Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

285 reviews

anningana's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Alcohol

laura6891's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

aaannina's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Minor: Death and Death of parent

francesca's review against another edition

dark 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault

antananarywa's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Blood

maddb_96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

5.0

An absolutely heart breaking story of a mother struggling with alcoholism and how her son has to deal with it throughout his childhood. Visceral descriptions, very gritty, dark, real. It’s a tough read but worth it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

evienics's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

I loved Shuggie Bain, an unrelenting story of the horrors of addiction framed within the perspective of poor little Shuggie, a boy who looks out for his alcoholic mother more than anybody looks out for him. 

Early on I felt a bit like we were torn away from Shuggie’s story, which begins in the first couple of chapters before we’re taken back to his childhood with, really the main character of this novel, his mother Agnes. But soon enough I was actually more infatuated by her story, and despite being completely infuriated by her behaviour and decisions I couldn’t help but root for her and hope she did get better. 

Agnes’ characterisation is masterful, with Stuart rounding her out so well that we start to love her like Shuggie does. Ultimately she is a victim of her addiction (and men!!) and this makes the story so heartbreaking.  

I read Stuart’s second novel Young Mungo earlier this year (another 5 star from me) and it is strikingly similar to his debut. This isn’t a criticism, as he sets his stories within Glasgow poverty so well, but I’d love to see something a bit different from him next time. I’ll certainly read anything else he writes! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia, and Rape

mikom10's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

katiej's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.5

Depressing and heartbreaking but honest and true of life growing up in depravity, poverty and the destruction of alcoholism.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

sjclay122's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent