bw23's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Self harm, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, Rape, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
mj_trearty's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The book focuses on the Bain family, mainly Shuggie, the youngest son, and Agnes his alcoholic mother, living in 80s and early 90s Glasgow. It shows the desperation of many without work due to the mines closing and the fall of the ship building industry amongst others. What life was like in the council houses and tenements and how it was dealing with alcoholism.
The character of Shuggie does not fit in, smaller and more effeminate than other boys, he is bullied throughout his life while having to deal with hunger and desperation as his mother spent the dole and child support on cans of Special Brew. All he wants is his mum to get better and if he tries hard enough she will, in his young mind that is enough.
This is a beautifully crafted and harrowing account that brought tears to the eye on more than one occasion., definitely one of the best books I have read in years.
I think this line sums it up "the more you love someone the more they take the p**s out of that. They will do less and less of what ye want and more and more of just as the f****n' please." That is definitely how life was for Shuggie
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Rape, Self harm, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
allisonkirk's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Toxic relationship
leah_grace7's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Injury/injury detail, Classism, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Vomit
abbielcraw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Homophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Self harm, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape
kobra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Ableism, Self harm, Drug abuse, Classism, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Death of parent, Rape, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Bullying
Minor: Racism
nicoleisalwaysreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Classism, Grief, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Vomit
introverted_reads's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
barbarella85's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/injury detail, Pedophilia, and Homophobia
goodbyedarling's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Death, Homophobia, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Pedophilia