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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think it’s just not my thing. The writing was hard to read for me as it was written in a Scottish accent. In addition, the non-linear timeline made it difficult for me follow. I think the story has promise though.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
:(
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
no words for (most) of the men in this book… i relate and support what mungo did there!
in my head, mungo and james are living happily ever after in some quiet scottish town with a bird tower and sheep!
I wondered whether Douglas Stuart would be able to write a book as good as Shuggie Bain - for me, he did. Set in the bleak landscape of 1990s Glasgow, Young Mungo is a troubled character and my heart ached for him. I can see why some reviewers didn't get on with it, but I thought it was great. Bleak, but great! The prose in this book is just wonderful. I'll give two examples and leave it there.
"Poor wee Chicky handed the forlorn whippet to Mungo. She folded into his arms easily, nothing but bones and ligaments, and he held her like she was a jumbled pile of kindling."
And
"The man saluted him with his left hand. His wedding ring glistened in the sunlight. It seemed like it was embedded into his finger, like a brace which was slipped around a young sapling and was now stuck. As though the tree had grown up around it."
❤️
"Poor wee Chicky handed the forlorn whippet to Mungo. She folded into his arms easily, nothing but bones and ligaments, and he held her like she was a jumbled pile of kindling."
And
"The man saluted him with his left hand. His wedding ring glistened in the sunlight. It seemed like it was embedded into his finger, like a brace which was slipped around a young sapling and was now stuck. As though the tree had grown up around it."
❤️
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was pretty disappointed with this book. That’s not to say it’s not beautifully written - I just don’t think it was my cup of tea. It was hard to read for the first 5 chapters because you have to get used to reading a Glaswegian dialect. I think that prevented me from becoming invested in the characters until half way through the book. Then I was bothered by the fact that it was yet another tragic Queer story. Those have a place in the world, but I’ve read so many I often wonder why nothing good can happen for Queer characters in new novels. Why does it always have to come back to trauma and abuse? That being said, Mungo is a compelling character and keeps you wanting to turn the page. I would recommend avoiding unless you’re looking for a tragedy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Maybe it's because of when I read this, but this book has effectively left an imprint on me that I will never be able to forget or move on from. I don't know if I will ever be capable of reading this book again, I do want to go through and collect my favorite quotes.
Finding myself frustrated with the way that this story is just available for all, including people who won't be as affected by the themes and have a lack understanding of the impact. Also carrying the grief of recognition that this is considered a coming of age story because it's queer...meanwhile this would be a horror story if it weren't queer.
Beautifully written, structured perfectly in a way that underlines the themes and narrative points of the book, and helps to define the pace. Can be slow to start, was difficult to adjust to. Took me forever to finish, simply because of how dark, and how depressing this story gets and can become. I love Mungo dearly, and as a character I will carry him in my heart forever.
Finding myself frustrated with the way that this story is just available for all, including people who won't be as affected by the themes and have a lack understanding of the impact. Also carrying the grief of recognition that this is considered a coming of age story because it's queer...meanwhile this would be a horror story if it weren't queer.
Beautifully written, structured perfectly in a way that underlines the themes and narrative points of the book, and helps to define the pace. Can be slow to start, was difficult to adjust to. Took me forever to finish, simply because of how dark, and how depressing this story gets and can become. I love Mungo dearly, and as a character I will carry him in my heart forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Police brutality
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No