Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

83 reviews

joydot's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Homophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

56lispenard's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit and Alcoholism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Physical abuse

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

This is an utterly beautiful and bleak portrait of Shuggie's young life with his alcoholic mother, Agnes. Abandoned by father, sister and then brother, Shuggie must care for his mother through her absolute worst.

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Physical abuse

kycerae's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Self harm, Rape, and Bullying

Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use

sam_w_r's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

jennadewit's review against another edition

challenging 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: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

amberlovick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Tw: alcoholism, paedophilia, rape, self harm and a whole load more. 

*audiobook*

This felt very reminiscent of A Little Life and was not an easy read. I felt this book was brilliantly written and I grew very attached to Shuggie. It was a very raw and explicit depiction of the era and really demonstrated how difficult peoples lives were and the vicious cycles society perpetuated. 

I would highly recommend this book, well worth the read, just read your trigger warnings first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Infidelity, Homophobia, Grief, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Bullying, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Violence

greypaperboats's review against another edition

dark 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

This is one of the best, most heartbreaking books I've read in a long while. The characters are written with such compassionate clarity. They've found a home in my heart. There is not much I can respond with except that I'll be carrying this story with me, hoping that if anyone has Shuggie's heart it should be everyone or no one. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Infidelity, Homophobia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, and Abandonment

niamhellen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, Rape, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

bella_cavicchi'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

5.0

SHUGGIE BAIN and I spent the better half of the month together, and I am ever grateful for it. Though slow, I promise you, it's the masterpiece you've heard it is. A story told with so, so much love -- and one I will be recommending left and right.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Cancer