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laindarko2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, Bullying, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racial slurs and Injury/Injury detail
aoifereadsbooks69'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: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Drug abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Sexism
antonia__'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Suicide, Pedophilia, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Addiction, Abandonment, Outing, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
isaarusilor'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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Death of parent, and Child abuse
Minor: Vomit
tortoasa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Addiction, Bullying, Suicide, Child abuse, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Mental illness, and Death of parent
raisinflakies'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
5.0
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
biggareader's review against another edition
3.0
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
rachell37'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
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
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: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
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: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Vomit