Trainspotting

Rating:
Summary: Stunning and unforgettable
Review: Welsh's voice is unique, and some have said that getting through the dialect requires a "near-Olympian" effort. Not so; certainly the glossary which appars in the US version (I read the British one) will help those with no background in Scottish slang. Trainspotting is sharp, funny, horrific and insightful - altogether unforgettable. Don't miss Welsh's other collection of short stories, "The Acid House".

Rating:
Summary: Surreal
Review: So I cheated. I haven't read the book, but I saw the movie, and if that is any indication, this is a book in the spirit of A Clockwork Orange and other drug-induced classics. I highly recommend both the book and the movie to anyone at all interested in the obsessions of drug addicts and their culture

Rating:
Summary: Differnt, brillant and makes you think, with humor.
Review: This book invaded Britian like Pulp Fiction did America, and anyoe reading it can easily figure out why. This group of quick short storys that connect and relate to each other will make you laugh out loud at its daringly digusting humor, and also gets quiet sad at points. In an unknown worl of junkies and rude boys, the reader will get to know the charaters, and hate them, or love them. What makes this book so differnt from everyother failed book on the same subject? Its divided into short storys, with the view changing from one person, to another, and then narator. Everyone who read it agrees that its a well done peice of work from a great new author, and I will certainly look in to other writings of Irvine Welsh, but they have a lot to live up to.

Rating:
Summary: Funny and frightening
Review: I came to this novel after seeing the film. I read it, enjoyed it, and didn't think much else of it. I reread the novel in an English Lit class wherein we dissected the use of dialect, the choice to not have a central character, and the somewhat unredemptive closing. Trainspotting's tough going for the first few pages, but once you're accustomed to the varying dialects represented, you'll find yourselves entertained and shocked by the stories within. This novel is gritty and uncompromising in its representation of contemporary, Scottish, working-class youth, so if you're unfamiliar with the subject, or with Welsh's other works, take warning.

Rating:
Summary: Entertainment Plus...one Mad Cool Book
Review:
This is simply one of the best written, laid out, and especially entertaining books I've ever read. "Trainspotting" is basically one of the only books that I've ever read that had the ability to actually capture the characters, which is I think, the most important part of the story.

The best thing about "Trainspotting" is that it allows you, the reader, to see everything not only from Renton's eyes (as it was in the movie) but also all the other characters. And it's this that gives you that insight into how all the other characters actually think.

Then to top it off, Irvin Welsh,(the writer) went ahead and wrote most of it as if they were actually talking to you. So, when all these scottish people are talking to you they don't say, "I drank down twenty beers and got drunk," they say, "Ah drank doon tweinty bevvs and got bevvied." It's a writing style that I haven't seen very many other times, and was greatly impressed/entertained with it.

Other than the incredible writing, it's an overall cool story. The best part, is that it's not confined to one set plot. When hearing 'Trainspotting' you probably just thought about heroin. In truth, the book also has a whole lot about drinking in bars, getting along with 'yer mates' and just living. It's just a story about a bunch of guys, their problems, their needles, their beers and how they manage to get away with most of it.
Yeah, so this book is definitly worth reading. It's now in my top ten list, but try it for yourself! Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- completely unrelated to Welsh, but very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "The Losers' Club" by Richard Perez, also an exceptional, highly entertaining little novel I can't stop thinking about.

Rating:
Summary: What is the big deal?
Review: I have never understood the big to do this film has caused. It is absolutely awful. I rented the Video with high expectations only to turn it off half way through. It reeks.

Rating:
Summary: Phonetic spelling
Review: Trainspotting was my first Irvine Welsh novel. Trainspotting is about scottish junkies who try so hard to keep themselves entertained. They keep themselves entertained with violence, drugs, sex and music. Mark Renton is the meain character. Renton goes in and out of his drug abuse. While "in" his drug abuse stage he hallucinates himself in a nightmare. While "out" he tries to find a job, a relationship and most importantly the meaning of life.
Trainspotting has very unique characters. Every character in Trainspotting has his/her own strong importance in the novel. Mark Renton sticks close to his friends through his journey in finding the meaning of life. Reading in phonetic spelling wasn't quite easy. Irvine Welsh took the choice and enhancing the reading with real scottish talk. Having phonetic spelling in the novel made me feel like I was more involved with the book.
The actions used in this novel keeps you interested and catches you off guard. Having characters like Begbie reminds you of the alchoholic people that are out there. Begbie's always starting unecessary fights with people that have done him no harm. Sick Boy is the nicer version of Mark Renton, with a little [...] side. Irvine Welsh has a unique way of describing the important scenes.
Irvine describes such situations with in depth detail of body parts, song lyrics, dialog combinding and the flavor of objects. I recommend this book to people who want to read any of Irvine Welsh's books. You HAVE to go through Trainspotting to get to Glue, Filth or Ecstasy because of the phonetic spelling. (only if you're new at it) I recommend it to the people out there that are looking for a new way of reading and like hearing about the foreign, lowlife, sexually frustrated way of living.

Rating:
Summary: don't mess your keks: its just heroin
Review: The fact that this is Irvine Welsh's first novel is completely amazing by itself. The fact that this book is well-written, interesting, and original only serves to augment the fact that Welsh is a talented writer. A lot of writers' first novels aren't so great, which is certainly not the case with Trainspotting. It gives an interesting story while making commentary on drugs and sex and friendship, something that most people can relate to. Welsh has created an interesting story that people will enjoy and relate to for a long time. And if you can't let the characters go, there's a sequel: Porno (of which I read about half. I didn't stop reading because of boredom and will definetly finish soon). Trainspotting is original, refreshing, and thoughtful and despite its gritty exterior, it definetly has more to say and offer besides just sex, drugs, and rock n roll.

Rating:
Summary: Totally brilliant
Review: After getting used to the admittedly difficult language (it's written entirely in dialect), I was totally engaged by Welsh's story. This book is a brutally honest look at Scottish junkie subculture and although it isn't pretty, it's one of the funniest books I've ever read. "Laugh out loud" funny, like I think Brett Easton Ellis tries to be but doesn't quite get there. At first I wanted to throw it against the wall because the language was so difficult, but once you get used to their cadence and slang you realize that the book couldn't have been written any other way. Also, although I'm a huge Danny Boyle fan, I'd say in this case skip the movie, 'cause it doesn't even come close! Easily one of the best books of the late twentieth century.