Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

290 reviews

kayarosee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.0

This was a hard and heartbreaking book to read. I resonated a lot with the character of Jodie as an older sister myself and saw my younger brother in the main character Mungo. It took me a lot longer to read than many other books this year. But a heart-wrenching novel. I would call this the more depressing, more poverty-stricken “Call Me by Your Name”. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Blood, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Excrement, Alcohol, Murder, Homophobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Rape, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia

amygower's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Murder, Rape, Homophobia, Hate crime, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

thaliaw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Murder, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Hate crime

Minor: Animal cruelty

hannahwishart's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Another heartbreaking story from Douglas Stuart. This was bleak, tense and graphic.
The characters are well fleshed-out - most of them vile - and the setting is immersive. It’s uncomfortable and feels claustrophobic, in the sense that you struggle to imagine how Mungo might ever get out of this environment. Jodie is a protective factor for Mungo despite having her own traumatic events. I liked that there were a few supportive male characters who appeared to show Mungo kindness, empathy and safety, e.g chickie, Calum. I also enjoyed the development of Mungo and James’ relationship.
The cultural references were interesting, as was the portrayal of sectarianism and gang violence.
This book covers very heavy topics in graphic detail but I didn’t feel it was done in a tasteless, sensational way. 
I struggled somewhat with the timeline at times and I felt that the ending wasn’t completely clear - maybe that’s just me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Pregnancy and Abortion

Minor: Death of parent

karitu3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Blood, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Violence, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence

rissryann's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, Rape, Homophobia, Violence, and Animal death

tossabunch's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Murder

rdempster1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Hate crime, and Alcoholism

chriswright39's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.0

My only slight issue was that I felt it covered some of the ground of ‘Shuggie Bain”. Powerful and emotional, all the same.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

worldwidewebb's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.25

Beautifully written, but incredibly difficult to read. I wanted to cry, I wanted to throw up, and I wanted to throw the book away and not finish it. Gorgeous, shattering glance into breaking norms in a world of poverty and violence. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence