WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2020 WINNER OF 'BOOK OF THE YEAR' AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2021 WINNER OF 'DEBUT OF THE YEAR' AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE US NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2020 LONGLISTED FOR ABIA INTERNATIONAL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 'An amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love' The Booker Prize Judges It is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life. She dreams of greater things: a house with its own front door and a life bought and paid for outright (like her perfect, but false, teeth). But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and soon she and her three children find themselves trapped in a decimated mining town. As she descends deeper into drink, the children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves. It is her son Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. Shuggie is different. Fastidious and fussy, he shares his mother's sense of snobbish propriety. The miners' children pick on him and adults condemn him as no' right. But Shuggie believes that if he tries his hardest, he can be normal like the other boys and help his mother escape this hopeless place. Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride. A counterpart to the privileged Thatcher-era London of Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty, it also recalls the work of Édouard Louis, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, it is a blistering debut by a brilliant novelist with a powerful and important story to tell. PRAISE FOR SHUGGIE BAIN 'A debut novel that reads like a masterpiece, Shuggie Bain gives voice to the kind of helpless, hopeless love that children can feel toward broken parents.' - Washington Post 'The way Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting carved a permanent place in our heads and hearts for the junkies of late-1980s Edinburgh, the language, imagery, and story of fashion designer Stuart's debut novel apotheosizes the life of the Bain family of Glasgow . . . The emotional truth embodied here will crack you open. You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece.' - Kirkus Review (starred review) 'It's a formidable story, lyrically told, about intimacy, family, and love.' - Elle 'Magnificent . . . Its richly rendered events will give you a lot to talk about.' - O, the Oprah Magazine 'A boy's heartbreaking love for his mother . . . as intense and excruciating to read as any novel I have ever held in my hand . . . The book's evocative power arises out of the author's talent for conjuring a place, a time, and the texture of emotion . . . brilliantly written.' - Newsday 'Beautiful and bleak but with enough warmth and optimism to carry the reader through.' Graham Norton (via Twitter) 'Not only does [Stuart] clearly know his characters, he clearly loves them . . . Stuart describes their life with compassion and a keen ear for language . . . Such is Stuart's talent that this painful, sometimes excruciating story is often quite beautiful.' - San Francisco Chronicle 'Every now and then a novel comes along that feels necessary and inevitable. I'll never forget Shuggie and Agnes or the incredibly detailed Glasgow they inhabit. This is the rare contemporary novel that reads like an instant classic. I'll be thinking and talking about Shuggie Bain-and teaching it-for quite some time.' Garrard Conley, author of Boy Erased
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About the author
Douglas Stuart
Author
Douglas Stuart may refer to:Douglas Stuart (rower) (1885–1969), British rower R. Douglas Stuart (1886–1975), United States Ambassador to Canada (1953–1956) R. Douglas Stuart Jr. (1916–2014), founder of the America First Committee, CEO of Quaker Oats, and United States Ambassador to Norway (1984–1989) Douglas Stuart, 20th Earl of Moray (1928–2011), British peer Douglas G. Stuart (1931–2019), professor of physiology at the University of Arizona Douglas Stuart, professor of the Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Douglas Stuart (writer), Scottish-American writer
Shuggie Bain
by Douglas Stuart
Books Like Shuggie Bain
If you're looking for books similar to Shuggie Bain, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Girl, Woman, Other
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A novel exploring the interconnected lives of twelve characters, primarily Black British women, examining identity, race, and social challenges. The book offers a nuanced look at personal struggles and societal expectations. Like Shuggie Bain, it provides a compassionate portrayal of marginalized experiences. The novel's rich character studies reveal the complexity of human experience.
The Nickel Boys
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A powerful novel based on the true story of a brutal reform school in Florida, exploring racism and institutional violence. The book provides a devastating look at systemic oppression and personal resilience. Its emotional depth and exploration of survival mirror the themes in Shuggie Bain. The novel offers a compelling narrative about overcoming adversity.
