Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

194 reviews

beckiemills's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

geminisoul's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a very hard book to read in a lot of parts and really shows what alcohol can do to a family. Shuggie and his family are such characters and it's interesting to see the different ways the face the challenges in there home and community. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

blanxx_2102's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.75

This book is quite unlike anything I have read before; I usually read books with fixed plot lines which tend to place less focus on the characters themselves. In contrast, Shuggie Bain doesn't have a plot; rather, Douglas Stuart gives the reader an in depth view into the Bain/ Campbell family life for over a decade of Shuggie's life. Admittedly, this was confusing at first as the book reads quite slow, howerver, I soon forgot this because of how well the characters were written, and just focused on wanting to know more about the characters.

What really stood out to me in this book was how real the characters feel, particularly Agnes. Her though process, her motivations, her actions are meticulously described, making her so unequivocably and irrevocably human that she might as well jump off the page. I love how Stuart provides such insight into the characters' reasons for doing what they do- a behind the scenes, if you will- because, even though they all make questionable decisions at one point or another, you cannot dislike them (the protagonists, some others are pure meanies). I cannot stress enough how real these characters feel- I would go so far as to say they are only rivalled by Donna Tartt.

That said, towards the end the story went a bit too quickly, though I understand that's a product of Shuggie moving and trying to start a new life. However, I don't understand why the book ends when it does, as it seems very abrupt.
That said, this book was an emotional journey and I would be happy to read more of Stuart's work (Young Mungo is actually on my TBR)!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Excrement, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

kate_elle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism

Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual assault

munchanchan's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

lilacwhisker's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Shuggie is a real one for sure 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

immi_rae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

rebecca_reads95's review against another edition

5.0

So beautiful, funny, challenging. The story is so saddening, but the book still feels light. There is still joy, there is so much feeling and depth in this book. I'd recommend this to anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism

kennahgracie's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• 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

4.5

OVERALL 

Initially, my interest in this novel was slow to ignite, but the longer I stayed with its contents, the more captivated I became by Shuggie's tale. I thoroughly enjoyed Douglas Stuart's writing; he effectively described a foreign setting without bogging down the narrative with excessive detail. This novel felt stark. Like Shuggie, I was completely swept up in the wreckage that followed the abuse and alcoholism his parents brought upon their home. 

Shuggie, being the only child unable to escape the damaging wrath of his mother's addiction and subsequent neglect, is forced to form an anxious attachment to her welfare, taking up the role of the parent while his mother becomes the child. However, this toxic dynamic begins to change when Agnes starts to sober up and finally take responsibility as a parent. Tragically, this progress is painfully ripped away by the persistent influence of Eugene, a man she meets during a late-night shift.
Over and over, this book reminded me of how consumed we are with our own thoughts as human beings. We are so conscious of others' ideals and perceptions of us that we allow them to destroy all that we've built. What is this pressure? This strange bleakness of alienation, of worrying that we don't fit in? More than anything, I wish we could live happily and uniquely as ourselves. I wish I lived in a world where boys like Shuggie wouldn't face constant harassment and abuse simply because of their characteristics or identity.

MAJOR TAKEAWAYS 

• First D.S novel —loved his writing and how he conveys the complexities of how domestic abuse/alcoholism affects family dynamics.
• The setting was describes so casually yet with enough detail that someone like me with little knowledge of the country’s culture/history could easily picture and understand it.
  • I also enjoyed how prominent the focus of taxi culture was.
• Effectively highlights the uncertainness common among queer youth. Before being allowed to truly understand and explore who you are, you are stunted and alienated by others immediate perceptions of your “oddity” or “differences”.
  • Many children and later teens who are LGBTQIA+ are forced to harden themselves due to the exposure of blatant homophobia from peers/society/even family. But also grapple with still wanting to be accepted/welcomed by those who perpetuate that same hate. This is our human nature, to yearn for connection and acceptance. To be "normal".
• Notably, I wish the author would've expanded further on Shuggie's life in South Side.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer and Excrement

rauditore142's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt