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uninen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Many same themes as Shuggie Bain, so much that the beginning made me wonder if maybe Douglas Stuart can only write about one thing and his following books can't compare to Shuggie Bain because of that. However, Young Mungo still has its own clear identity. The narration is different as are the central themes on which it focuses. The book is much more centrally about Mungo and his sort of rendition of Romeo and Juliet (through the filter of West Side Story) amidst Protestant vs Catholic confrontations while also examining homophobia and CSA/pedophilia.
Douglas Stuart writes beautifully and is so good at really making you feel what the characters are going through. Even the worst person is nuanced and we understand how much the misery capitalism has brought on them plays a part in how some victims become the victimizers and how hard it is to break that cycle and escape. It doesn't excuse the pain they cause others, but you understand the root cause of it all while also seeing that you can choose to opt out (at a great price at times).
I also greatly appreciate Stuart's ability to write about complex mothers, who themselves have suffered greatly due to misogyny and poverty but then take it out on their children in various ways. Neglecting your children and their needs as well as making them your caretakers IS child abuse, even if you never raise a hand to them. His portrayals of emotional incest are very realistic and touching, and it's an important topic to explore especially when many parts of it are normalized/downplayed.
At its core, Young Mungo is a story about hands in all their infinite potentials.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
kkwf'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
zoinkie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
diegocanread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, and Outing
evamarsh00'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
nairn91's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
rebeccaquinton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
whoisskadii'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
4.75
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jembo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Pregnancy
heelturn2's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence