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Young Mungo
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
The extraordinary, powerful second novel from the Booker prizewinning author of Shuggie Bain, Young Mungo is both a vivid portrayal of working-class life and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men: Mungo and James. 'A literary wonder and a suspenseful page-turner.' Publishers' Weekly Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgows housing estates where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation. They should be sworn enemies if theyre to be seen as men at all, and yet they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the doocot that James has built for his prize racing pigeons. As they begin to fall in love, they dream of escaping the grey city, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his elder brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold. But the threat of discovery is constant and the punishment unspeakable. When Mungos mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland, with two strange men behind whose drunken banter lie murky pasts, he needs to summon all his inner strength and courage to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future. Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism, Douglas Stuarts Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.
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review
bekakins
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Unsurprisingly, given the authors previous book, this was absolutely heartbreaking. So well written, there were a couple of moments where I had to have a little break because it‘s SO. HEAVY. But absolutely beautiful.

And #bookspin #doublespin for October! Looking forward to ticking some off for #hauntedshelf 😁

Emilymdxn I don‘t know if I could take this one after shuggie Bain! 2mo
AnnCrystal .💕🐶🐾💝. (edited) 2mo
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 2mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2mo
14 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mirnas
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I really loved Shuggie Bain. Young Mungo is even better!

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giulia.mosna
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

5/5 ⭐

All'inizio ho faticato ad abituarmi ai dialoghi scritti nell'accento di Glasgow (che comunque non cambierei, perché sono parte dell'autenticità del libro), ma sono contenta di non aver desistito: ho adorato questo libro. Adesso che l'ho finito, Mungo mi mancherà molto; mi ci sono affezionata molto e in molti punti avrei voluto strapparlo dal libro, proteggerlo e abbracciarlo.

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giulia.mosna
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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P. 282

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quietjenn
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Happy #fffs day! Thank you so much for my package, @amiable! I very much appreciate the sock hunt you went on, as these are absolutely adorable! Perfect choices all around. 🙂'

Thanks to @chrissyreadit and @avanders for hosting. #fallingforfallswap

Amiable I‘m so glad you like it! It‘s so much fun shopping for these swaps. 🙂 14mo
Gissy So pretty the kitchen towel and the bookmark and mug😍 14mo
Chrissyreadit 🧡💛🧡💛 14mo
Avanders ♥️🍁🧡🍂💛🍎 14mo
51 likes4 comments
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Nalbuque
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Heartbreakingly good. I read “A Little Life” a very long time ago (aka i remember how it felt but not rly what happened) and this had similar vibes. It was beautiful but bleak- I know people who grew up like that, and it just feels rly shitty. Glad I read it tho, and overall it was hard to put down- HIGHLY recommend the audio version 💗

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jamield1911
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I found this quite slow & struggled to get into it. I think it's partly getting to grips with the glaswegian slang.
However, I stuck with it, and it paid off. This is a remarkable story. It's heartbreaking, dramatic, & unique.

Mungo is a teenager who is neglected by his alcoholic mother, raised by his teenage sister & bullied by his older, violent brother. His mother sends him away on a fishing trip with two men she doesn't know. Bleak enough?

Cuilin Beautiful book. Heartbreaking 💔 1y
16 likes1 comment
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JillR
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Oh Mungo 💔. That is almost all I can say. The writing is brilliant; you can‘t look away as the tension builds and you wait for the inevitable. Mungo captured my heart, which then broke for him. Douglas Stuart writes these tender, gentle, troubled boys so well. The brutality just floored me; these harsh lives in post-Thatcher-era Glasgow. As with Shuggie Bain it is the boys‘ love for their very flawed mothers despite everything that breaks me

squirrelbrain Wonderful review! 💔 2y
CarolynM Great review. It‘s a tough but rewarding read. 2y
JillR Thank you @squirrelbrain. What a book though. It‘s taken me days to settle into reading anything else 2y
JillR @CarolynM it is isn‘t it? 2y
39 likes4 comments
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JenReadsAlot
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Eggs 💙💦💙 2y
30 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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#TemptingTitles Day 29: #WithYoungYouth - one of the titles I bought while in the UK.

