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kathryngardyne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Hate crime, Addiction, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Murder, Sexual violence, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Drug use
mothumn'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Young Mungo is beautifully written and heartbreaking to read. I read Douglas Stuart’s first novel, Shuggie Bain, earlier this year and loved it, but I think that Young Mungo is somehow even better. So much is captured, both beauty and ugliness, violence and hatred and also love. It was at times difficult to read, I had to put it down for a bit because of what happened in it. But it was a very good, but difficult, read. Douglas Stuart is an incredibly talented writer who is able to capture the beauty in what many people would only see as ugly.
Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Addiction, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Outing, and Religious bigotry
foxonabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved Shuggie Bain and it was hands down my best read of 2021, and as soon as it was announced, Young Mungo became my most anticipated read of 2022.
Douglas Stuart has done it again. Young Mungo is a raw, brutal and captivating coming-of-age story. Just as with Shuggie Bain, the characters are so well written they could have easily been real people you’d heard of through friends. Not all characters are likeable, especially Mo-Maw and Hamish, however Stuart’s skill means that you are still capable of pitying and sympathising with characters who seem to have little to no redeeming qualities. Stuart also did a brilliant job at making Glasgow a secondary character, with its the sectarian and working class culture presented as facets of the city’s complex personality.
Although the book explores similar themes as his debut, such as growing up in a dysfunctional household with an emotionally immature, addict single mother, this book is a lot darker than Shuggie Bain. I don’t want to share too much of the plot out of fear of spoiling it, but I will say that it is heavy with some light, tender moments in between. I was hooked from very early on, but I had to put the book down at several points just to give myself some breathing space before continuing.
I loved the ending though I’m not sure if many will feel the same since it doesn’t offer the reader the same cautiously optimistic and hopeful ending that things might turn out alright like Shuggie Bain did. Instead, I was left mourning for the innocence that Mungo was so violently robbed of, with the ending being reminiscent of the working class Glaswegians who were surrounded by sectarianism, addiction and gang violence.
I’m now going to make myself a very strong cup of tea and nurse this book hangover (which was absolutely worth it). Thank you NetGalley, Picador and Douglas Stuart for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Drug use, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Hate crime, Death, Classism, Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Physical abuse
Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion
mybookcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
After hearing such rave reviews about Shuggie Bain I was looking forward to this being my first Stuart (this proof was gifted my way), but I was honestly so bored. I’m sure those who loved Shuggie might love this. I wish I could be more eloquent but I just didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped.
Thank you Picador for sending this my way for an honest review.
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Homophobia, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Classism, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Abandonment