Trainspotting

Avant-garde

The only book to compare this one to is 'A Clockwork Orange.' Even Burgess' masterful novel can't compare to this strange, horrifying, visceral, funny, and entertaining knock out. The characters are lowlifes and, at the same time, sympathetic. The stories, at first glance, don't look like they flow together, but when Welsh drags you deeper into his depressing, bleak, gallows humour infested world, you feel its correllation. It seems as if Irvine is a fly on the wall, able to analyze (and sometimes divulge) into the darkness of living. At times, this book has the same feel of Celine's 'Journey to the End of the Night' with its raging, maniacal prose, in sections, anyways. Other times it felt like a gothic novel set amidst an industrial wasteland full of sociopaths, heroin addicts, and all around scum bags. Think Wuthering Heights if it were written by Hubert Selby Jr, set in modern day Edinburgh. Violence is always up in the air, ready to explode at any minute. It's impossible to set this three hundred page wallop down, despite the fact that you really want to - the uncomfortable truths this aesthetically driven masterpiece exposes is unbelievably disgusting to dissect, but the author pulls you in and doesn't let go. This assemblage is a nightmare, content wise there are so many sequences that make you cringe, and if you don't cringe, you're just a sick person, period. Sure, many people have pointed out how funny the novel is. Granted, while it is laugh out loud hilarious, it's still terrifying. This is an admirable feat. Welsh has managed to dig so incredibly deep into the foggy netherworld of the Scottish proleteriat, tearing down a verdigris moss covered wall to discover the restlessly vicious honesty on the other side and, at the same time, still gaze at it through a comedian's lens. This makes aspiring authors (such as me) hate him with an envy. Each story he manages to end with a sting. He zaps the reader with rhythem. The famed phonetic scottish dialect is admirable. Welsh knows how difficult it is to read, and through the consistent challenge of understanding this prose, the writer makes sure he pummels you with discomforting altruisms on nearly every page. In a transgressional novel written in plain english, it's easy to skip whatever line you want. If you don't want to read something, you don't have to. With this book, you have to. The honesty is what impressed me most about 'Trainspotting.' Having read thousands of novels, I've never ran across a text that was so originally inventive with getting across incompassionate personalities. The (second) funeral scene for Tommy was my favorite. There's an interior monologue for each character attending, and it's simply astounding it reminds you of how low the human race can go in terms of being unsympathetic and inhumane. While many would argue that Welsh is by no means a moralist (and I'm not inclined to intensely disagree with this supposition) I think that there is a speck of allegory dotting this map of anarchic nihilism. It only exists tonally, however. It's not spoonfed to you in the last couple of pages, a technique that famed author Palahniuk executes in most of his novels. Upon finishing Trainspotting, I felt like three years had been taken off of my life. It was a draining, satisfying experience. You can't really describe the reading of this novel to anyone who hasn't done it the entire thing is a rollar coaster ride.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A thrill ride

This was quite the thrill ride. There was nonstop action right after the escape from the pet store. Also felt very cinematic. Any plans to turn this into a movie?

Cultish

Consistently interesting, if at times confusing.

Xcellent Read

one of the best books i have ever read. if u like the movie, u will love the book. a dictionary is included, but u gotta get the rest of the lingo down though that isn't in it, which isn't that hard to do. just brilliant.

A Must Read, Even If You Saw The Movie!!!

Once I read this book, that was it!! I was a fan of Welsh's forever. This book goes deeper than detailed in the movie of the life of the charaters and tells how rotten, skaggy, and different they really are. Drugs are a big chunk of it, but deeply opens up what really happens to people while on them & not. Told in a true Scotish way, which will take a while at first, but once you've gotten the hang of it, the read is very, very, very well worth it.

Brit's n all

Seedy British life told as it is. A classic and an even better experience than the lauded film

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Loved it

The this only the second book I've read by Irvine Welsh and now I am convinced I will have to read all of them. Even if you don't care about the losers in his books, the trip inside their world is so fascinating, compelling and hard to turn away from that you will return again and again to the world of Irvine Welsh. The writing is SO good that it astounds me. I've now gotten used to the 'burr' and although it slows the reader down, it's worth it and makes you savor the books even more. Why is this man not nominated for more awards. He deserves every literary award available.

Simply one of the best books I've ever read.

Trainspotting is probably the best book I have ever read.I love the movie and have watched it about 100 times.After watching the movie I wouldn't expect the book to be like it is.Unlike the movie the book isn't just about heroin.While reading the book I found it hard to believe that the movie was based on the same story.The movie leaves TONS of parts out of the story,but is still a great movie.The thing I enjoyed most about the book was that it let the reader see things from more than one character's point of view.Trainspotting is everything a book should be-it's funny,shocking,and beautifully written.Reading it has changed the way I look at life,I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone,especially people who love the movie.