Eggs 💙👌🏼💙 2y
50 likes1 comment
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Clwojick
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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I don‘t normally pay attention to trigger warnings, except when it related to animals…. But holy shit! I have NEVER seen a book with so many trigger warnings. 😶

CarolynM Yep,that book is one long series of potential triggers. It‘s a tough read. 2y
Magpiegem Think I will avoid that one 😬😬 2y
BookBr 😳 2y
55 likes5 comments
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Cuilin
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I need to stop reading books that break my heart. I heard this described as a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the early 90s in Glasgow Scotland. I can see the similarities, but this is more about toxic masculinity, and it‘s legacy in a post Thatcher atmosphere. It is bleak and needs all the trigger warnings. Beautifully written. 5 ⭐️

jlhammar This was brutal, but so good. 2y
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Currey
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

#readaroundtheworld #Scotland The streets and housing schemes of Glasgow are once again the setting forStuart‘s second novel about a young man finding a place for himself with an alcoholic mother, a capable older sister and a violent older brother. The detailed descriptions, the realistic secondary characters and the tension of the plot combine to enhance the love story amidst extreme violence.

BookwormM I couldn‘t face this book too bleak glad you appreciated it 2y
rockpools You‘ve *almost* made me want to give it a go! 2y
Currey @BookwormM @rockpools I put it off until after the holidays and then it aligned with February read. However, it is bleak and violent so I don‘t recommend unless you are in the right mood for it. 2y
24 likes3 comments
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jlhammar
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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#12Booksof2022 🎶 On the eighth day of Christmas my true love read to me, a devastating drama 🎶

For my twelve, I‘m highlighting my favorite audiobooks of the year. Great books that were all the more enjoyable thanks to outstanding narration &/or production.

Andrew65 Another good looking book. 2y
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Megabooks
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Bailedbailed

This is the only #doublespin (or #bookspin) I‘ve bailed on this year, but I just couldn‘t continue on a story this bleak at Christmas. Nor do I really want to pick it up again. #toblonglist

Mungo is a gay, Protestant youth from the rough streets of 1980s Glasgow. He falls in love with a young Catholic boy. When his mom discovers it, she sends him on a camping trip with two very bad men she knows from AA. I‘ll put the CWs I remember in a spoiler.

Megabooks A lot of graphic violence, graphic rape and sexual abuse, homophobia, substance abuse…not a very Christmasy read…😒 2y
swishandflick Ya, that sounds like a rough subject for the holidays. 2y
AmyG I, too, bailed. 😢 2y
See All 24 Comments
sarahbarnes Wow, this sounds really rough especially this time of year. 2y
Megabooks @swishandflick for sure. (edited) 2y
Megabooks @AmyG I just couldn‘t take it. I‘m not sure whether I‘ll read him again tbh. 2y
Megabooks @sarahbarnes just way too heavy. 2y
Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks I got so flustered tagging the tob crowd, I forgot to tag you! Thanks for another great year! 🤩🤩 2y
squirrelbrain It was such a tough read. 😞 2y
Ruthiella I categorize this with A Little Life. I just don‘t want to voluntarily put myself through the trauma. 2y
Aimeesue @Ruthiella Right there with you. I just can't. The images would live in my brain for far too long. ☹️ 2y
BarbaraBB It sounds like Shuggie Bain all over again and I really don‘t want to go there again! 2y
BarbaraBB Beautiful picture though 😍 2y
Hooked_on_books I‘m glad this didn‘t make the shortlist. I wasn‘t a fan of SB and didn‘t want to read this one. 2y
Suet624 I'm really glad you took care of yourself. 2y
TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list - doesn't sound like a pleasant read for sure. 😕 I get that sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the bad stuff that happens so that we can work against it, but sometimes it feels like an author goes too far/starts to feel voyeuristic (no idea if that's true here as I haven't read this author). 2y
Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks yeah, I have felt in a couple of my books lately, the authors have taken the worst of the worst things in life! I don‘t mind reading about difficult things, but sometimes it‘s the wrong time or just the way the author expresses themselves isn‘t right for me. Every book has a reader, but it shouldn‘t necessarily be me! 2y
Megabooks @Suet624 thanks 💜 2y
Megabooks @Hooked_on_books I agree. I hope he writes something different next. 2y
Megabooks @BarbaraBB yeah, I‘d say skip it. And thank you!! 😘 2y
Megabooks @Ruthiella @Aimeesue I read ALL earlier this yeah and between that, this, and Demon Copperhead, I am DONE with bleak tragedies! 2y
Cinfhen Glad you opted out💕I realized I wasn‘t going to “enjoy” this read and stoped after about 20 pages. 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I think you definitely made a smart decision! 2y
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Addison_Reads
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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I'm behind on posting for #adventrecommends @emilyrose_x

