Reviews with content warning for Death - Shuggie Bain

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.

Content Warnings

lgtl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

A heartbreaking beautifully written story that explores alcoholism, queerness, harassment and overall, life’s struggles in working class 1980s Glasgow. I wish I could give a hug to Shuggie.

A new favorite! 💔

Content Warnings

burnourhistory's review against another edition

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dark sad 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

4.25

Content Warnings

dionosaur's review

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dark emotional funny sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Content Warnings

laralaske's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad 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

3.75

Really well written, but still so hard to read. It really makes you frustrated and i felt so bad for shuggie. The way that it made me feel literal pain and disgust, and it's representating stories that are most likely similar to reality

Content Warnings

ydina's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I really wanted to like it. Especially when I heard that it was heart wrenching and somewhat like A Little Life. Maybe it's accurate about that in a sense that both of them are trauma p*rn. just missed the parts where they would talk more about Shuggies sa? Like I think this should have been significant?

More about anything else than how many beer and vodka Agnes drinks and how deeply disgustingly obsessed she is with men.

And it took me so long to finish. I always had to pick it up like a task or homework (which it was thanks to our book club, otherwise would've dnfed it, I fear)

Other than that I still liked the style of writing. It did have his good parts and did make me feel pitiful every now and then.

Especially when Shuggie was asking his mother why he wasn't enough for her. This somehow got me. But I guess children having a troubled upcoming will always get me.

All in all I'll give it around three stars I think.

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