Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

229 reviews

kvasquez1's review

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • 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? No

5.0


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bettinablocksberg's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

4,5*
just as shuggie bain, young mungo had really great writing and storybuilding. for both books, i loved the setting that felt very real, dark und full of desperation. douglas stuart does what he does very well - BUT (and this is my main criticism of this book) the main character mungo felt extremely similar to shuggie. same kind of mother, similar struggles, same surroundings. i am curious to see if the author is capable of something different in the future.

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archiedh's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.5

Heart-wrenching and often extremely difficult to read, Young Mungo is a gut punch of a book, unflinchingly detailing gang violence, poverty, and homophobia in 80s Glasgow. 
Stuart’s description is lyrical and evocative, able to conjure every speck of dirt in a scene and make it feel as though it is stuck to your skin or caked under your nails. The characterisation is wonderful with even minor players feeling fully realised and more nuanced than they might initially appear. Standouts are easily Jodie and Chickie Calhoun. 
And at the centre of it, we have James and Mungo. The scenes with them offer a respite from the horror, tactile, intimate, and romantic. Stuart captures blossoming romance almost scarily well. 
It is by no means a light or fun read, some chapters even feel pulled out of a horror novel, but it is deeply affecting and a book I can see myself thinking about for a long while.

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readingatthemuseum's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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juliep810's review

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dark emotional sad tense 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

4.75


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viccctk's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? N/A

4.25

A hard, emotional read with some really difficult scenes. Some beautiful parts about being in love amongst all the brutal suffering.  

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parboiledlentils's review

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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? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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kjbehnke584's review

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dark emotional sad tense 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

4.25


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charliedon's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

A love story but not a romance book

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ellymc's review

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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