I would reccommend Slumboy If you’ve read Young Mungo or Shuggie Bain. It’s completely heartbreaking to hear first-hand about so much suffering and neglect that one person has to go through since the early years of their life. It’s tragic to hear how alcohol and the failings of adult social services and care could rip right through a family. It’s also really insightful to read how different things were just a few years ago, not only for anyone in the lgbt community but those in lower income areas or facing homelessness. There are also wonderful elements to this story, the resilience of a young man facing into the exploitation of his sexuality and the true love that adoptive parents can offer to a child in need. Some characters show that the littlest things can have such a lasting positive impact, such as some of the support staff who looked out for Juano in the care system, it really puts things into perspective. Naturally the subject matter is harrowing at times but it isn’t a tough read, it’s written so well that you can picture the scenes and resonate with the feelings that have been described. Despite it being so shocking at times, the book is so captivating I read it in one day. Would highly recommend
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A harrowing, but very well written account of a boy's life in difficult circumstances, where alcohol is the bane of so many lives. The fact that he strove to overcome the issues presented by his mother, and found solace with love and loyalty from adoptive parents, shows that true care and love can ameliorate, though not extinguish, the effect of a difficult start in life. Not an easy read, but well worth the time.
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Am very sad the book ended. Amazing story and so beautifully written. A true inspiration. I read a lot! And this is a book I will be recommending ⭐️
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This is a moving account of a young boys experiences growing up in the slums of Glasgow, living with an alcoholic mother with her own difficulties, and being thrown into the care system before being adopted, and then reconnecting with his birth family. Tragedy and hope, sorrow and loss combine with a determination to do better,to be better than his past. A riveting read.
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My mother was born in Glasgow in 1920 and life was extremely hard for her family. Poverty and violence seemed to be the norm at those sad times. This story is heart breaking. One thing that does come through though is his love for his mother and the dreadful circumstances she found herself in.
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Heartwarming story.
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This memoir, written like a novel, is genuinely one of the most emotional books I've ever read; it actually broke me at times and I found myself crying out loud. However it ultimately left me feeling inspired and in awe of the author Juano Diaz. That a child (now man) can survive a life of such abuse and recurring tragedies, be driven to find the mother that abandoned him (with love not hate), and go on to build a fruitful and full life is genuinely inspiring. I hate using the word 'journey' but this book took me on exactly that. A wonderful read, and Juano's story will stay with me for some time to come.
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I ordered this book after seeing an amazing review in the Guardian. John-Juano writes this story with so much creative love. It is a difficult read and has a lot of harrowing depictions of both poverty and neglect as the young boy is taken from his mother and put into care. However, this is balanced out by the wonderful vignettes we see when he is adopted. As the story unfolds and we grow with the young man, you can see how the author is trying to process early traumas and I found this really well written and observed. It is a brilliant read and gives a beautiful insight into the family, and the search for identity. will be recommending this book to everyone.
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