Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

183 reviews

kobra's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Racism

linzipop'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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury

antonia__'s review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.75

Not a page turner and extremely sad. Great book but so fucking sad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Outing, and Abandonment

miagw962's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I am in flames yet I do not burn.

Whoah this was a rough one to get through. I don't really know what to say except that it was pretty depressing and seemed to slog on a lot but I think that's why it's valuable as almost a slice of life story. I've seen a few reviews that said they wanted to hear more from Shuggie and less of Agnes and I agree with that. But overall, I think it's an interesting exploration of familial relationships in a context that I acknowledge is very different from my own. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

sarahcollinson's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

carabones's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

introverted_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol

adamparrishlover's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia

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

Moderate: Pedophilia and Fire/Fire injury

georgiarybanks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Minor: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent