The story involves a young boy called Mungo who finds himself entangled in a homosexual relationship perceived as unethical in his community. Mungo’s family is dysfunctional and her mother has turned to alcohol to escape responsibility. To add insult to injury, the young boy finds himself falling in love with a Catholic boy amidst religious conflict. Mungo is a Protestant and his lover, James, is a Catholic. Religion plays a big role within their community and they must conceal their true sexual identities. James rears pigeons and has built a dovecote to house them.
Mungo’s elder brother, Hamish, is a local gang leader and has impregnated a teenage girl. The situation lays bare the consequences of dysfunctional families. Maternal absence and neglect of children can lead to bad behavior. Parents should take care of their children and monitor their behavior lest they become criminals. Due to peer pressure, Hamish finds himself in a group of gangs. Hamish also wants to recruit Mungo to join the group. The author explores the unfathomable hatred between religions and uses the character of Mungo to demonstrate the significance of tolerating ideologies.
Romantic love always finds a way of creeping in, especially when certain conflicts divide people. Mungo is a Protestant but finds love in a person who is a Catholic. The religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics does not prevent the two boys from falling in love. However, the cost of falling in love in such situations may be unbearable. The book evokes emotions and makes readers sympathize with characters who are subjected to violence due to their sexualities.
