Shuggie Bain

Knowing that this story pulls a lot from the author’s life is what really upped the rating on this for me. I’m kind of amazed at his compassionate portrayal of an alcoholic mother having had one himself. I’m relieved that the author seems to be in a healthy place if even a little bit of this book is straight from his life! I’d have called this book melodramatic and probably liked it less if I didn’t know the author has a similar story. Since it is his story, I don’t feel like he’s manipulating me for emotional impact, or not as much.

It’s rare that a book makes me tear up, but when Agnes first kicks Shuggie out near the end of the book, that hit me hard. Just so sad to read people self-destruct and hurt others on the way down. In contrast, his mother dying the way she did surprised me but didn’t make me cry. It was a little sudden, I think.

I don’t give this 5 stars because my favorite kind of books get really internal, and I was never deep in Shuggie’s head. The scene when his mother dies is a good example of when I’d like to know so much more than what the author has given me about the character’s thoughts.

I was happy to have that hopeful moment in the end when Shuggie dances. It feels like he is starting to become comfortable with who he is, and that his mother was able to pass on at least one nugget of wisdom to him.

Here's the bad thing about [a:Douglas Stuart|19629033|Douglas Stuart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1570471773p2/19629033.jpg]'s debut novel, [b:Shuggie Bain|52741293|Shuggie Bain|Douglas Stuart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602094778l/52741293.SY75.jpg|72463055]: He misuses the word "disinterested" twice. Most people do that these days. They think it's a smarter version of "uninterested." It's kind of like how most people these days use "empathy" when they mean "sympathy." The difference between disinterested and uninterested is simple. Read this next sentence and you'll get it right forever: If you're on trial for something, you want a judge who's disinterested in your case, but you don't want a judge who is uninterested in it.
Like I said, most people get it wrong, but Douglas Stuart is not most people and he's not even most writers. Shuggie Bain (Shuggie rhymes with huggie) is the best novel I've read in years, far too good for me to talk about intelligently. A warning, though; it's dark. If you've read anything by [a:Alan Sillitoe|41121|Alan Sillitoe|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1242123079p2/41121.jpg], think of it as being along those lines. Also, if descriptions of alcoholism disturbs you, consider this a trigger warning. It'd be a shame, though, if you avoided this book for any reason. It's brilliant.

Agnes had to sink three whole lager cans before she could go out the front door. A group of women stood in a cluster by the fence, their arms folded like car bumpers. It was like they had been waiting there since she had moved in four months prior. The cold didn't seem to bother them. The ground was littered with cigarette douts, and there were dirty tea mugs stacked on the fence posts. They stopped talking and turned as one when she came out the front door. Holding her head high, Agnes made sure the clicks of her black heels were sharp and clear on the pavement. She smiled haughtily at the women in their leggings and slippers. She passed them by, heading up the road to the Miners Club, to forgetfulness.