emilymdxn'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
2.25
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Violence, Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Vomit
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
laindarko2's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Addiction, Bullying, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racial slurs and Injury/injury detail
cos_is_me'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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Domestic abuse, Vomit, Self harm, Pedophilia, Homophobia, Abandonment, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Blood, Rape, and Sexual assault
jacklynnoble_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Abandonment
aoifereadsbooks69's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Drug abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Grief, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, and Sexism
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
antonia__'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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Suicide, Pedophilia, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Bullying, Addiction, Abandonment, Outing, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Domestic abuse
miagw962's review
- 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
4.0
I am in flames yet I do not burn.
Whoah this was a rough one to get through. I don't really know what to say except that it was pretty depressing and seemed to slog on a lot but I think that's why it's valuable as almost a slice of life story. I've seen a few reviews that said they wanted to hear more from Shuggie and less of Agnes and I agree with that. But overall, I think it's an interesting exploration of familial relationships in a context that I acknowledge is very different from my own.
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Rape
sarahcollinson's review
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt