Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Young Mungo

This was absolutely beautiful. I wouldn't change a thing.
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

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blackheartbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Young Mungo is the story of two gay teens falling in love in a working-class Glasgow tenement. Mungo must survive violence at home as well as a war brewing between the Catholic and Protestant street gangs if he's ever to be with the boy he loves. Told across two timelines, through multiple POVs, Young Mungo is easily one of the most finely wrought stories of queer love I've read.

Mungo is a tender-hearted boy, a quiet witness to varied effects toxic masculinity has on the people in his life. Because Mungo is so young, he has a canny way of getting to the bottom of people. Stuart utilizes this storytelling technique very well. Each person Mungo comes into contact with teaches him--and us--a little bit more about the history of the tenement, of its people. The story is slow-paced, and each revelation leads us to a broader portrait of life in Mungo's neighborhood.

I cannot state my love for this book enough. Mungo is sweet but not idealistic, quiet but not a pushover. I love the way Stuart has us pondering how slowly the effects of the patriarchy change us and mold us over time, and what it means to break free of these constructs in search of personal truth. I can't wait to buy my physical copy in April. I recommend this to fans of character studies, people with a vague interest in historical fiction (as this novel does explore the struggles between the Fenians and Billy Boys), and people interested in LGBTQIA+ studies.

Content Warnings

mybookcorner's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

My expectations were quite high and I was left pretty disappointed with this one. Two intense plot lines mixed with a very predictable storyline of a main character made this quite a sludge for me to get through. It wasn’t breathtaking and wasn’t very riveting. Stuart writes his characters with charm and it’s easy to get attached to them, but it would’ve been easier to not have two storylines mixed in together. It made the pace struggle. I wanted to know more about James and Mungo. But in my opinion, this was such a minimal portion of the novel. And I was disappointed.

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.

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