Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

83 reviews

orireading'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

well this was fucking beautiful-devastating  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Alcohol, Death, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape and Injury/Injury detail

emmaisabelle's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I wish this book hadn’t beaten Real Life by Brandon Taylor for the Booker because I LOVE that book and unfortunately couldn’t stop myself from comparing the two even though they’re so different. 

I loved the way the book zeroed in on Shuggie and Agnes’s relationship. I went in thinking it was more going to be about Shuggie but it really is about them
both and their relationship and the havoc addiction wreaks on a family. This book is just… so heartbreaking and raw. It does a great job of evoking the pain of being a child of an alcoholic. I may be alone in this but I deeply felt for Agnes throughout.

When she relapsed, my heart broke and like Leek, I was ready to beat up Eugene too.

I really devoured the second half and finished it in a day. I think Stuart did a great job of also helping readers deeply understand Leek, Catherine and the other side characters without really having to go or their heads or focus on them. Shuggie isn’t the most reliable narrator but we can really feel their emotions and motivations despite that through the whole book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Homophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry

selimhannah's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Vomit, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Infidelity, Homophobia, and Death

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

---

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

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

This is probably a pretty good read, but I’m an hour and 20 minutes in and I’m not particularly enjoying it. I dislike all of the characters so far (except maybe Shuggie?), and there have been many instances of sexual harassment and abuse. I don’t think this book is for me. I’m sure it has a lot going for it, though! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

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

---

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

mybloodybookstagram's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, and Homophobia

sophie_pickett's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-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

Probably the most beautiful and honest book I’ve ever read. It had me crying so hard I love this book so much💘

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Outing, Mental illness, Homophobia, Grief, and Alcohol

_shonahenderson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Bullying, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Addiction, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cancer, Medical trauma, Vomit, Grief, Excrement, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, Rape, and Toxic friendship

biggareader's review against another edition

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt