The 2020 Booker Prize winner, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart is an emotionally charged debut novel. My heart broke into a million pieces as the sweet, polite and outcast young Shuggie tried so hard to make his mother better and desperately wanted to fit in.
This story takes place in Scotland during the 1980's. It is a coming of age story, but it is so much more than that. It is a story of devotion, a bond between a mother and a son, a story of alcoholism and addiction, a story of family dynamics, abandonment, survival and shattered dreams.
The writing is not action packed. The story is character driven with strong details that force you to sit in the intensity of each character's feelings. The characters are well developed and the reader is immersed into their lives. Especially, Shuggie and his mother Agnes.
This heartbreaking story deals with some heavy topics such as alcoholism, addiction, sexuality, violence, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.
This book will move you and Shuggie will find a special place in your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for an audio version of this novel for an honest review. Angus King's narration with the Scottish accent and emotional delivery only added to the authenticity this story deserves.
Bookworm Rating: 🐛🐛🐛🐛🌱
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