Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

211 reviews

alexballester's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I read this for school and it was a really hard and emotional read but the ending made it tie together so beautifully and was just so special to me. I do think it is worth reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape

laura6891's review

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Classism, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Grief, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse

jaybonesjackson's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad slow-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

5.0

Skilfully written, and beautiful in its descriptions of the daily tragedy of living in poverty in Scotland in the late 80s-early 90s. This book was as brilliant as it was haunting. A worthy Booker Prize winner.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, Rape, and Alcoholism

Child neglect

francesca's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, and Homophobia

katecuthbert's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Alcoholism

maddb_96's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An absolutely heart breaking story of a mother struggling with alcoholism and how her son has to deal with it throughout his childhood. Visceral descriptions, very gritty, dark, real. It’s a tough read but worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, Violence, Rape, and Alcoholism

evienics's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

I loved Shuggie Bain, an unrelenting story of the horrors of addiction framed within the perspective of poor little Shuggie, a boy who looks out for his alcoholic mother more than anybody looks out for him. 

Early on I felt a bit like we were torn away from Shuggie’s story, which begins in the first couple of chapters before we’re taken back to his childhood with, really the main character of this novel, his mother Agnes. But soon enough I was actually more infatuated by her story, and despite being completely infuriated by her behaviour and decisions I couldn’t help but root for her and hope she did get better. 

Agnes’ characterisation is masterful, with Stuart rounding her out so well that we start to love her like Shuggie does. Ultimately she is a victim of her addiction (and men!!) and this makes the story so heartbreaking.  

I read Stuart’s second novel Young Mungo earlier this year (another 5 star from me) and it is strikingly similar to his debut. This isn’t a criticism, as he sets his stories within Glasgow poverty so well, but I’d love to see something a bit different from him next time. I’ll certainly read anything else he writes! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Homophobia, and Addiction

annainslee's review against another edition

emotional

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

4.5

I was expecting this to be devastating and it was but not in the rotten way that says it meant to be but just in a realistic portrayal of life. Yes it was upsetting but it didn’t feel forced and it didn’t leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I was relieved and sad all at once. I couldn’t hate any of the main characters completely, Agnes specifically was tended to with a lot of love throughout. I wanted to hate her but couldn’t. All the characters were so real and imperfect that at times I felt like I was intruding.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and Homophobia

mikom10's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Rape

sjclay122's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Addiction, and Mental illness