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amy1608'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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Homophobia
Minor: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Blood, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Excrement, Cancer, Grief, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship
encharro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic friendship, and Alcoholism
bethvance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Addiction, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent and Classism
mj_trearty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book focuses on the Bain family, mainly Shuggie, the youngest son, and Agnes his alcoholic mother, living in 80s and early 90s Glasgow. It shows the desperation of many without work due to the mines closing and the fall of the ship building industry amongst others. What life was like in the council houses and tenements and how it was dealing with alcoholism.
The character of Shuggie does not fit in, smaller and more effeminate than other boys, he is bullied throughout his life while having to deal with hunger and desperation as his mother spent the dole and child support on cans of Special Brew. All he wants is his mum to get better and if he tries hard enough she will, in his young mind that is enough.
This is a beautifully crafted and harrowing account that brought tears to the eye on more than one occasion., definitely one of the best books I have read in years.
I think this line sums it up "the more you love someone the more they take the p**s out of that. They will do less and less of what ye want and more and more of just as the f****n' please." That is definitely how life was for Shuggie
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
lucyl97'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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Rape
_shonahenderson's review against another edition
- 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
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
evelynemarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
amberlovick's review against another edition
- 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
*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.
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