The Winners

“But the truth is that stories about boys like Benji hardly ever end with them as old men. They don’t get long stories, and they don’t die peacefully in old people’s homes with their heads resting on soft pillows. Boys like Benji die young. They die violently.”

The opening chapter of The Winners foreshadows Benji’s death, immediately creating tension for the reader who has come to know Benji so well over the course of the trilogy. The reader is meant to worry about Benji, a worry that Backman builds on as he introduces the impending storm in the next chapter. The resulting suspense is an important structural element in the novel, as Benji’s death does not occur until the final chapters.

“Beartown and Hed are old towns in an even older forest. People say that age brings wisdom, but for most of us that really isn’t true, when we get old we’ve just accumulated more experiences, good and bad. The result is more likely to be cynicism and wisdom.”

By describing the age of the towns, the narrator establishes one of the key factors contributing to the rivalry between the two communities. The narrator compares them to people. Because both towns are old and made cynical by that age, they have become stuck in their ways, reinforcing the feud they have long maintained.

“‘Because not everyone always makes it. You have to make the most of the happy endings whenever you get the chance.’”

Hannah’s words to Ana are a warning about the difficulties of life but also a warning to the reader that not everyone gets a happy ending. To Ana, who has already survived significant tragedy, these words are also a balm, reminding her to focus on the positives when she can.