Shuggie Bain - a review

Miriam Lein

02 Oct 2025 — 1 min read

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Oddly, I set aside a book I had started that felt too dark and then somehow managed to read two other fairly dark books. This is the second of those. While it is definitely dark, it is also one of the most engaging books I have ever picked up. The book tells the everyday life of a family struggling through alcohol use disorder, focusing most closely on the mother as she travels in and out of sobriety and her youngest son who is the last one left by her side. The story is deeply traumatic, yet also exceptionally ordinary. The book’s beauty lies in the author’s ability to tell the story with poignant detailed observation, yet no judgment.

Author: Douglas Stuart

Published: 2020

Awards: The 2020 Booker Prize

Other books by author: Young Mungo 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: 1980s - 1990s Scotland

Themes: Alcohol Use Disorder; Poverty; Relationships; LGBTQIA+

How I found this book: NPR recommendation by Neda Ulaby

My recommendation: High - add to your list now

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