Reviews with content warning for Violence - Young Mungo

I don't know how to rate this book because I just can't figure out what I think of it.

There was just. so much violence and suffering. If Mungo wasn't being beaten then he was nursing bruises and wounds. if he wasn't being threatened with violence he was being beaten. add to that there rape. graphic rape, on the page, no less than 3 times.

and it's like, yeah this is a well written book, but the whole time I was reading it I just felt like I was reading...misery porn. There were softer moments, good moments, in the book, but I really felt all the violence overpowered the good things.

it's not like I don't get it, I feel like the point is to show that even though Mungo is a kind boy, a soft boy, he is someone who is capable of violence himself because of the way he grew up. Before Mungo murdered the men who raped him, he was already being asked to or forced to commit acts of violence, and on a few occasions did it without prompting - it's not like he's maintained a saintlike innocence throughout his life that gets ruined the moment he is raped, he was always capable of it, and he is a product of his environment.

but also, I don't feel like I have to like it. I'm honestly not sure I'll read Snuggie Bain after this because if it's more of the same, then I've had enough. I really feel like the premise of this book the way it was sold to me was a lot less violent than it turned out to be, and I don't really care what kind of pretty prose it's packaged in, it's still a lot of graphic violence (not to mention, sexual violence) and I don't want to subject myself to that kind of misery if I don't have to, and to be frank: I don't have to.

Content Warnings

collie98's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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? It's complicated

Content Warnings

helenab18's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

stayathomereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

#RecentlyRead #YoungMungo 🕊

Douglas Stuart's sophomore novel has a lot in common with his debut, Shuggie Bain. Both feature young queer characters in Scotland during the 80s. Both feature an alcoholic mother and complicated sibling relationship, and both deal with class issues and tension between the Protestants and Catholics.

Once again I was very impressed with the way Stuart writes- he crafts such complete characters and builds an atmosphere so real you feel like you're there, too.

Young Mungo is told over two timelines which converge by the end of the book. At the very beginning we know that Mungo has been caught with another boy, beaten by his brother, and sent away by his mother to go camping with two men (who are basically strangers) to straighten him out, toughen him up... give him some manly guidance.

The other timeline follows Mungo prior to this camping trip- giving us a chance to get to know him and his family, and watch as he developed a friendship (and more) with the slightly older Catholic boy who steals and raises fancy pigeons.

One thing to note about the dual timelines is that there is no visual signifier to the reader when switching between the two. The setting and characters make it obvious enough, but towards the end of the novel, as the time gap closes it becomes a little less obvious... then again, that could have been a mistake I made reading past my bedtime! 😉

Unlike Shuggie, who is a young child for most of his book, Mungo is 15 years old and on the cusp of manhood- by 16 he can be considered emancipated and is free to go where he wants with whomever he wants. My problem with his age is that the way he is so infantilized by his mother and sister made it hard for me to visualise him as a teenager ready to fall in love, run away, and be self sustaining.

Getting past that issue, (which is minor really, because I'm sure if I think about it long enough I can come up with some reasoning as to the roles he plays inside and outside of his home life), I found the characters to be so fully developed that I could feel their emotions and struggles pouring off the page; which was exactly my experience with Shuggie Bain. If I could adopt Shuggie and Mungo both I absolutely would! My mothering instinct aches for them.

So while the writing is beautiful, and here and there are wholesome character relationships, the story is full of sadness and violence that had me grimacing while reading. Portions of this book were literally a visceral experience.

I preferred Shuggie Bain to Young Mungo, honestly; but that is like asking if I want cake or ice cream.... both, please!

Content Warnings