Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

137 reviews

uninen's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

5.0

Really loved Shuggie Bain so getting into this was a bit daunting, since I wondered if maybe I'll be left disappointed. Luckily it wasn't so!

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail

nishaksweet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Religious bigotry

evamarsh00's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

alannator's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

Don’t normally leave reviews but have to say this is one of my favorite books I have ever read. It was dark and sad at times but the characters were just so beautifully written. Got me out of a reading slump 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

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

ia_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Abortion

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

sky130's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

A gut punch of a book. Merciless but not sadistic, Young Mungo unfurls in a vicious elegy of poverty, patriarchy, and addiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

mganallirt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail