Reviews

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

serdean06's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.0

laurenshikari's review against another edition

5.0

What an exceptional debut. Probably the best debut novel I've read. I just knew I was going to love this book when I heard about it and it didn't disappoint one little bit, it held my attention all the way through and took me on the biggest emotional rollercoaster, although it's really quiet sad it was very uplifiting. An extremely powerful book that I didn't want to end. THIS IS A MUST READ. Douglas Stuart deserves every bit of praise for this book! I cannot wait to read more from him

carpline's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

aoibheanndowd's review against another edition

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

3.5

alice_alice's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

4.25

dominicwong's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-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

Captivating storytelling. Raw characters. Elemental themes. 10/10, will not be reading again.

jjfragier13's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

buttercupita's review against another edition

4.0

This story of a young boy growing up with an alcoholic mother in 1980's Scotland is harrowing, but you can't stop reading it because the telling is so vivid and beautiful. Knowing it was the fictionalized story of the author's own childhood kept me going (I needed to believe he would make it out the other side...). It fulfilled one of the purposes of reading for me: immersing myself in an entirely different life in a way that feels real. It is not a life I would wish for, but it does have a lot to teach about being part of a family and being human in general.

aisneve's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

oranges448's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.0