Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

112 reviews

lunapurification's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Addiction, and Alcoholism

danaaliyalevinson's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is really fucking good. I had read Douglas Stuart’s second novel “Young Mungo” before I read this one and liked it a lot. But this was another level. And I’m glad I didn’t read it before “Young Mungo” because I think I would’ve compared the two and I perhaps wouldn’t have enjoyed his second novel quite as much as I did.

Through the lens of a young queer boy being raised by, and more often taking care of, his alcoholic mother, we explore themes of poverty and addiction.

This book will break your heart… so, of course I loved it. The storytelling is impeccable. The characters are beautifully drawn. Its emotionality burns bright on every page. I highly recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Grief, Alcohol, Self harm, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Abandonment

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Pedophilia

isaarusilor's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Vomit

coleyreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I went into this one a bit scared because of the hype but I’m so glad I’ve finally read it.

Shuggie Bain is a totally unflinching, heartwarming and heart wrenching story of a Glasgow family in the 80’s.

Shuggie is such a sweet character, and he knows there’s something different about him. It was really bitter sweet to watch his growth! But, the heart and soul of this novel is actually Agnes, the mother of Shuggie and his two siblings. Agnes battles alcoholism and goes through extreme highs and terrible lows, and Shuggie is there every step of the way. The love Shuggie has for his mother is deep and exhausting.

Stuart’s writing was so easy and comforting, I felt like an old friend was telling me a story.

It’s evident how much Douglas Stuart cares for these characters as if they were part of his own life story. I know the author has said a few times that Shuggie Bain is a sort of love letter to his own mother, and I think that’s beautiful.

I can’t wait to read Young Mungo!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death of parent and Rape

feebles640's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Vomit, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Rape

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Body shaming

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Drug use

carrotchimera's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Blood, Sexual assault, Self harm, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Rape, Addiction, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

carlstark's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Self harm

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Addiction

Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Classism, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Self harm

Minor: Racism, Cancer, and Pregnancy

j32em's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

Shuggie ❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Sexual assault, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

raisinflakies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Misogyny, Grief, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Homophobia, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Blood, Car accident, Abandonment, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Medical content, Racism, Transphobia, and Vomit