Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

27 reviews

ellisinthetardis's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

uh yeah fucking uh. i honestly don’t know what to say. holy fuck. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Gore, Hate crime, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

A beautifully written but heartbreaking portrayal of poverty, alcoholism, sexuality, homophobia and sexual abuse. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

This is the saddest book I've ever read. I took multiple breaks to be able to get through this book and it can definitely be a huge trigger warning for someone. Even though it is written in third person the story is real and raw. I felt connected to the characters and the trauma they've been through especially for Mungo. The beginning was pretty slow and I didn't really care for the ending. I wish the ending was more definite but if the author wanted to write a sequel he could do it based off how it ended. 

What's funny to me is how Jodie at first seems like one of the only redeeming characters but she's just as cruel to Mungo as Maureen and Hamish. Also, it's beyond disgusting how his mother let him go with two strange men who are pedophiles.

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Content Warnings

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

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.5

It took me a while to fully get into this story and have some of these characters get under my skin. I thought it was tender and beautiful and raw and hopeful - and shattering as well, let’s be honest. Some ppl don’t get what they “deserve (not that it can be quantified or sth like that but more karma-wise, good and bad, iykyk).
I don’t want to compare it to Shuggie Bain though there are many crossovers. However, I feel like the author has honed in on his craft and found sth that works for him. I’d like to think I could tell of a progression.
Themes of neglect, isolation, violence and alcoholism to be aware of. 

I hope to f**k Mungo and James are enjoying a quiet and happy life together. And that Jodie is at Uni living it tf up and finally on her own

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

ryanem7's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abortion

Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

vidyasargeant's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

torismazarine's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

blues's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Che viaggio spettacolare. Questo libro mi ha catapultato in una Scozia degli anni 80-90, in un ambiente chiuso, iper-mascolinizzato e religioso (con annesse lotte tra la parte protestante e la parte cristiana) e me l'ha fatto sentire a 360 gradi. Mi ha fatto conoscere Mungo, ma con lui anche tante altre persone con cui sono riuscito ad empatizzare, nonostante questi non fossero sempre personaggi molto positivi. Vediamo questi personaggi sia nei momenti "pieni" di trama, sia in quei momenti di quotidianità (soprattutto Mungo ovviamente), il che ci aiuta molto a capirli meglio, a capire come ragionano e quali sono i loro punti di forza e le loro insicurezze. 
Ho adorato particolarmente tutte le metafore che Douglas Stuart ha utilizzato per descrivere i sentimenti di Mungo e di tutti questi personaggi, facendomi sempre capire appieno la sensazione che voleva trasmettermi. 
Un'altra cosa che ho amato sono le descrizioni degli ambienti: riuscivo davvero a sentirmi dentro ai posti che raccontava. Non solo li vedevo nella mia testa, ma ne sentivo anche gli odori, i rumori e i sapori. Ero davvero insieme ai personaggi.
Questo libro mi ha preso il cuore e me l'ha strappato in mille pezzi, ma mi ha anche lasciato una parte di Mungo, che si muoverà con me ovunque io andrò. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

“And what for? For liking Mungo Hamilton, the ruiner of all good things.“

I have never felt so absolutely gutted after finishing a book, nor have I wanted to give a character a hug as much as Mungo. Stuart writes such a devastating story of a sweet soul who deserved so much more than what he was given. After checking trigger warnings, I would highly recommend, this is a new favorite for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, and Alcohol

sky143's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail