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basementofbooks'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: Alcoholism, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Murder, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion
shaleen64'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
4.75
Stuart explores all of the issues above in a completely open and raw manner that does not sensationalise or trivialise.
The book captures life in Glasgow during the 80’s exceptionally and whilst some may struggle with the language used it is, within the limits of fictional writing, accurate.
I would recommend this book to anyone and believe I will be thinking about it for a long time to come, but for most it will be worth reading the trigger warnings prior.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
nad_books623's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Abortion
Minor: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
carinaantonia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Outing, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
abimyers_reads's review
- 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
2🌶
Young Mungo is set Glasgow and follows Mungo as he explores his sexuality and identity. Giving a voice to teenagers during a time where violence, social class, family and queerness were different.
Heartbreaking story and graphic at times but the story was amazing and breaths life into an overlooked point of view.
Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Pregnancy
kayarosee'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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
victorsbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
jkneebone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In the shorter timeline - the 'after' - Mungo is sent by Mo-Maw on a fishing trip with two men she knows from AA. Calling themselves St Christopher and Gallowgate, they take Mungo on a multi-bus journey to a remote loch. The men are former convicts and heavy alcoholics, but only after Mungo is there does he realize the real danger he might be in.
I read this for a book club, as it is not the kind of book I would pick up normally, and though I was glad to have the chance to branch out, it was still not my cup of tea. I think it was well written, if perhaps a tad longer than it needed to be (although despite the length, it felt like a quick read; the writing was very engaging). All of the characters were so well developed and interesting, even if most of them were more unlikable than not. The setting was quite vivid as well, although it threw me off that the era wasn't made clear earlier on - maybe there was a hint that I missed, but while I got that it was the 90s eventually, I spent way too much time wondering at the beginning.
Overall I interpreted this as a sort of commentary on poverty and abuse, the cyclical/heritable nature of trauma, and the deep claws of homophobia. Mo-Maw got pregnant young and holds this against her children; we see this pattern playing out with Hamish and Sammy Jo
I'm conflicted about the ending - it definitely improved my feelings on the book overall, but I wish that it hadn't taken so long to get to that point.
Heavy, heavy topics throughout - definitely read the content warnings if you're sensitive about pretty much anything. There is a lot of sad, bad stuff going on.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion