A review by ellisinthetardis
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

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

4.5

“the common man is just as apt a subject for tragedy as kings were.” - arthur miller

i feel like im rating SO many books highly this year but i just??? keep reading fucking amazing books?? dw my review of lady chatterley’s lover will offset that soon 😭

before anything else: please PLEASE check the trigger warnings for this book. it is not a lighthearted read. 

to think that this book is stuart’s debut is absolutely staggering. this is a tragedy like no other, with a background of economic struggle that traps our characters in a dante-esque loop of magnifying their own weaknesses. the writing style is so tender that, despite agnes bain’s many failings, you will only ever want to see her and her family happy. an infinitely deserving winner of the booker prize, this is essential reading for those who enjoy the tragedy of the mundane.
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