author could top it, because it was such a good read, I was reluctant to read Bear Town & guess I should have read it sooner & by the time got to The Winner, it played havoc with my emotion, I was up & down. I laughed, I got upset, I cried & it made me smile. if you want something different then I recommend this book. Brillant!

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