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The Winners

From the instant international bestselling author of My Friends

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The Winners

By: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
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FROM THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MY FRIENDS.

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

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.

PRAISE FOR THE BEARTOWN BOOKS:

'This is a stunning read that plunges you into another world. Backman writes with incredible sensitivity and insight. Every one of the characters is real and multi-faceted, having you breathlessly turning the pages, following their fears and hopes, fretting for their futures. This is storytelling at its best: Emotional, vivid, wise and utterly brilliant' HAZEL PRIOR

'Surrounded by impenetrable forests, Beartown recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. A mature, compassionate novel' SUNDAY TIMES

'Backman can tickle the funny bone and tug on the heart strings when he needs to, and is a clever enough storyteller to not overindulge in either' INDEPENDENT

'As popular Swedish exports go, Backman is up there with ABBA and Stieg Larsson' THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

'Backman is a masterful writer' KIRKUS REVIEW Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural World Literature Heartfelt Tear-jerking Inspiring Thought-Provoking Sports
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Why change the narrator for book 3? Quite annoying, she also pronounces names and places differently from the 1st two books. Other than that the book was good.

New Narrator

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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.

This was not designed for an american narrator

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This is a last book in the trilogy. The first two were read by the eloquent and emotive John Sackville. I missed him so much. The writing was still brilliant but this audio version didn't pause, flow and sing like the others.

Missing John Sackville

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No praise is high enough for the books. Mesmerised by the simple depth the story went to. Bravo Friedrick Bachman!

Mesmerising

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The Winners picks up the series and throws it into the air in an emotionally charged conclusion to the stories of the people of a fanatical community in the forest. Great characters and interwoven storylines which left you hugely satisfied, yet greatly saddened.

My new favourite author.

Fantastic end the trilogy

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