Shuggie Bain
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Shuggie Bain
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Narrated by:
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Angus King
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By:
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Douglas Stuart
About this listen
WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE
WINNER OF 'BOOK OF THE YEAR' AND 'DEBUT OF THE YEAR' AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS
THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER
'An amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love.' – The judges of the Booker Prize
'Douglas Stuart has written a first novel of rare and lasting beauty.' – The Observer
'Shuggie Bain means so much to me. It is such a powerfully written story . . . I love a heartbreak book but there is so much love within this one, particularly between Shuggie and his mother Agnes.' – Dua Lipa
It is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life, dreaming of greater things. But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and 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, he is clearly 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.
Shuggie Bain lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride. For readers of A Little Life and Angela's Ashes, it is a heartbreaking novel by a brilliant writer with a powerful and important story to tell.
'A heartbreaking novel' – The Times
'Tender and unsentimental . . . The Billy Elliot-ish character of Shuggie . . . leaps off the page.' – Daily Mail
What listeners say about Shuggie Bain
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ferne Burns
- 13-02-2021
Outstanding in all areas
A moving and sad journey of a family & hardship.
This book took my breathe away with its extraordinary detail.
Hard to listen to at times, due to the themes but brilliantly told like no other book I’ve read before or listened too. The best narrator I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening too, and one of the best books I’ve ever read. Thank you!
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cheryle h.
- 31-12-2020
Brilliant! I'll miss this book like an old friend
My book of 2020. I fell in love with Shuggie Bain and Agnes. I could see them and feel their pain and joy.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rachael r
- 04-04-2021
Stunning
Thoughtfully written and sensitive account of the most challenging childhood. Stunning and engaging narration. I could not stop listening.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 04-12-2020
A virtuoso performance from author and narrator
This book would be special to read but to listen to it read with the perfect Glaswegian voice was so much better.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Jamie
- 31-08-2021
A child’s unconditional love
A extraordinary, brilliant and beautiful exploration of unconditional and painful love. A remarkable perspective from the children of a parent who abuses alcohol to ease their own internal struggles and external disturbances. A true insight into the life of children who love their parents, even when their parents cannot return that love.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- krispyp
- 15-12-2020
Heartbreaking Tale
Ths was such a graphic story of hardship and pain, but a great performance and couldn't put it down. Rest in peace Agnes.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sam Eltringham
- 19-09-2021
Loved it!
It's not easy for me to find audiobooks that hold my attention. This was a great story full of misery & joy depicting Glasgow wonderfully
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-10-2021
Absolutely fantastic!
Once i had begun listening to this book, i was unable to stop. Being a Scot, i loved the slang and Scot's words used, however if you aren't familiar with the colloquialisms you would still understand the sentiment in which it is delivered. The story paints a believable picture of Glasgow's schemes in the 80's into 90's.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Angela Grimes
- 06-10-2022
Loved it
I read this book and then listened to the audio a few years later and loved the audio much better. The Scottish accent made the book more understanding and real. The reader made me feel like I was watching the movie. I could imagine that this life that Shuggie lived wasn't far from the truth of a lot of children growing up with a parent addicted to alcohol.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-11-2022
Hooked on the childhood hope of Shuggie
Told mostly through the hopeful eyes of the youngest child, this story follows how three generations of one family crumble away from the unstable foundation of an alcoholic and too proud mother. Bleak from beginning to end, the ups and downs nevertheless had me hooked, like Shuggie, on the hope of a better future for him and his Mum. I found it an insightful and realistic take on the complexities of childhood innocence and unwavering love in the face of alcoholism. Fantastic narrator.
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