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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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wonderful trilogy

I absolutely loved this whole trilogy. it ranks in my top three novels of all time. I know it's 3 books but I am reviewing it as a whole story. I have been completely lost (in a good way) in Beartown for the past few weeks and I really, really don't want to say goodbye.

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simply brilliant

would listen to it again. a great writer and a very good translation. Beckman is unique

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  • Overall
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I nearly cried when I finished this trilogy

I will miss Beartown and all of its inhabitants so much. The only thing that let this book down was the narration (although it was better than the narration of books one and two. At least this lady got the Swedish pronunciation right)
Fredrik B has become my favourite author. I devoured these books in a fortnight - which is fast for me. There were many sad moments, as well as so many heartwarming ones. I can’t wait to try and watch it on TV someday soon.

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  • Overall
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Great end to an amazing trilogy!

Thoroughly enjoyed getting to know, love, despise and worry about these intriguing characters. Loving Fredrick Backman’s work.

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Wonderful book

Loved every one of the 3 books in this trilogy, but this one was the best. It was so sad to know I had finished it and would not be reading about Beartown tomorrow. Love this author and very glad I have found him.

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This was not designed for an american narrator

The first two books were read by a male british narrator. The welsh and cornish accents were great imo and i loved both books. The last one however switched to american female. She’s a really good narrator, but the translation of this book calls for a british reader, and not just for the purposes of continuation. The translation uses words like “rubbish” instead of trash, or “mates” instead of friends. Coming from an american it doesnt flow right, and the sombre tone of the first two books has become a bit too bright somehow.

That aside, I am really going to miss these characters. The series as a story/trilogy has made me laugh out loud and cry in the supermarket. Thoroughly enjoyed all three books and the author is phenomenal. Such real characters, and very relatable.

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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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A must read

I found the first half quite slow and only because the first book was beyond brilliant did I continue with it.

You must keep reading it. What a phenomenal ending. What a trilogy. Only one word for it. Awesome.

Only slight complaint - they changed the narrator. She was fine but it was weird going straight from a male to a female narrator after the first two books.

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Loved it, but annoying at tumes

Loved the Beartown books. This one is the weakest of them all, but still good, as it finishes the story. But there is an awful lot of repetition. Again and again. It's unlikely someone who had not read the two previous ones picks up the third one, so it could do with less summaries of them. And for God's sake stop talking about the wolf hunts! We get it, the author feels very strongly about protecting the hunters, and might have hinted only a few times how much he does not like renewable energy sources. Get a grip, it's not Dark Ages anymore. But all and all well worth a read/listen.

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Excellent

It was moving and so sad but funny at the same time. A great read

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