Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

251 reviews

knowledgeable_but_stupid's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad 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? Yes

4.0

It was a wonderful book, in my opinion. I immediately bought this one after reading Young Mungo. He writes so vividly that I can imagine every scene and use his descriptions to fill in the blanks in my mind in a most natural way. A lot of topics were the same as in Young Mungo, but this one touched more on the perspective of the alcoholic mother and it was written as more of a life story. The repetition compared to the other book made it feel a bit predictable at times, but to be fair, this one was his first novel. Maybe I should’ve read them in the correct order. I enjoyed the way he described bad things in a good way and good things in a bad way. It’s like he doesn’t try to make his work “fancy” like many writers do. Last point is that I expected the phonetically written dialogues to be difficult to read, but this wasn’t the case at all. Again, it’s a very naturally written story and it was great to be able to immerse myself in it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Hate crime, Sexual harassment, and Rape

clemencepct's review against another edition

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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Vomit, and Suicide attempt

avareadsoccasionally's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Really well written and heartbreaking. I thought the characters were well written and the author balanced hope and despair in a really good way. It took me a little longer to get through, but was worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Addiction

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Vomit

Minor: Rape

writingcaia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Vomit

Minor: Rape

megb64's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Self harm, and Rape

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Excrement

pawtory's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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? Yes

4.0

Honestly the most depressing thing I've ever read (maybe I Gevalia avoid that but good god). Realistic to the point of hopelessness. I know terrible people and situations exist but there was no relief here for Shuggie. I think he had a handful of people shown his life who weren't completely  awful? It was well written, but if I could tell past me to skip this one I would. The content warnings are quite serious. I would only rec this book if you  need to read about stuff that's so awful anything in your life will seem better in comparison...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Rape, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Homophobia, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Terminal illness and Religious bigotry

readingslumpx's review against another edition

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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Drug use, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, and Sexual harassment

elharpwhy's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, Rape, Pedophilia, Death, Classism, Bullying, Addiction, and Alcohol

annievgu'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
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Complex characters, beautifully written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Death, Bullying, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

books_and_tea_make_katy_happy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

Some reviews describe 'Shuggie Bain' as "heartbreaking", but I would say the story makes numerous jabs at your heart before giving you something to provide a glimmer of hope before dashing you once again. I really felt that I was experiencing Shuggie's story alongside him; all the shabby, grimy, cold streets and the hard-faced women and children trying to make it in 1980s Glasgow were so vividly brought to life through the prose. You can't really say that you "enjoyed" reading this book but it's fair to say it's captivating and doesn't let you go until the very last page. I was pleased that the ending provided Shuggie with a friend who has her own struggles with an alcoholic parent, but who doesn't seem to want anything from him but his friendship. It might be a long road for Shuggie, but I think in the end he will be alright...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment