'Young Mungo' by Douglas Stuart- A Deep Dive Review (Spoiler-Free Beginning)
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- Опубліковано 13 гру 2024
- Hello, I'm Bob, and I absolutely adored this fantastic novel by Douglas Stuart. Here is me talking about the book, with the first 8/9 minutes being spoiler-free.
I hope you enjoy it!
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Harrowing is the correct word. I felt so afraid for Mungo at times, it was hard to keep going to the end of the book but it shows how emotionally invested in the character I was. I'm not sure I could manage a third Douglas Stuart novel in the same vein.
Oh yes, I can imagine! I think a third like this might be a lot, but at the same time, I’m keen to see what he does with the teenage/ early adult gay experience- I think he’s going to do that brilliantly!
I' ve just fishined. I can t stop crying🥺. Beautiful book. And very good review❤
Ahh, so glad it touched you so much! And thank you!
I came across this book in a book shop yesterday, had never heard of the author but it sounded interesting so I started reading and I was so fascinated I actually read the whole book in that shop. I was equally fascinated, appalled, frightened, frustrated, moved and a whole set of other emotions... It was totally not what I expected. It's been quite a while since I wanted to jump into a book and save the protagonist so badly... Trying to process the read now while I wait for my own copy to read it again and more thoroughly this time...
Oh amazing! I’m glad that you’ve enjoyed this book so much! It’s such a fantastic novel, I think- so rich, and thoughtful, and kind.
@@BobTheBookerer Absolutely! I'm through with my second read now and holy moly, what a rollercoaster of emotions. Obviously I missed a lot of details with my hasty read in the bookshop. It's one of those books where thirty years from now I will still know where I read I for the first time and what music I was listening to when I did. It impressed me that much. The ending especially is giving me a lot of food for thought.
I have had this video in my Saved For Later playlist for ages because I wanted to read it myself first. I finally read Young Mungo this weekend. I loved your review and I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did; I would call it a masterpiece too. For me, Young Mungo had a layer of believability that distinguishes it from other examples of harrowing queer trauma books like A Little Life, which really helped me stay connected with the characters and the book.
Ahh, thank you so much for coming back to it, and glad you enjoyed the book so much! Absolutely- I love the way you mentioned the believability- there was something intense but also understated about it that felt to me like it wasn’t just being played for drama, but was a realistic portrayal.
I am in the middle of reading Young Mungo. I agree it’s a masterpiece. Thank you for reviewing this wonderful book.
Ooh, I hope you enjoy the second half! It’s so fantastically done!
I admire Stuart's ability to tell a story involving sexual violence without it being excessive or vulgar. To me, the words he doesn't write are just as effective as the ones he does. Brilliant book!!
Yes, absolutely! You’ve hit the nail on the head- those scenes could have felt so exploitative and gratuitous under a different writer, but Stuart holds back so well!
I love your observation about the pigeons and what James says about them being applicable to Mungo and Jodie and James etc. It's the sort of statements that is so obviously true I felt pretty silly for not noticing myself.
Also true devastation needs some hope so it has something to crush.
Thank you! And not at all- you spotted loads in your review that I entirely missed too- I love how rich it is as a book!
Yes, definitely! The highs and lows in this book really complement each other.
Thank you for your detailed review and thoughts. I found Shuggie Bain so well written, it was harrowing. I had to put it down and haven't gone back to it but I could tell from the 50ish% I read that Douglas Stewart is a fantastic writer. I won't be picking up Young Mungo because I am scared of the emotional trauma but I want to support Stewart in his work.
Thank you! And that’s totally fair! Both of them are quite hard-hitting emotionally, but you’re right- his writing is so beautiful!
I just bought young mungo. Good to know that I may need to give it a bit at the start!
Yay! I hope you enjoy it! It’s already one of my books of the year, and we’re only in April!
Im three quarters through this and love it. It's broken my heart and I've had to stop a few times to gain composure, but it's extraordinary. I love that you call it a masterpiece. I agree. The gentleness threaded through the book and the really dark and harsh parts is unlike anything I've seen in writing before. And the underlying reflection and disease that is toxic masculinity comes through intensely.
Oooh, yes! And totally with you- it packs so many emotional punches that it really can’t be read in one go!
And yes! The ability of Douglas Stuart to still find love and warmth in the harshest moments is really quite impressive.
I am so excited to read this book! I really struggled to appreciate the brilliance of Shuggie Bain - through no fault of the part of the author but because Shuggie's life was so similar to my childhood, I found I couldn't distance myself from the book. I'm hoping to have a much warmer reaction to Young Mungo.
Ahh, that can definitely make it more challenging, and this book does explore some similar themes, but I think it’s done so beautifully.
I feel you! 😭😅
Lovely detailed review! My copy is on its way 😊
Thank you so much! And ooh, you’re in for a treat! Enjoy!
What a heartbreaking book this is! Thank you for this insightful review. You managed to articulate the full range of emotions I experienced while reading it. And I share your sentiment in regarding Young Mungo as a true masterpiece!
Yes! And thank you so much! Such an intense book, but so beautiful!
@@BobTheBookerer Two days later and I'm still devastated! 8-(
@@darrylchristopherdguerra4227 Yeah! I still think about it fairly often!
OMG I can't stop thinking of you reading and crying in bed, I love when books do that. Also I was a bit unsure of some works at the beginning and they became one of my favourite books (or films or albums). This is strange but has to do with a lot of things, maybe it's not the right time or you are on a different mindset or maybe one can be prejudice or ask something that the writer or artist doesn't want to do. That's why I love art. And of course, I'm going to read this book, thank you for the spoiler free part!
