Shuggie Bain

Beskrivelse

Set in 1981 Glasgow, Shuggie Bain follows a family struggling to survive in a town ravaged by decline. At its heart is young Shuggie, who clings to hope amid hardship and his mother’s battle with addiction.

A poignant exploration of poverty, love, and resilience in a fading industrial town.

Glasgow is in decay, and families like the Bains must find ways to get by. Agnes Bain has always dreamed of a better life-a home with its own front door and stability, much like her perfect but fake teeth. However, after her unfaithful husband leaves, Agnes and her three children are left trapped in a collapsing mining community.

As Agnes sinks deeper into alcoholism, her children struggle to support her. One by one, they are forced to leave to protect themselves. But Shuggie, her son, holds on the longest. Sensitive and particular, he shares his mother’s sense of dignity, even as he faces bullying and judgment from others.

Shuggie believes that by trying his hardest, he can fit in and help his mother break free from their bleak surroundings. Douglas Stuart’s debut novel exposes the harsh realities of poverty, the boundaries of love, and the emptiness of pride.

This powerful story, reminiscent of works by Edouard Louis, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, offers a stark contrast to the privileged world of Thatcher-era London depicted in Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty. Shuggie Bain is a compelling and unforgettable debut from a remarkable new voice in literature.

Yderligere information