Twelve members attended this book club discussion in February 2020. This was the last discussion we would have together when CoVid struck. We were no longer able to gather together in person, but was able to meet in August through Zoom.
This is the third novel that we have read by this author, having read in the past: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and A Man Called Ove. A few members have read other books he has written and one member said she just read the sequel: Us Against You.
We found he did a remarkable job with the characters. Someone said "he is so good at what he does it almost wears you out as he pulls you in." "He is a Master at Human Behavior!" How believable the characters are someone said. Someone also said that there were a lot of characters in the story. Another said all the characters were overwhelming but then it all fit together.
Many of us liked the hockey theme in the story. Someone grew up in northern MN where hockey rules and another had a couple nephews that were goalies. A member noted we were reading this and it was the 40th Anniversary of Miracle on Ice for US Mens Hockey.
The story is about community. It is also a story about how powerful pride can be, but if something happens, how divided it can be, according to a member. Hate is easy, loving is hard. From Chapter 35: "Hate can be a deeply stimulating emotion. The world becomes much easier to understand and much less terrifying if you divide everything and everyone into friends and enemies, we and they, good and evil. The easiest way to unite a group isn't through love, because love is hard. It makes demands. Hate is simple."
Of course we talked about the characters in the story. How people gathered around Kevin. Someone said they liked Amat and his Mom. They found his character to be strong and loyal. Kira was a remarkable woman. She wasn't fond of the town, but went because of Peter, found her element when working and yet, loved being a mother and felt torn. She was a protector of her daughter. There were also many secrets in the story with these characters. People weren't always talking. Benji had an interesting storyline. He was a bear, a protector of his teammates and Kevin and then when the incident happens he is protective of Maya.
A member said: "The book left me sometimes crying, sometimes laughing and sometimes so mad!" Another said: "It was a good winter read." It really was a good read. Someone said they have read four of his books and each one feels different than they other.
