John of John Douglas Stuart

[PartyQuestion30th]

Anyone reading John of John yet? I'm about a third of the way through and absolutely loving it - I'm trying to savour it and not romp through it. The descriptions of colours are amazing and there's a real warmth to it as a story.

Haven't read anything else by this author though I'd heard of Shuggie Bain but hadn't thought I'd like it. I think I was probably wrong....

I haven't started it yet but my husband bought me a signed copy - I'm looking forward to starting it :-)

I was serialised on radio 4 last week, you can catch it on sounds. I've downloaded to lister later, but haven't read the book yet.

I enjoyed it. He recreates the tensions of living in such a small community really well. Shuggie Bain is excellent and is closely based on his own childhood experiences of growing up gay in 80s Glasgow . Young Mungo is imo excessively bleak. Unrelieved violence and gloom. He’s a very talented writer though.

I'm listening to it and probably a third of the way through. Really enjoyed his other books, bleak as they are, and this one is equally well written.

I think I'll give Young Mungo a miss - I don't need unrelieved violence and gloom...not matter how well written!