You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
lucykateburns's review against another edition
- 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
On the contrast, it was hard not to love Shuggie. I don't know how to sum him up. What child doesn't love their mother? It's hard to grow up and accept that they aren't the heroes you once thought them to be. Parents can be very flawed people and, as in Shuggie's case, so flawed that there is nothing you can do to help them. The whole book felt like a journey into Shuggie's letting go of his mum, he couldn't keep her here for him. I think ultimately letting her go was the best he could have done.
In this sense, the theme of recurring self-harm and inability to recover reminded me of A Little Life, and both share similar endings in this regard. The tragic comparison between Leanne's mother and Shuggie's is something to comment on, but I won't go too much into it. Essentially, it just shows the possible paths alcoholism can lead a woman down, neither of which are positive. For this reason, I think the book has a very depressing overall tone to it, there isn't a fairytale ending but sometimes that is the reality of things. Clearly this was never entirely Agnes' fault, but in the world we live in she didn't have much choice. Eugene must feel eternal guilt.
It is difficult to finish the book and not know where Shuggie ends up, or what exactly the outcome of the journey with his sexuality will be, but I am comforted with his friendship with Leanne. I hope they both find love and happiness.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, and Gaslighting
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
novellenovels's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Vomit, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
xkyrahx's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism and Abandonment
merle98's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
- 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
The writing is incredibly beautiful and so evocative, it creates such a real picture of the tenements and pit communities in Glasgow in the '80s; this world was completely outside of my experience but was so easy to picture.
I quickly became invested in this broken little family, and it was very easy to hate those who would take advantage of Agnes or not help her when she needed it most while also getting so angry with Agnes herself. But what kept me from being able to put the book down was Shuggie. He is this incredible, gentle and beautiful soul and my heart broke for him on so many occasions. But it was also because of Shuggie that I still felt a ray of hope throughout the story; that his very goodness would see him through the worst hardships. I'll be thinking about him for a long time I think.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
aliceonpaper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lu_ranger's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Addiction and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Homophobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
jackierothmeier's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Self harm, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment
jennadewit's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
maneatingbadger's review
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abandonment