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Young Mungo
- Narrated by: Chris Reilly
- Length: 13 hrs and 41 mins
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Summary
Winner of The British Book Awards Fiction Audiobook of the Year. Read by Chris Reilly, a BAFTA Scotland award-winning actor and native Glaswegian, his 'beautiful narration' was praised by the BBA judges for bringing 'the written dialect to life'.
The extraordinary, powerful second novel from the Booker prizewinning author of Shuggie Bain, Young Mungo is both a vivid portrayal of working-class life and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men: Mungo and James.
Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgow’s housing estates where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation. They should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all, and yet they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the doocot that James has built for his prize racing pigeons. As they begin to fall in love, they dream of escaping the grey city, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his elder brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold.
But the threat of discovery is constant and the punishment unspeakable. When Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland, with two strange men behind whose drunken banter lie murky pasts, he needs to summon all his inner strength and courage to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future.
Imbuing the everyday world of its characters with rich lyricism, Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.
Critic reviews
'Prepare your hearts, for Douglas Stuart is back. After the extraordinary success of Shuggie Bain, his second novel, Young Mungo, is another beautiful and moving book, a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the brutal world of Glasgow’s housing estates' - Observer
'A touching, tender tale of boy meets boy in the bleak tenements of Glasgow . . . Superb' – The Times ‘Best Summer Reading’
'Reilly’s narration, especially when he’s voicing the people in Mungo’s life who hurt him, is full of barely repressed violence. But Reilly also captures Mungo’s wonder, love, and irrepressible softness' - Audiofile magazine
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sally
- 22-06-22
Brilliant
Loved it and could not stop reading. The imagery is just fantastic. Highly recommend!
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- T. D. Johnston
- 23-06-22
brutal and beautiful
Anyone growing up queer in a time less accepting will find something to identify with this story. it's honest and hard, and yet tender.
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- John Telfer
- 06-05-22
one of the best books I have ever listened to
I could not stop listening to it. Wee Mungo is such an interesting character who at times will make your heart break
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-05-22
stunning
I loved Shuggie. My heart broke for Mungo. An achingly beautiful portrait of poverty and bigotry as Mungo struggles to find his place in the world.
Brilliant and deserves every accolade it will surely get.
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- MrsD
- 02-07-22
Incredible work
So beautifully written - completely immersed in the story by the descriptive language. Not many of the characters generate sympathy, but I have absolutely loved listening to this. Perhaps even better than Shuggie Bain? Narrator was a perfect choice for this too.
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- B25369
- 12-04-23
enthralling
excellently performed, graphically true to real life Glasgow. I would highly recommend this one.
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- hilary
- 25-03-23
Superb
Heartbreaking, devastating, but superb. Amazing imagery, beautifully written. Loved Shuggie Bain even more. Absolutely fabulous!
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- mrs nicols
- 09-05-23
Hooked
The story had me going through so many emotions. I hoped for a happy ending.
Fantastic
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- cfuk
- 26-01-23
Brilliant
Excellent book, brilliantly read can’t wait for the next one. Gripping, sad all the emotions
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- Dog Walker Sussex
- 17-01-23
Just as gripping as Shuggie Bain
What a wonderful book. I loved both the way it was written and the superb narration. Yes it's a gritty story but highly believable in it's setting.
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