This book completely destroyed me, much like his previous work Shuggie Bain, but I still loved reading it. It is depressing, it has almost any trigger warning one could think of, but Stuart's writing is phenomenal and I will continue to read his books and let him break my heart into a million pieces.

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Megabooks
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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First sunny day in over a week, so I thought I‘d snap a picture of my current and upcoming shelf! I‘m in the middle of Young Mungo, and it‘s not as good as Shuggie Bain for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Some of the rest will hopefully be tackled later this week! 😁📖

squirrelbrain Interesting that it‘s not as good for you…(yet!) 2y
BarbaraBB Curious what you‘ll think of 2y
Megabooks @squirrelbrain I don‘t think it will be. Maybe these hopeless, bleak books about young people aren‘t for me. See A Little Life, Demon Copperhead, Dickens as an author, etc. Copperhead was better for me but I think that was more location than the plot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
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Megabooks @BarbaraBB that is probably up next after YM! 2y
Cinfhen I really “liked” Shuggie but twice I‘ve tried to read/ listen to Young Mungo - I can‘t get through it. It‘s a bail for me 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I‘m considering a bail just because it is so unrelentingly dark. I mean there are some nice moments but you know things are headed terrible places. 2y
Cinfhen It‘s not worth torturing yourself! Especially since you have so many good books to read 😁 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen you are so right. I‘m calling it at page 257. 2y
squirrelbrain Ugh, sorry you had to bail. 😞 2y
76 likes9 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

#tob longlist

Wow, that was brutal. Mungo is growing up in deprived sectarian Glasgow. When he falls for a Catholic boy at the same time that his violent older brother is dragging him into a life of crime, his alcoholic mother sends him away on a camping trip with two men she barely knows.

Whilst there was a sense of menace in the first half, I was beginning to think this wouldn‘t be as tough as Shuggie Bain. Then something happened that ⬇️

