Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

122 reviews

nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

heart-shattering. so beautiful. I want to lie down and cry. The tenderness of life’s oddest and most difficult moments that Douglas Stuart somehow captures! the most memorable characters that he stamps on my heart

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Excrement, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, and Alcohol

lenamarjam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

ann13reads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Animal cruelty

Minor: Animal death and Police brutality

whoisskadii's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Blood, Abortion, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.75

A beautifully written but heartbreaking portrayal of poverty, alcoholism, sexuality, homophobia and sexual abuse. 

Stuart explores all of the issues above in a completely open and raw manner that does not sensationalise or trivialise.

The book captures life in Glasgow during the 80’s exceptionally and whilst some may struggle with the language used it is, within the limits of fictional writing, accurate.

I would recommend this book to anyone and believe I will be thinking about it for a long time to come, but for most it will be worth reading the trigger warnings prior.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death

nad_books623's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This is the saddest book I've ever read. I took multiple breaks to be able to get through this book and it can definitely be a huge trigger warning for someone. Even though it is written in third person the story is real and raw. I felt connected to the characters and the trauma they've been through especially for Mungo. The beginning was pretty slow and I didn't really care for the ending. I wish the ending was more definite but if the author wanted to write a sequel he could do it based off how it ended. 

What's funny to me is how Jodie at first seems like one of the only redeeming characters but she's just as cruel to Mungo as Maureen and Hamish. Also, it's beyond disgusting how his mother let him go with two strange men who are pedophiles.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Abortion

Minor: Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

jasonmango's review against another edition

2.0

This book was too brutal for me, I think it's one of the most violent books I've ever read and I really struggled to get through it. The depictions of abuse are pretty harrowing and visceral and I had to brace myself to listen to more of it. That said, I really liked the narrator, and I liked learning a bit more about Glasgow and the social issues and history and the characters have somewhat stuck with me, but more by force than anything else lol. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

abimyers_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.5

4.5⭐️ 
2🌶

Young Mungo is set Glasgow and follows Mungo as he explores his sexuality and identity. Giving a voice to teenagers during a time where violence, social class, family and queerness were different. 
Heartbreaking story and graphic at times but the story was amazing and breaths life into an overlooked point of view.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

cecereads__'s review against another edition

4.5

It took me a while to fully get into this story and have some of these characters get under my skin. I thought it was tender and beautiful and raw and hopeful - and shattering as well, let’s be honest. Some ppl don’t get what they “deserve (not that it can be quantified or sth like that but more karma-wise, good and bad, iykyk).
I don’t want to compare it to Shuggie Bain though there are many crossovers. However, I feel like the author has honed in on his craft and found sth that works for him. I’d like to think I could tell of a progression.
Themes of neglect, isolation, violence and alcoholism to be aware of. 

I hope to f**k Mungo and James are enjoying a quiet and happy life together. And that Jodie is at Uni living it tf up and finally on her own

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

tishtashtitles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Loses .5 because it was one of the darkest books I have ever read and did find it challenge in parts to keep going and remain sane. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death