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Young Mungo

By: Douglas Stuart
Narrated by: Chris Reilly
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of The British Book Awards Fiction Audiobook of the Year
A Dua Lipa's Service95 Bookclub selection


'A touching, tender tale of boy meets boy in the bleak tenements of Glasgow . . . Superb' – The Times

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.

'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

©2022 Douglas Stuart (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

What listeners say about Young Mungo

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Heartbreaking

I loved this book. I feel like I don't have the words to explain how the story of this beautiful boys life made me feel. A must read!!

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One of the best books of my life

Shivers down my spine. Exceptionally well written. The audio book was well performed. We need more diverse books like this

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I can’t stop thinking about this book.

This book… Gently guides you into falling in love with the soft spoken kind hearted mungo and then makes you hurt for it. Beautifully written masterful with its expression of the impoverished family unit and ultimately one of the best books I’ve ever read (listened too). With all that said extreme tw for things like sa, violence and neglect.

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Heart wrenching

A story of abuse (both sexual and mental), violence and an impossible love that seems to survive.
Beautifully read in that fantastic Glaswegian accent I grew up with in Australia. Listen to this. It is beautifully written and read.

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Wow!

Heartbreak, sadness, grief, so beautifully written. Had to keep listening. What a haunting and powerful story.

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Exceptional

Unputdownable! The characters were strongly portrayed, the storyline tight and engrossing and the orator was superb. Thank you !

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Long but deep.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I loved the readers accent. It’s a hauntingly sad story with a hopeful ending.

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Starts slow but becomes captivating.

Starts slow but builds. I could not stop listening. Wow. I felt like I was there.

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No words

I pause as I think what to write, it’s hard, so much to connect with as a gay man - although not raised in same conditions… I believe every gay man identifies with being made to feel shame for being themselves, when all one wants is to be seen and validated. I really hope there was never a Mungo.

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Highly recommended

Felt deeply engaged with the story of Mungo from the first chapter and wanted to hear his story while at the same time willing nothing bad to happen to him. It’s gritty but beautifully written with superb Scottish narration.

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