squirrelbrain …made me have to put the book to one side for a while. This book is utterly terrible and terrifying but, like SB, it is so beautifully written. 💔 And I loved the ending. 2y
Oryx I've avoided this one as I thought it would be a difficult read - I think I'll definitely have to read it sometime though. 2y
Ruthiella Shuggie Bain was hard enough. I don‘t think I can take another book like that voluntarily. 😢 2y
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Megabooks This is on my TBR for this month but I‘m afraid it‘s going to kill me. Darn you Douglas Stuart and your heartbreaking books!! 😫 2y
TrishB I do want to read, but don‘t. 2y
squirrelbrain @Oryx @Ruthiella @Megabooks @TrishB - on the #traumaticbook scale, this is worse than Shuggie but not as bad as A Little Life. 😬 2y
Oryx @squirrelbrain I feel like I want to make this scale of books just to see what what fits on it and where... 2y
cariashley @squirrelbrain WORSE than Shuggie??? That book destroyed me. I‘m with @TrishB - I want to read it, but I don‘t. Will have to wait for the extreme right time to take it on. (edited) 2y
TrishB I haven‘t read Shuggie yet either, though have both. When I read ALL I didn‘t know it was going to be traumatic! 2y
BarbaraBB Worse than Shuggie Bain? This book is not for me I think 2y
TrishB @Oryx that sounds good! 2y
squirrelbrain I think ALL would have to be top of the list; I can‘t think of a worse book. @Oryx @TrishB 2y
squirrelbrain Yes, @cariashley @BarbaraBB - SB was unremittingly depressing and had that sense of hopelessness from his mother‘s alcoholism, but this one has much more violence and other storylines that I won‘t spoil but that need trigger / content warnings. 2y
MicheleinPhilly I love Douglas Stuart but have been “saving” this one for when I feel emotionally equipped to handle. 2y
Suet624 Read this 5 months ago. I might still have a hangover from it. In my opinion it‘s nowhere near as brutal as A Little Life, but I grew so close to Mungo that any injury or injustice done to him broke my heart. 2y
Hooked_on_books I wasn‘t a fan of Shuggie Bain. It felt like devastation porn to me. So I didn‘t want to read this one and am glad it didn‘t make the short list. I‘m glad it worked for you, though! 2y
andrew61 Great review, definitely one of my books of the year. Looking forward to where he goes next. 2y
BkClubCare Yeah, NO. I won‘t read this. But I certainly respect the author‘s talent and those who read. 2y
Cinfhen Excellent review but now that it‘s off the long-list I think I‘m gonna pass - do u want me to send you my copy @Megabooks ??? 2y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I have a copy, but thank you!! 😘😘 2y
batsy Great review! I've been meaning to read his books, but like @MicheleinPhilly put it I feel like I have to be emotionally prepared. 2y
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andrew61
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I was stunned + traumatised by this story of a teenager in 90s Glasgow growing into a sexuality that is not acceptable in a v masculine society where his brother's violence dominates. Drawing on the theme of mother/son depicted so well in shuggie bain this is a brutal book with also tenderness of a sister he loves, but the forbidden love of Catholic James. Some scenes are tough but it is 5*
@alisiakae @Cinfhen @Barbara #booked2022 #acomingoutstory

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 yet to read. 2y
Cinfhen What @TrishB said!!!! Must get to this one 2y
squirrelbrain I bought this when it first came out but still haven‘t got to it. @trishb @cinfhen There‘s a prog on this week about Douglas Stuart - Monday 10.40pm BBC1 (edited) 2y
andrew61 @squirrelbrain @TrishB @Cinfhen Thanks for the nudge, I will definitely try and watch/record that. Its a very readable book but touches on some very difficult themes. But definitely worth reading. 2y
CarolynM Great review. This one is brutal, but worth it, I think. 2y
35 likes5 comments
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Twocougs
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Damn you Douglas Stuart, you write a damn fine book.

jlhammar He really does. I felt such worry and dread throughout this one with where things seemed to be headed for Mungo. Stuart sure knows how to break your heart. 2y
27 likes1 comment
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Lindy
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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A brief video showing the little ferries that connect downtown Vancouver with Granville Island, while my voiceover describes attending a Douglas Stuart event at the writers festival. #VWF2022
https://youtu.be/ZqbCVbIl5nc

erzascarletbookgasm Thanks for the summary of the event. I didn‘t know he wrote YM before SB. I look forward to reading YM. 2y
Lindy @erzascarletbookgasm DS wrote SB first, then YM. But had finished YM before SB was published (sorry that I didn‘t make that clear). SB was rejected 44 times before it found a publisher. They kept telling him that readers wouldn‘t like the Scottish dialect. 2y
erzascarletbookgasm Ah noted, thanks 👌 2y
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reading_rainbow
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Raw, tender, beautifully written.

Going from very tender innocent sweet moments to nerve racking potentially violent ones made me jumpy and anxious at times. I loved Mungo and didn‘t want anything to happen to him. Great book, this was my first Douglas Stuart book and I loved his writing.

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Cazxxx
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Finally finished. It‘s taken me ages to listen to this as it‘s so bleak I could only do it in small doses. The writing is beautiful, Stuart really brings the characters and settings to life but it will break your heart. A book I certainly won‘t be able to forget in a hurry

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Hanna-B
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
Mehso-so

High expectations after Shuggie Bain. I felt Young Mungo was in many ways too similar to Shuggie in terms of plot. But it didn‘t share the incredible language and potent imagery. Young Mungo was too unrelentingly brutal for me and the hurtling head on train wreck of the characters lives was very hard for me to bear witness.

