Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

439 reviews

junebuglibrary's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

A compelling read, beautifully but brutally written. It should come with trigger warnings as to say it is gritty and raw is an understatement. The books main character, Mungo, lives in Glasgow with his disfunctional family, his sister Jodie, and his absent (much of the time) alcoholic mother mo maw (Maureen). His elder brother Hamish (ho haw) is a protestant gang leader. Mungo falls in love with James, a Catholic, and the relationship is developed wonderfully. West Side story meets Romeo and Juliette. Set in 2 timelines, the developing relationship with James, and a fishing trip with strangers. Homophobia is rife. Raw, gut-wrenching, moving, heart-felt, belter of a story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

lilyaforbes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault

Moderate: Violence and Blood

jillaay_h's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

mabs_grace'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

There were parts of this book that I liked as much as a 5 star read, but the toxic masculinity and abusive nature of the characters really started to piss me off by the time I was half way through the book. I loved the writing, it was beautiful but god damn I almost DNF’d this one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage and Abortion

leahcatching's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

tammiebreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, Murder, and Alcohol

tarnya_smith's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

We follow Mungo, the youngest of 3 siblings to an absent father and a drunk mother who is intermittent and unreliable. Mungo tries to stay in school, navigate gang expectations from his older brother, keep connected with his mother and make friends. You really feel for Mungo and his want to escape this life and when he finds his reason and chance, you can't help but hope it's not too good to be true. 

I'd never read anything before with such a distinctive Glaswegian voice and the audiobook really helped with that. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, and Alcohol

disniq's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

• MC with tourettes.
• (I also think he reads autistic but ymmv)

Oof. Oof. This is a very heavy read, but somehow manages to have moments of heartfelt tenderness and levity about it that feels very Scottish. This one will stay with me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, and Violence

tashmachin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Excrement