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firstknight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
skudiklier's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
It's written well, and Mungo is a likable and sympathetic character (especially his autism, which I immediately related to). But overall this book is just too sad, dark, and upsetting to me. I didn't get enough out of it for the darkness to be worth it. I might have DNF'd it if it wasn't for a book club I'm hosting; the time pressure was my only real motivation to keep reading. I didn't even necessarily want to know what would happen, because I knew it wouldn't be good.
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Outing
Minor: Fatphobia
rzh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love Glasgow, and this is obviously written by someone who loves it just as I do: the descriptions of all the streets, all the people...just mesmerising, makes me want to tear up. Every single character has a story, a reason for their ways, a mammy at home... and it never feels overbearing, or too much background. The way it deals with class and sectarianism and alcoholism and toxic masculinity is heartbreaking and red raw. I've seen some people say that this is just a rehashing of Shuggie Bain, and though I can certainly see that, I read another book by Douglas Stuart because I loved Shuggie Bain, and everything it was about. This was different, but not too different where I felt like it was off piste. The non-linear structure built together into a crescendo absolutely beautifully, the prose was so stunning, its about my favourite place in the world for all its flaws... it was just heartbreaking, and magical, and that's everything I loved about Shuggie Bain, and loved all the more here. Jist perfect. <3
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion and Suicide attempt