Aww, thank you! It was such an emotionally powerful last passage, and it was like nothing else existed outside of the book.
And I have the same with albums all the time! It’s become something I just push through now- the more I struggle with a Fiona Apple album at the beginning, the more I’ll love it after about 3 or 4 listens.
I definitely agree with that about art- there’s something really nice about stepping away and then coming back later when the time is right
And thank you! I hope you enjoy it when you read it!
This book is so sad! I just want to bring Mungo to my house and give him a safe place for his sweet little heart to flourish. This sits up there with A Little Life as books that really made me feel. Got deep into my heart and they will be there forever. Each time I see the cover my soul will be wrenched back to my reading experience. I haven't read Shuggie Bain, and I don't know if I can after Mungo.
It really is, but also so touching! I have never felt so strongly towards a character before as I have with Mungo (and James).
I love what you say about the cover too- that’s such a powerful reaction!
Shuggie Bain is beautiful- it has some crossover, but I think it is really great at capturing quiet hope. But maybe have a break with something lighter first!
The same thing happened to me when I first started reading the book, I kind of didn't quite understand what was going on lmao so I put it down at about page 20. Then two days later I decided to read it again from the beginning and I found it so intriguing that I read it super fast.
When I finished reading the book I felt really sad for Mungo :( He went through a lot.
Haha, yes! I can imagine!
But yes, what a book! And it was so powerful- Mungo really did experience a lot!
I loved this book ❤, just finished reading it. Can you recommend any books that are similar theme to young mungo?😊 specifically mlm?
Sorry for the late reply, and glad you enjoyed this book so much!
In terms of recommendations, The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst is one I love!
I have Young Mungo on pre order. Slightly nervous as to wether I’m going to like it or not? So will avoid spoilers.
Yay! I hope you enjoy it! I hope you get a lot from it- I feel like you’ll have a really interesting take on it either way!
Great review 👌🏼I was exactly like you 😀 counting down the days until this was released - I was so excited. At first I found this book very similar to Shuggie Bain but as a queer boy growing up in working class 90s identified so much more with Mungo. The story is best in the moments when Mungo is with Jodie, Chucky & more so with James when I absolutely loved this Book. I found the thriller elements of the Loch gripping but ultimately the sexual violence broke my heart & felt superfluous to the main story .. just my opinion but an instant classic & hope Doug Stewart does another LGBT led novel
Thank you! Yes, such a powerful book! That’s fair about the Loch scenes- I thought they were very powerful, but I’m worried for if this is ever made into a film or TV show- I’m not sure if I could watch it!
Yes I think you’re right… his work is prime for adaptation and could be great but the harrowing stuff - even if only alluded to or implied is still so uncomfortable to watch … have you ever reviewed John Boyne’s The Hearts invisible furies? It’s not as literary & “special” as Douglas Stewart’s two epic books but the use of levity & time jump is used perfectly to tell a serious story without traumatising the committed reader ❤️
@@benjicarey5870 right! And yes, I really enjoyed The Heart’s Invisible Furies- exactly as you said, I thought the time jumps there worked really well, especially at showing the progress of LGBTQ rights!
Thanks Bob, I only listened up to the spoiler part, so maybe you covered this later, but I have two questions. If one hasn’t read Shuggie Bain yet, what order do you recommend reading them in, does it matter and will it enhance the experience of the books one way or another?
And I’ve heard there’s this Protestant/ Catholic conflict in the storyline, but it’s taking place in Scotland. Are he and his family Irish? I’ve always understood the influx of Irish into London and England, but never thought necessarily if that happened in Scotland or Wales as well, and if there were enclaves of Irish there and conflict between Catholics and Protestants. I’m trying to get some context before reading it to better understand. As an American I’ve just not been exposed to that type of information. Thanks!
Thank you!
I don’t think I did cover the bit about Shuggie and reading order- great question! I think reading them in any order is probably fine, but Shuggie and then Mungo works nicely, as we go from a young boy to a pre-teen, and the alcoholism of Agnes in Shuggie Bain gives a nice background to the mother in Mungo. But you could probably do it in reverse.
And yes- the Protestant/Catholic conflict was not something I’d realised was also a thing in Scotland in quite the same way, but it seems like there is some spill-over there, and the term ‘Fenian’ (used in a derogatory way to mean Catholics) also has a hint of ‘Scots with Irish ancestry’. I hadn’t been aware of it, but it seems like it’s partly a Protestant vs Catholic thing more generally, but also a sort of attempt to define a ‘true’ Scottishness, if that makes sense.
I’m back to watch the rest of the video after reading both and finishing Young Mungo last night. It is a masterpiece and I am destroyed. I think I rate it higher then Shuggie Bain even though both are five stars. I saw the end so cinematically, some parts even in slow motion. The convergence of all of them in one place at the same time crackling with electricity. And Mungo answers a cliff hanger for me from Shuggie Bain. Those damn porcelain figures were like a Tolstoy gun waiting to go off for me in that book, but were dropped. But here we see Shuggie outside the pawnshop ready to leave a bit of his life behind and maybe fund a better future. An amazing cameo for sure. I’m sill a bit shell shocked and consuming all that I can about Stuart and his books now that I’m up to speed and in awe.
@@bookofdust Ah, totally agree with everything you said! It absolutely destroyed me, but in the most beautiful way. And I missed that little nod to the porcelain figures- well spotted!
Finding myself being tickled by comments about the sectarianism in the story and readers being shocked by it? I’m from N.Ireland and I’m 59 this year. This was my “ normal”growing up.
That’s so interesting- so many of the finer details of this book are things that are quite outside of my ken, but I love how it was described.