Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

250 reviews

_georgiasmith's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Death of parent, Bullying, Addiction, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

foxglovefairy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Extremely sad story of alcoholism and its devastating familial, social, and economic effects. A portrayal of parenting your parent and the love and strength it takes to never give up on those whose present and futures are wrought with addiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Classism, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Rape, Homophobia, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Cursing, and Alcohol

emiliarosep's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer and Racism

bookshelf_book_reviews's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Addiction

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia

carla_reads_books's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Violence, and Child abuse

Moderate: Xenophobia

francesca's review against another edition

dark sad medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia

katecuthbert's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

antananarywa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Violence

Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, Child abuse, Self harm, Cancer, Death, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

evienics's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

I loved Shuggie Bain, an unrelenting story of the horrors of addiction framed within the perspective of poor little Shuggie, a boy who looks out for his alcoholic mother more than anybody looks out for him. 

Early on I felt a bit like we were torn away from Shuggie’s story, which begins in the first couple of chapters before we’re taken back to his childhood with, really the main character of this novel, his mother Agnes. But soon enough I was actually more infatuated by her story, and despite being completely infuriated by her behaviour and decisions I couldn’t help but root for her and hope she did get better. 

Agnes’ characterisation is masterful, with Stuart rounding her out so well that we start to love her like Shuggie does. Ultimately she is a victim of her addiction (and men!!) and this makes the story so heartbreaking.  

I read Stuart’s second novel Young Mungo earlier this year (another 5 star from me) and it is strikingly similar to his debut. This isn’t a criticism, as he sets his stories within Glasgow poverty so well, but I’d love to see something a bit different from him next time. I’ll certainly read anything else he writes! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, and Addiction

annainslee's review against another edition

emotional

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

4.5

I was expecting this to be devastating and it was but not in the rotten way that says it meant to be but just in a realistic portrayal of life. Yes it was upsetting but it didn’t feel forced and it didn’t leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I was relieved and sad all at once. I couldn’t hate any of the main characters completely, Agnes specifically was tended to with a lot of love throughout. I wanted to hate her but couldn’t. All the characters were so real and imperfect that at times I felt like I was intruding.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Homophobia