A Little Life
Hanya Yanagihara
A deeply emotional novel following four college friends through decades of their lives, focusing on trauma, friendship, and survival. The book explores profound themes of pain, resilience, and human connection. Its intense character study and exploration of personal struggle mirror the emotional depth of Shuggie Bain. The novel delves into complex family dynamics and the long-lasting impact of childhood experiences.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
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A lyrical novel exploring family trauma, immigration, and personal identity through a young man's letter to his illiterate mother. The book delves into complex family dynamics and the lasting impact of generational pain. Its poetic prose and emotional depth resonate with the themes in Shuggie Bain. The novel examines love, survival, and the struggle for understanding.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Junot Díaz
A novel exploring family history, cultural identity, and personal struggle through the story of a Dominican-American family. The book provides a rich narrative about generational trauma and individual resilience. Its complex character development echoes the emotional depth of Shuggie Bain. The novel examines the lasting impact of family and cultural experiences.
A Fine Balance
Rohinton Mistry
A novel set in India during a time of political turmoil, exploring the lives of four characters from different social backgrounds. The book provides a rich narrative about survival, friendship, and social challenges. Like Shuggie Bain, it offers a compassionate look at personal struggle. The novel captures the complexity of human experience in difficult circumstances.
Angela's Ashes
Frank McCourt
A memoir of growing up in extreme poverty in Ireland, chronicling a young boy's struggle with family hardship and alcoholism. The book explores themes of survival, resilience, and familial love in the face of devastating economic circumstances. McCourt's raw and honest narrative captures the painful reality of childhood in a dysfunctional family. Like Shuggie Bain, it offers a poignant look at a child's experience with parental addiction and poverty.
The Heart's Invisible Furies
John Boyne
A sweeping novel following an Irish man's life through decades of social change, exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and belonging. The book offers a compassionate look at personal struggle and societal constraints. Like Shuggie Bain, it provides a deeply emotional narrative about individual resilience. The novel captures the complexity of family relationships and personal growth.
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a young man's journey through loss, art, and personal transformation. The book explores themes of survival, identity, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Its deep character development and emotional complexity mirror the narrative style of Shuggie Bain. The novel provides a compelling exploration of personal resilience.
Milkman
Anna Burns
A novel set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, exploring personal identity and social pressure. The book provides a unique narrative about surviving in a challenging social environment. Like Shuggie Bain, it offers a nuanced look at personal struggle and societal constraints. The novel captures the complexity of individual experience.
The House of Broken Angels
Luis Alberto Urrea
A novel exploring family dynamics, immigration, and personal identity through a Mexican-American family's story. The book provides a rich narrative about generational experiences and personal resilience. Its emotional depth and complex character development echo the themes in Shuggie Bain. The novel offers a compassionate look at family and survival.
Trainspotting
Irvine Welsh
A gritty novel about heroin addiction in working-class Edinburgh, exploring the harsh realities of poverty and substance abuse. The book provides a raw, unfiltered look at marginalized communities and personal struggle. Its unflinching portrayal of addiction and social challenges echoes the themes in Shuggie Bain. The novel captures the desperation and resilience of individuals trapped in difficult circumstances.
Normal People
Sally Rooney
A novel exploring the complex relationship between two young people from different social backgrounds in Ireland. The book delves into themes of class, identity, and personal connection. Like Shuggie Bain, it offers a nuanced look at social dynamics and personal struggle. The novel captures the emotional complexity of human relationships.
The Line of Beauty
Alan Hollinghurst
Set in 1980s London, the novel explores social class, sexuality, and political change through the eyes of a young gay man. The book provides a nuanced look at British society during the Thatcher era, similar to the social landscape in Shuggie Bain. It examines personal identity, social constraints, and the struggle for acceptance. The novel's rich character development and social commentary create a compelling narrative.
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