Strict anti-typecasting

Trainspotting offers something to the reader that other books or film alike cannot. The reader feeds on the extremity of each of the characters, so distinguished and characterized. They are not played from type but are carved meticulously to provide the best script and entertainment witnessed in years. Trainspotting is different. Unlike similiar themes, it centres around the inner thoughts of a single character, 'Renton' highlighting the battle between morality (choosing life) and unconcious wasting (drugs). Choose Trainspotting.

OUTSTANDING!

I absolutley love the book. When I started, I couldn't stop. Its hard to get past the first chapter, but once you do, you understand whats going on and what the hell people are saying. But the thing about the language, is that you have to stop and think about what they are saying to is helps alot because you actually had to think about it.

Choose Life! Anyways

Steakhorny and dope and behind them the life! Rents was the only one who tried and somewhat went away with a bit of success. Lest, it was junk and rusting for those unsporting and heroin savvy guys. Doping over the death of babies, death of their trust, death of feelings. But only missing the death! I wish things were fiction and screenshow. But what Sick By, Spud and gang went through is a bitter pill to swallow.

RAW

I've never shot up heroin. I've never destroyed my life, abusing a substance,person,situation. But I've wanted a new life. I've wanted to believe in myself. I've tried to stop doing the unstoppable, felt life slipping away from me, and hence the lure of this novel. You don't need to have been there to be there. Right there. You feel for Renton, you root for Renton, as he takes it all in; the awful and the euphoria. The struggle to get it right. To change. To feel like even the most suburbial life could still be his. It's almost suffocatingly honest. I've heard the folks at the Cannes Film Festival gave the film version a 10-minute standing ovation. The novel makes you want to go home w/Renton in the end, and see where life ends up taking him. I still want to know how he's doing.

The Movie Was Better

One of the rare times in which the movie was better. The writing was convoluted and the colloquilisms were often difficult to follow. However, this is an important book. A voice and perspective as unique as the Slick Worthy character in Quentin Cain's fabulous 'Notes from the 'G' Spot.

equally as good as the movie

I really hate it when I see a movie that is really outstanding and then I find out that it was a book as well. I always end up reading the book because I enjoy the fullness of character that a movie just can't provide. After reading the book I found Mark Rentons character to be dynamic and real. I can't remember the last time I read a book where I knew the character so intemitly. The book also contains a subchapter entitled 'Bad Blood' that is out of place and fits perfectly at the same time; a would be outstanding short story. All in all I would invest time to at least the movie or the book, but they are both outstanding.

life in the eyes of a junky

This book is unlike any I've ever read. Welsh gives a refreshing perspective of drug use. He makes the reader fall in love with these junkies. The crude and abrupt humor makes this book difficult to put down. It gave me a new perspective on life. This book is an eye opener. It will introduce the reader to new ideas and ways of looking at events in life. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a fresh, slap in the face kind of experience.

Astonishing

Surely one of the top 5 novels of the 1990s. It's the compassion he creates that is so astonishing, in amongst all the filth and degradation and casual violence. If you're seriously into this book, you might want to check out Robert Morace's guide to it - a great, intelligent treatment by a real fan.

A classic story of Heroin, In Depth

This book is one that I would never get tired of reading. The wit and utter disgust that Renton can dish out is amazing! I would recomend this to anyone who likes reading books in a language that is unfamiliar to ours. Ivirine Welsh writes the best books you will ever find! Congrats!

Trainspotting

Easily one of the best books I have ever read. The use of various characters and first/third person for narration is excellent, and the story with all its thoughts is compelling. Don't let the Scottish slang discourage you; this one is a gem! Buy it.

Drugs,sex,violence,life..in the eyes of a heroin addict

After I saw the movie I had no choice but to read the book. It is an amazing book that is difficult to put down. I recommend it to anyone that can handle reading about reality that isn't made sweet.

This Train uses a spot of anarchy!

Using the form of 18th century bourgeoise, Irvine Welsh satirises the novel with a swipe at the ruling bloc. 'The curse of being right sided' oozes contempt for capitalism, and simultaneously evokes the same emotions as a Bronte classic! Danny Boyle does it justice in his 24 frames per second adaptation, bringing addiction into a new realm, a good reference to the techniques of Welsh is Lakoff's theories on metaphor, football is a good example of this!