Shuggie Bain, the title character in Douglas Stuart’s debut novel, is a poor boy growing up in Glasgow, Scotland in the 1980s and early 1990s, with his alcoholic mother, Agnes, and his older brother, Leek. Shuggie adores his mother and dedicates himself to protecting her, as best he can, from herself. Shuggie has another problem – he’s gay at a time and in a place where it is socially acceptable to victimize gay boys. Leek, the older brother, tries to look out for Shuggie and Agnes, but eventually leaves home to escape the daily tragedy that is Agnes when she drinks.
The point of view mostly alternates between Shuggie and Agnes, but sometimes we get into the heads of other characters. Supporting characters are portrayed with depth and include Shuggie’s self-centered father, Shug, who abandons the family, men Agnes date, and rough characters in the poor neighborhoods where Agnes and Shuggie live.
The book’s profound strengths include the character portrayals general, and the portrayal of Agnes’s alcoholism specifically, and vivid descriptions of life in Glasgow. The prose is excellent. Although the book is a novel, it is perhaps in part biographical, as the acknowledgement begins “Above all, I owe everything to the memories of my mother and her struggle, and to my brother who gave me everything he could. I am indebted to my sister for encouraging me to set this into words and present it to you.”
This best-selling book won the Booker Prize in 2020. Kirkus Reviews calls it a masterpiece, saying “You will never forget Shuggie Bain.” I certainly won’t. Here’s the full review:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/douglas-stuart/shuggie-bain/
