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literarylion'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? It's complicated
4.5
- Really well-constructed and perfectly paced
- Every character was so vivid and engaging
- Just a lovely story beautifully written
Cons:
- Could be a bit melodramatic at times
- Injury descriptions were so intense as to be unbelievable in some cases
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Violence, Homophobia, and Abortion
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Cursing, Drug use, Outing, and Hate crime
Minor: Classism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
kaylinvm94's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Violence, Classism, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Abortion, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent
marijne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Outing, Pedophilia, Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Violence
rzh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love Glasgow, and this is obviously written by someone who loves it just as I do: the descriptions of all the streets, all the people...just mesmerising, makes me want to tear up. Every single character has a story, a reason for their ways, a mammy at home... and it never feels overbearing, or too much background. The way it deals with class and sectarianism and alcoholism and toxic masculinity is heartbreaking and red raw. I've seen some people say that this is just a rehashing of Shuggie Bain, and though I can certainly see that, I read another book by Douglas Stuart because I loved Shuggie Bain, and everything it was about. This was different, but not too different where I felt like it was off piste. The non-linear structure built together into a crescendo absolutely beautifully, the prose was so stunning, its about my favourite place in the world for all its flaws... it was just heartbreaking, and magical, and that's everything I loved about Shuggie Bain, and loved all the more here. Jist perfect. <3
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Rape, Homophobia, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Classism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Outing, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Vomit, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abortion and Suicide attempt
alisonannk'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Outing, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Excrement, and Torture
Moderate: Gore, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fatphobia
alisasreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Hate crime
Moderate: Pregnancy, Bullying, Classism, and Drug use
mgordon3118's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, and Classism
orndal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Addiction, Drug abuse, Rape, Xenophobia, Sexism, Violence, Physical abuse, Animal death, Pregnancy, Murder, Misogyny, Child abuse, Bullying, Blood, Ableism, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Outing, Gore, Classism, Alcohol, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Grief, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Death, and Animal cruelty
stayathomereader'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
4.0
Douglas Stuart's sophomore novel has a lot in common with his debut, Shuggie Bain. Both feature young queer characters in Scotland during the 80s. Both feature an alcoholic mother and complicated sibling relationship, and both deal with class issues and tension between the Protestants and Catholics.
Once again I was very impressed with the way Stuart writes- he crafts such complete characters and builds an atmosphere so real you feel like you're there, too.
Young Mungo is told over two timelines which converge by the end of the book. At the very beginning we know that Mungo has been caught with another boy, beaten by his brother, and sent away by his mother to go camping with two men (who are basically strangers) to straighten him out, toughen him up... give him some manly guidance.
The other timeline follows Mungo prior to this camping trip- giving us a chance to get to know him and his family, and watch as he developed a friendship (and more) with the slightly older Catholic boy who steals and raises fancy pigeons.
One thing to note about the dual timelines is that there is no visual signifier to the reader when switching between the two. The setting and characters make it obvious enough, but towards the end of the novel, as the time gap closes it becomes a little less obvious... then again, that could have been a mistake I made reading past my bedtime! 😉
Unlike Shuggie, who is a young child for most of his book, Mungo is 15 years old and on the cusp of manhood- by 16 he can be considered emancipated and is free to go where he wants with whomever he wants. My problem with his age is that the way he is so infantilized by his mother and sister made it hard for me to visualise him as a teenager ready to fall in love, run away, and be self sustaining.
Getting past that issue, (which is minor really, because I'm sure if I think about it long enough I can come up with some reasoning as to the roles he plays inside and outside of his home life), I found the characters to be so fully developed that I could feel their emotions and struggles pouring off the page; which was exactly my experience with Shuggie Bain. If I could adopt Shuggie and Mungo both I absolutely would! My mothering instinct aches for them.
So while the writing is beautiful, and here and there are wholesome character relationships, the story is full of sadness and violence that had me grimacing while reading. Portions of this book were literally a visceral experience.
I preferred Shuggie Bain to Young Mungo, honestly; but that is like asking if I want cake or ice cream.... both, please!
Graphic: Addiction, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Abortion, Animal death, Drug use, Excrement, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Classism
danfoskett's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Outing, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, and Classism