pick#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 ⬇️
BkClubCare, Megabooks, Hooked_on_books, Cinfhen, cariashley, MicheleinPhilly, Aimeesue, Suet624, batsy, Chelsea.Poole, BarbaraBB, RebelReader, Ruthiella, sarahbarnessquirrelbrain …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
See All 21 Comments
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