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fionamclary's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
drskaninchen's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Body horror, Misogyny, and Blood
blanxx_2102's review against another edition
- 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
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)!
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
fallandfox's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Esse livro teve tantos capítulos pesados, vemos eles tendo ações que sabemos que vão ser perigosas e que só vão piorar tudo. Eu nunca convivi com uma pessoa viciada, todos os momentos que li as recaídas de abuso emocional que ela causava nos três filhos me fez querer gritar.
Acredito que o que mais auxiliou na imersão foi a certeza de que o autor passou por essas experiências e levou seu tempo para descrever os estados mentais e traumas.
Foi uma leitura favorita e que eu recomendo, mas já deixo avisado que não vai ser para todo mundo, não só pelo conteúdo pesado e toda a dor que ele transmite, mas também pela mensagem final que dá uma dor, mas mantém o realismo em relação a algumas pessoas que lidam com vício.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
lilacwhisker's review against another edition
- 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
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
stephbysteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
This is one that stays with you and makes you ask yourself/the author/the universe unanswerable questions.
Shuggie is a complicated boy with - to put it extremely mildly - a complicated upbringing. The love he has for his family is heartbreaking at times. At many times.
There are a few nice and/or funny moments that make you feel ok about continuing, and it's written so expertly today you actually really want to keep going. I audio read this one, and kudos to the reader for bringing the Glaswegian accents and slang to life, and for differentiating the characters' voices enough that you could tell who was speaking - but not so much that it was forced or weird.
I don't think this is a book for someone who isn't in a good mental/emotional place. It's HEAVY. But it's also incredible.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
kbbp080808's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
burnourhistory's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment
readbycarina's review against another edition
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Infidelity and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia and Pregnancy
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War