CarolynM It certainly was brutal. I will be interested to see what Stuart does next. (edited) 2y
Hanna-B @Carolyn I hope it‘s change in his next book, something with more hope and beauty 2y
yash_sy Hi,
My name is Yash Patel, a UX designer by profession. I am designing an app for avid readers like you, where you can borrow & lend your books over the internet across the city/state level. For this, I am conducting the survey. I would appreciate it if you spare a few minutes and participate in this survey.
Here is the link: https://forms.gle/FV68nCWMXNx1H1WD6
2y
8 likes3 comments
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Hanna-B
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Reading this highly anticipated (by me) book at my favourite local cafe #douglasstuart #winterreading

Graywacke Gorgeous view 2y
Hanna-B Isn‘t it. It‘s a local secret too so it‘s never too busy! 2y
JamieArc Oh wow. I am a swimmer and this would be a dream 😍 2y
Hanna-B @JamieArc it‘s a very gorgeous swimming spot 😍 It‘s where my daughter learned to swim, starting as a 2 year old. 2y
8 likes4 comments
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Hanna-B
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Bought it today, I can‘t wait but also girding my loins

CarolynM It‘s good but it‘s brutal. 2y
Hanna-B I‘ve heard more so than Shuggie 🙈 2y
7 likes2 comments
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jlhammar
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Oh, sweet Mungo. I really feel like I‘ve been through the emotional wringer finishing this today. Tragic and brutal, but also tender and deeply moving. And, as with Shuggie Bain, just stellar writing.

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Suet624
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

This is the worst time for me to be reading dysfunctional family dramas. Going in I knew it would a tough read. There are some authors who know how to break your heart into tiny bits. Mungo is a sweet, loving, gay teenager with a drunk unfit mother and a hooligan for a brother. Mungo falls in love and that part is told in the sweetest of ways. But evil lurks all around him with both his mother and his brother sending him off to obvious harm.

Jas16 I bought this book and it has been sitting unread on my shelves because I know it is going to break my heart. Great review. 2y
Suet624 @Jas16 Thank you. I had to take it slow with this one. I wish life was not so tough on so many. 2y
jlhammar Great review! This one is also breaking my heart at the moment. Really good though. I'm about halfway through. 2y
See All 9 Comments
Suet624 A great character study. Those characters live inside me now, each and every one. 2y
BarbaraBB You‘re quiet! I hope you‘re doing well 🤍 2y
Suet624 @BarbaraBB Hi! Yes, I've noticed the same thing! :) I've been housesitting, dog sitting, working full time on the election processing, cleaning an Airbnb, and half the time I forget where I am when I wake up. Just went for a week-long trip to an ocean setting with 17 of my family and that was delightful/exhausting. So the election is in 2 days and my last housesitting gig for a while will be next weekend for 4 days. .... (edited) 2y
Suet624 @barbarabb ... I've been managing to read, just not able to jump on Litsy because either my phone has died, my computer has run out of gas, or I'm typing School Board minutes. :) I'm now on the Board of Trustees for the Village I live in - 322 people could have voted, only 17 folks voted, and I won unanimously. Sad when only 17 people vote! So I have a full plate. But I hope things will quiet down in a few months. I hope all is well with you. 2y
BarbaraBB That sounds extremely busy but I hope fulfilling. Congratulations with your election. It is sad when so few people vote but maybe you can change things a little bit now that you‘re on the Board. Also good luck with the election this week. Take care of yourself in the meantime, keep reading 📖 🤍😘 2y
Suet624 @BarbaraBB Thank you so much. You're very caring and it's greatly appreciated. Of course it's my own fault. The minute I have the tiniest bit of free time I fill it with obligations. :) 2y
57 likes2 stack adds9 comments
blurb
Hanna-B
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart

Excited anticipation for this most marvellous author‘s second novel. He is born to write

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KatieB
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Phenomenal. Bleak. Heartbreaking. Haunting. And with almost every trigger warning you can think of. But absolutely phenomenal. Just like Shuggie Bain was. Douglas Stuart is a master of writing stories and characters that you become invested in and I think he might be my new favourite author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️…obviously.

