I think if this had been a bit more tight it might have been a 5 star book for me. I’ve seen it compared to A Little Life, and I can understand that comparison somewhat, but only so far as tone and quality of prose.

Where A Little Life stresses and frays emotions to give them a heightened quality, this book usually tends to be less specific, making it more hyper realistic in its depiction of poverty, alcoholism, and patriarchy.

Shrugged Bain excels at making each plot beat feel like a recalled biography moment and it relentless dogged the coming-of-age of a young sweet boy with moments that would surely cripple most people.

The structure of the book works pretty well, but does feel a bit weird sometimes. Meandering rather than purposeful, and has a strange relationship with time. It bugged me at first but as I got more into it I didn’t mind.

I’m not sure there’s anything you’d be surprised about once you are clued into time and place and troubles of the city and characters, but it’s well done for what it is.