fionamclary's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-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

Shuggie Bain depicts the ugly details of alcoholism with deep compassion. It's an emotional journey of rage, despair, indignation, grief, and flickers of hope. I don't quite know what else to say about it that others haven't already said better, just that it gave me an intimate window into many worlds which I had previously known little or nothing of.

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sophia_chakmahill's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was so sad I’m in shock I don’t even know how I felt about it. It was hard to read but also felt like an important story

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drskaninchen's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

3.5


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status_woe's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

A painful look at working class Scotland in the latter part of the 20th century and a bleak description of alcoholism. Absolutely authentic, and the sort of voice we don't hear enough in literature. The writing is perfection. One of the best books I have ever read. 

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worm_on_the_books's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.0

Overall a compelling story about love and family.


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blanxx_2102's review against another edition

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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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kristenreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

3.25


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kate_elle's review against another edition

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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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munchanchan's review against another edition

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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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scr1bblecat's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0


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