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NovelNancyM
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

As brilliantly written as Shuggie Bain. Young Mungo is both heartbreaking and breath taking as one witnesses abuse, violence, poverty, alcoholism in Mungo's life while he also discovers love and occasional kindness. The ending leaves one hopeful too. While intense and raw, the plot makes for a compelling read.

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Branwen
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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"The air was clearer than he had ever tasted; he tilted his head back and put his tongue out into the breeze. It tasted green like spring grass, but there was a prehistoric brownness to it, as though it had searched an entire age through damp peaty glens and ancient forests, looking for its way to wherever it was going. To Mungo, it was green and it was brown and it was damp and it was clean. He had no words for it. It just smelled like magic."

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Branwen
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pride Month: Day Fifteen! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Just finished this book today...and wow. What a heartbreaking story. If you thought Shuggie Bain was sad, this is a million times worse. Lots of poverty, parental neglect, violence, and sexual assault. But...the story still retains a hopeful ending, and Mungo has a future worth fighting for. Just an overall terribly sad story, told in an exquisitely beautiful way. 💕

#pridemonth #queerbooks #lgbtq

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Branwen
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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"Jodie said he was gullible. Mo-Maw said she wished she had raised him to be cannier, less of anybody's fool. It was a funny thing to be a disappointment because you were honest and assumed others might be too. The games people played made his head hurt."

What a beautiful yet heartbreaking quote! ? If there is one thing this book and Shuggie Bain have in common, it's their sweet boy protagonists who have to try and survive in a bleak world.

review
AnneCecilie
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I didn‘t connect with Shuggie Bain and DNF the physical copy, but managed to finish it on audio. This was completely different and I don‘t know if it‘s because I heard Stuart talk about this last week or if it‘s the book.

The Hamish family lives in Glasgow‘s East End. The mum, Mo-Maw, drinks and is putting her own happiness ahead of her children‘s. Hamish is the oldest and leader of a gang. Jodie is the middle sister who has tried to take care

AnneCecilie of Mungo. Mungo is trying to take care of his mum. One day he meets James and they quickly becomes friends. 2y
56 likes1 comment
review
Simona
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

It's hard not to compare YM with SB because the basic story is the same - a dysfunctional family, a complicated relationship between an alcoholic mother and children, in this book - Mung's older brother, who is brutally violent, a sister who sees a way out to the better life - but this means giving up Mungo in a way, and ultimately Mungo himself - with his sexual identity and all the problems posed by homosexuality, queernes in a very toxic … 👇

Simona … and masculine environment.
The structure of the story is divided into two timelines - the past, where we learn about the relationships and dynamics of the family, then more broadly - social problems, the male-female relationship, and of course the relationship to homosexuality. 👇
(edited) 2y
Simona The timeline that takes place in the present - is terrifying, shocking and brutally raw, but author succeeds in avoiding too melodramatic touches in the prose/scenes, and this is the component of his writing that makes his stories even more powerful. 2y
squirrelbrain Great review! I bought this the day it came out but still haven‘t got round to reading it; need to get to it soon. 2y
Simona Thank you @squirrelbrain If you liked Shuggie Bain, I am sure that you will like Young Mungo too … 2y
Megabooks Excellent review! I‘m trying to read lighter books this summer but am looking forward to this in the fall. 2y
39 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
MysticFaerie
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

5🌟/5🌟

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candc320
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Did I just buy Shuggie Bain last weekend? Yes. Did I then go ahead and purchase the author‘s second book before reading the first? Also yes! It was on sale on Amazon and I couldn‘t resist!

