A review by badbrad002
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

4.0

Woof. This was a tough read, but a very intimate and well-written account of alcoholism, poverty, and bigotry. It's not very happy and few characters have redeeming qualities or learn through adversity --which made it difficult for me to enjoy reading, so I found myself rushing to get through it. I also felt that there was a lot of unnecessary crassness and gratuitous sex, but I suppose in an impoverished community, that is often the only currency available. All-in-all, this is a great story --just be prepared for its weight.