Let's face it, this year's class of first-time authors is seeing its debut novels launch into a world much different from what anyone in the... To see what your friends thought of this book, On the contrary, it is a portrait of a young boy as he navigates the world of poverty, deprivation and alcoholism of his mother. I’m not sure what I was expecting. When she had disgraced herself with drink, she got up the next day, put on her best coat, and faced the world. It reads a bit like Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. Am I the only one who felt angry at Agnes Bain? In my tradition of not reviewing books that have a squillion reviews on Goodreads, I have instead put together a mix tape, drawing on some favourite passages in the book. I was just wondering what people thought happened to Agnes' baby brother? I wish it well for the award. Shuggie Bain (Douglas Stuart) Shuggie Bain Author: Douglas Stuart List: Recent Prize Winner (Winner 2020) Year of publication: 2020 Pages: 430 Goodreads: Shuggie Bain Twitter He lives in New York. It doesn't sound like you should read this if that's how you feel. I saw another review suggesting to listen to the audiobook version because of the dialogue, and I’m very glad I did so. Even when she was sober she made bad choices for her kids. Are there others out there? I thought this was one of the most disturbing elements of the story and I spent a lot of time thinking about it! But it is also impossible not to see the deep love that Shuggie feels for his mother and to pity her, even if it was sometimes difficult to like her. Milkman and Girl, Woman, Other were both clear books of the year for me as was this so I think the Booker has really turned around in recent years. I can see why this book won the Booker Prize — it is a nuanced, thoughtful look at love, poverty, family, and addiction. I no longer have a copy of the book and have to give examples of 'Shuggie is entirely out of place in shambling 1980 Glasgow- a Changeling who speaks like a prince". Shuggie Bain is a first novel, ten years in the writing, already published in the USA and now on the Booker Prize longlist. But it is also impossible not to see the deep love that Shuggie feel. [I've just finished the book and so am processing a LOT of emotion at the moment. I completely agree with this review with master storytelling. … Start by marking “Shuggie Bain” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Looking for love, Agnes only received the contempt of her husband who finally abandoned her and his son. Since I am well-familiar with stories of alcoholism and the humans who fall into it, why should I spend another 6 hours going into the pits of Glasgow to dwell among them? Are there others out there? You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Every character was purely surface level. “She is not,” said Shuggie, quite proudly. Thatcher’s policies have put husbands and sons out of work, and the city’s notorious drugs epidemic is waiting in the wings. Or just do anything full stop. 6,034 reviews Shuggie Bain is the unforgettable story of young Hugh "Shuggie" Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland. Having read the book I’m convinced it’s set in a place called Cardowan which is on the north east outskirts…more Pithead is not an actual place in Glasgow. Rook Reading Follow. Shuggie and Leek learn to undress Agnes after a night out, to look away from her bruised thighs … We’d love your help. A little life was so devastating—I found this one slightly more hopeful. So happy that Shuggie Bain has won the 2020 Booker Prize! Apologies for not updating this blog more often, as the first half of 2021 has been hard to say the least. The story tells how Shuggie does everything he can to help his mother retain her dignity, in spite of her failings. When I was only fifty pages or so into the book, I had the feeling it was going to break my heart. . Thatcher's policies have pu… I don’t think the author has to spell it out - that is the magic of reading a book and making up pictures in your head. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Reminded me of A Little Life. I thought shuggie Bain was much better than a little life, much more realistic and didn’t feel tragic for the sake of being tragic. Needless to say, I had dozens to choose from in Shuggie. Compelling characters. There are scenes in this book that are so vivid, I may never forget them. Wrritten by Douglas Stuart, “Shuggie BainR… You summed this up so perfectly. Stevie Marsden, Manchester Metropolitan University. A counterpart to the privileged Thatcher-era London of Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty , it also recalls the work of Edouard Louis, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, a blistering debut by a brilliant writer with a powerful and important story to tell. When I was only fifty pages or so into the book, I had the feeling it was going to break my heart. My first thought was that her dad had. This heartbreaking tale of alcoholism and poverty in 1980s Scotland knocked me over. There are many stories out there that explore addiction, and many that tackle the complex parent-child relationships that arise from addiction. DESERVED BOOKER PRIZE 2020 WINNER - and thanks to the BBC for featuring my congratulatory tweet just ahead of Nicola Sturgeon's (20: 38 and 20:45), okay! Sometimes I hated Agnes, and sometimes I wanted her to succeed so much it hurt. Beautifully written but I just felt battered after reading. I have recollections that are not clear enough. I totally get the book's socio economic setting, the lack of hope, the lack of anything, and how this can fuel addiction. - Columbia Journal "Heartfelt and harrowing . Shuggie Bain is the unforgettable story of young Hugh "Shuggie" Bain, a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in run-down public housing in Glasgow, Scotland. Outstanding, immersive, raw storytelling. Readers’ questions about Shuggie Bain. Shuggie Bain Author: Douglas Stuart List: Recent Prize Winner (Winner 2020) Year of publication: 2020 Pages: 430 Goodreads: Shuggie Bain Be the first to comment Leave a … This is a story about alcoholism, abuse, and poverty, and it is unremitting in its depiction of those things. I hadn't thought about an orphanage but I hope it was something like that! 5/5 Shuggie has my heart. 5/5 stars. Thatcher’s policies have put husbands and sons out of work, and the city’s notorious drugs epidemic is waiting in the wings. 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