Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

65 reviews

deezy's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

amberlovick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Tw: alcoholism, paedophilia, rape, self harm and a whole load more. 

*audiobook*

This felt very reminiscent of A Little Life and was not an easy read. I felt this book was brilliantly written and I grew very attached to Shuggie. It was a very raw and explicit depiction of the era and really demonstrated how difficult peoples lives were and the vicious cycles society perpetuated. 

I would highly recommend this book, well worth the read, just read your trigger warnings first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

greypaperboats's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of the best, most heartbreaking books I've read in a long while. The characters are written with such compassionate clarity. They've found a home in my heart. There is not much I can respond with except that I'll be carrying this story with me, hoping that if anyone has Shuggie's heart it should be everyone or no one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

laurenw's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Medical content

Minor: Body shaming and Blood

amberinbookland's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Shuggie Bain is relentlessly grim, but the evocative and poetic prose used to sketch out the city of Glasgow made it a worthwhile read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

stayathomereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

bodiesinbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Terminal illness, Violence, and Vomit

leah_is_dudish's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

4.0

Bleak af 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death, Violence, Vomit, and Death of parent

sarahasyouwish's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was a very well done look at poverty and addiction as it relates to one particular family and their struggles in Glasgow, Scotland. My heart went out to the ever optimistic Shuggie as his family heaved under the weight of his mother’s alcoholism. This book pulls back the covers and gives you a gritty, bleak look, but it also managed to have moments of humor and hope sprinkled in as well. The Bains felt very real and believable so much so that this often felt like a memoir.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Vomit

Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Sexual assault