A review by lenin_lover_69
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

In fairness to the book, I didn't love Shuggie Bain and worried that I would most likely also feel similarly towards this one based on what I'd heard and I think that was mostly exactly what happened....it felt so similar, in tone and character. I liked that we got to have some of the queer tenderness and love that we didn't get in Shuggie Bain but the violence and grimness was just so unrelenting....I know this is what Stuart openly says that it's the very real experiences of queer people at this time in Glasgow he draws on but I feel like maybe what he needs to so is write some creative non-fiction or something...I think that would feel less...gratutituous maybe? 

The storyline with the two men he goes camping with felt really unnecessary although I do agree with other reviewers that the effort was made to depict those characters in a complex way. I also liked the character of Jodie although felt Maureen was like a less sympathetic caricature of Agnes Bain....like all the effort to give her depth went to Jodie and Hamish instead. 

Anyway accidentally spoiled a lot of the key plot points for myself through trawling reviews but was glad as I could skim through some of the bits I couldn't stomach. I also just think I'm not that into his writing which is also OK! I live in Glasgow though so I do always enjoy the experience of reading a book set in a city you're very familiar with. Also so so many trigger warnings....and cannae with the tender lovely descriptions of men and all the women being haggard little freaks lol
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