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review
CarolynM
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

I thought Shuggie Bain was hard on my heart - this one is brutal. Abandoned by his mother, bullied by his brother & heartbreakingly cared for by his sister Mungo is a gentle soul alone & unprotected in a violent, lawless society. When he makes a connection with another boy the consequences are vicious & devastating. Stuart writes so well, but his subject matter does not make for pleasant reading. TW: violence, homophobia & sexual assault.
#gaymay

LeahBergen What a great review but … oh my. 💔 2y
CarolynM @LeahBergen Thanks. It‘s good I think, but not a book I would actually recommend to anyone😭 2y
BkClubCare Nope. NOT gonna! 2y
See All 14 Comments
batsy Love your review. I really need to read Shuggie Bain *and* this! I'm just getting myself emotionally prepared... 2y
Megabooks Moving this to fall because I want lighter summer reading, but I do want to read it. 2y
Megabooks Great review! 2y
CarolynM @BkClubCare No. Don't do it to yourself. 2y
CarolynM @batsy @Megabooks Thanks. I do think both books are worth reading but there is a definite emotional toll. 2y
TrishB Not read either yet due to the suspected 💔 2y
Cathythoughts Great review X. loved Shuggie 💔 , I have this one on the shelf waiting. 2y
CarolynM @TrishB @Cathythoughts 💔 is right, it's impossible not to be moved by it. 2y
MicheleinPhilly Shuggie Bain shattered my heart into a million pieces. I‘m expecting this to do the same but I need to be in a better head space before I tackle it. 2y
TheLudicReader Can‘t wait to read this. I loved Snuggie. 2y
CarolynM @MicheleinPhilly @TheLudicReader For me this was more distressing than Shuggie Bain. I'm glad I wasn't feeling stressed or upset before I started reading it. 2y
60 likes14 comments
blurb
shawnmooney
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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https://youtu.be/Jx03_FgMtDo

Intro

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

She Came from Mariupol by Natascha Wodin, Alfred Kueppers (Translation)

Sedating Elaine by Dawn Winter

quote
shawnmooney
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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review
Sara_Planz
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

Young Mungo is the story of a teen growing up in Glasgow. Mungo is named after the saint of the town, but Mungo struggles with family issues and his own budding sexuality.

Mungo meets James, a young man in the neighborhood who races pigeons. They build a deep friendship and fall in love.

This novel is traumatic and raw, but completely engrossing. Douglas Stuart creates characters that triumph over the brutality that they are forced to endure.

blurb
CarolynM
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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LeahBergen That‘s a nice big stack! 3y
TrishB Lovely ❤️ 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome stack 📚 3y
Cathythoughts Very nice. I‘ve ordered Young Mungo .. looking forward to it. ❤️ 3y
80 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Floresj
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

This book is heavy. The ending is page turning, and the plot picks up speed mid-way through the novel. It‘s dark and uneven- I‘m glad I finished this one about a poor, gay boy in Glasgow, but it took a bit of effort to get through some dark events. Great ending.

Suet624 Agree with everything you‘ve said. 2y
18 likes1 comment
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DavidDiamond
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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More exquisite prose from Young Mungo that just pulled at my heartstrings...

Cathythoughts ❤️ 3y
Suet624 This passage stopped me in my tracks as I was reading the book. 2y
DavidDiamond @Suet624 Right? So beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. 2y
20 likes3 comments
review
DavidDiamond
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

A beautiful, disturbing & heart-wrenching story of two teenage boys from the streets of Glasgow, who fall in love & must keep their relationship hidden from the world around them.
While similar to Shuggie Bain ("write what you know!"), Young Mungo elevates the work of Douglas Stuart to a new level. Fully formed, dimensional characters that practically leap off the page alongside beautiful prose & a story that will have you riveted to the end.

Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m ordering this one this morning 👍🏻❤️ 3y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve got this stacked 👌 3y
DavidDiamond @Cathythoughts Thanks! Hope you love it! 3y
31 likes1 stack add4 comments
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DavidDiamond
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Cathythoughts I‘m looking forward to this one 👍🏻❤️ (edited) 3y
DavidDiamond @Cathythoughts Just finished it. I loved it. Hope you do too! 3y
19 likes2 comments
review
ClairesReads
Young Mungo | Douglas Stuart
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Pickpick

So bleak and so beautifully written, Young Mungo really hurt my feelings. Perhaps not as structurally sound as Shuggie, but more complex in its characterisation and narrative arc. Young Mungo was highly anticipated and everything I wanted it to be.

Cathythoughts Great review! I‘m looking forward to it. 3y
Ruthiella I struggled with the bleakness in Shuggie Bain. Not sure if I want to subject myself to it again. 3y
33 likes2 comments