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leonkaspar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Cancer, Classism, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Addiction, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual assault
abisnail564's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Child abuse
bookshelfhannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Homophobia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
mrslsmith's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Vomit, Addiction, Rape, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
alicefaye_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
jessrosenthal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Shuggie Bain tells the beautiful story of the relationship between a mother and son, tainted by the struggles of alcoholism and poverty.
In this covert tragedy, Stuart highlighte Shuggies unconditional love for Agnes, from the ages 6-17, despite how she fails him throughout the years.
Stuart perfectly depicts the affects of addiction on a family dynamic and makes Agnes a lovable character despite her flaws, showing the reader that she has clear love for Shuggie but is helpless in her decisions to become sober.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Suicide
Moderate: Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Rape
emilymdxn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Vomit
mj_trearty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book focuses on the Bain family, mainly Shuggie, the youngest son, and Agnes his alcoholic mother, living in 80s and early 90s Glasgow. It shows the desperation of many without work due to the mines closing and the fall of the ship building industry amongst others. What life was like in the council houses and tenements and how it was dealing with alcoholism.
The character of Shuggie does not fit in, smaller and more effeminate than other boys, he is bullied throughout his life while having to deal with hunger and desperation as his mother spent the dole and child support on cans of Special Brew. All he wants is his mum to get better and if he tries hard enough she will, in his young mind that is enough.
This is a beautifully crafted and harrowing account that brought tears to the eye on more than one occasion., definitely one of the best books I have read in years.
I think this line sums it up "the more you love someone the more they take the p**s out of that. They will do less and less of what ye want and more and more of just as the f****n' please." That is definitely how life was for Shuggie
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
leah_grace7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
laindarko2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, Bullying, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racial slurs and Injury/Injury detail