Shuggie Bain - mini group read

LovingLit and Berly are reading Shuggie Bain together; join in if you like (no spoilers please), comment at will, or lurk away!


Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. Booker Prize winner, 2020.

I will be lurking to see what you think of the book. I read it not too long ago and am curious to see how our thoughts on the book compare.

I have to do it...this is the view from my reading chair today. I am staying with my dad to assist him while he's unwell, and also to recover properly from COVID myself. I only caught 15 minutes of reading time today to start, but it was from my chair with *this view*.
Aaah. Super pleasant.

I might join in! Shuggie Bain is on my tbr list for this year :)

>3 LovingLit: Nice!

>1 LovingLit: Awesome! I am here. Thanks for setting this up. I have my book in my lap, ready to open as soon as I finish posting here.

>2 alcottacre: Hi Stasia! I remember you read this not too long ago -- please do chime in!

>3 LovingLit: Your reading view is better than mine. LOL. Hope you both feel better soon.

>4 curioussquared: Go find your copy! : )

>6 Berly: there's nothing like looking out into the nothingness of the ocean! I am going to miss this place once dad sells up (like he's in the process of doing).

Yippee...let the reading begin!

I'm planting myself on the sofa next to Stasia. I read this a while back and loved it, and look forward to seeing what you think.

Glad to see some other interested parties. Now I just have to make some time to keep reading it!

The first 15 pages have drawn me in. I like Shuggie and his observations.

Added the thread to the group wiki…

But now Shuggie is not the focus, rather his dad and mother...

Yes yes...I am with you. And the yucky DV stuff begins!

>10 drneutron: thanks doc!

I haven't started yet, but did bring the book with me on vacation this week!

My life suddenly looks a whole lot better! Some of the families in this book...yikes!

>13 curioussquared: that's a start, in a way! ;)

>14 Berly: Yes....we are lucky, those of us who had and who offer stable, safe homes! I am up to the part where Leek is hanging out in the pallet stack.

Ok, I've officially started! About 50 pages in. The beach in Hawaii sort of feels like the wrong place to read this book, but I suppose if one is reading a depressing book one might as well do it in a very not depressing place!

>16 curioussquared: I agree! Also, any place is a good place to read any book right?

I am about 50% in. Not holding my breath, but there's a chance for happiness...

>17 LovingLit: Agreed!

>18 Berly: I'm about a third of the way through and things are still looking pretty glum.

To be honest, I am not sure yet why everyone has been enamored with this book. It has been a dark journey so far and I am not in love with any of the characters.

Just finished and really loved it. Couldn't put it down. Deeply dark but eminently readable.

>21 Berly: I seem to be one of the few not totally enamored with this book. Oops! Glad you enjoyed it. : )

>17 LovingLit: What did you think?

>21 Berly: I have sadly stalled. I blame my eyesight and COVID-related tiredness. I am actually really liking the reading experience, but am just having trouble with print.

I aim to work harder! (Maybe a long bath tonight will help- I love reading in the bath and as this book is my own, I won't worry about dropping it in the water!)

Don't drop it in the water!! LOL. Take your time and I hope you enjoy it when you get back to it. Take care and GET BETTER!! : )

>24 LovingLit: Oh no! I hope you're back up to speed soon!

I am still reading Shuggie!
lol

Am over half way through, and in spite of others' feelings on the matter, am actually enjoying the process. I am not overly shocked by the events described, and the understated way in which the story is told is so subtle and respectful. Still, what a life!

And final verdict? : )

Um, um. Let's see. I am still reading it! lol

>29 LovingLit: Lol, you can do it!!

>31 curioussquared: and >31 curioussquared: Thanks for your encouragement! (laughing at someone is encouragement, right??)

Also, I am *still* still reading it :)

>32 LovingLit: Of course! It's special encouraging laughter ;)

>33 curioussquared: yay, I have a cheerleading team to get me to the finish!

I finished it!

>35 LovingLit: Yay! Dare I ask for your thoughts? Lol

This is the mini review I put on my thread:

I *finally* finished this one, after starting it in May. And I really was actually enjoying it, so I cannot account for why it took me so long to read it (other than that reading it usually only took place in the bath, as night time reading for me is often limited to audio on account of my glasses not being amenable to lying-on-my-side reading).

Shuggie is an unlucky boy, born to a father who is - let's face it - an ass, and a well-meaning mother who just can't seem to escape her demons. Nineteen-eighties Glasgow certainly seems to be a bit grim, I have to say. And the family endures a lot that is a result of poverty, class, circumstance, and unhealthy relationships and habits. Shuggie copes using the only ways he knows how to, and he truly wants to help his poor ole mam who has a fondness for the drink. It's a realistic view of a dysfunctional family.
*highly recommended*

>37 LovingLit: Oh good! I thought you must not have liked it but glad to see I was wrong :) I know what you mean about those books you only read in certain times and places. I've been working on Poison Study for a month or two now because I tend not to pick up my Kindle unless I'm traveling or I'm awake in the middle of the night and want to read in the dark.

>37 LovingLit: She did it! She finished! AND she wrote a review! Whoop, whoop!

I am glad you stuck with it and actually enjoyed Shuggie in the end. : )

What are we gonna do for our next shared read? ; )

>39 Berly: you mean "shared" read? lol

Let us think....we have to be able to come up with something..only, I will be more likely to keep up wth you if its also on audio.

LOL. If making sure there's an audio version will help you keep up on our "shared" read, then by all means!! : )