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spommerening 's review for:
Young Mungo
by Douglas Stuart
Wow.
I loved this book and I very much did not expect it. The emotional toll it took on my heart and the way Mungo's story weighed on my mind is a testament to this story.
This novel was beautiful and heartbreaking. I haven't felt so bad for a character in a while.
Following the story of sweet and innocent Mungo, we learn about his alcoholic and absent mom, his sister Jodie who aspires to escape, and his kingpin brother Hamish. Mungo (who is Protestant) soon finds a friend in James (who is Catholic). They quickly fall in love and terrible things happen to both of them.
This story had a lot of trauma. Rape, sexual molestation, street fighting, homophobia, xenophobia, and domestic violence made this novel really hard to read at some points. However, it was beautifully written. This was my first Douglas Stuart novel and I really enjoyed it. It transported me to the impoverished Glasgow slums.
It took a bit to get used to the hard Glasgow accents and colloquial language. But I learned so much about the religious conflicts that still shape the nation today.
I felt so bad for both Mungo and James. I like how the author ended their stories. I also have deep hate in my heart for Mo-Maw and her victim commentary the entire story. Hamish was runner up for the worst human in the novel until the last few pages where he, for the first time, did something truly good for Mungo.
I loved this book and I very much did not expect it. The emotional toll it took on my heart and the way Mungo's story weighed on my mind is a testament to this story.
This novel was beautiful and heartbreaking. I haven't felt so bad for a character in a while.
Following the story of sweet and innocent Mungo, we learn about his alcoholic and absent mom, his sister Jodie who aspires to escape, and his kingpin brother Hamish. Mungo (who is Protestant) soon finds a friend in James (who is Catholic). They quickly fall in love and terrible things happen to both of them.
This story had a lot of trauma. Rape, sexual molestation, street fighting, homophobia, xenophobia, and domestic violence made this novel really hard to read at some points. However, it was beautifully written. This was my first Douglas Stuart novel and I really enjoyed it. It transported me to the impoverished Glasgow slums.
It took a bit to get used to the hard Glasgow accents and colloquial language. But I learned so much about the religious conflicts that still shape the nation today.
I felt so bad for both Mungo and James. I like how the author ended their stories. I also have deep hate in my heart for Mo-Maw and her victim commentary the entire story. Hamish was runner up for the worst human in the novel until the last few pages where he, for the first time, did something truly good for Mungo.