Glue by Irvine Welsh Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Glue
Book Review: A barry read
Summary: 5 Stars
If you understand the above, you've probably already read some of Welsh's work, or are familiar with the Edinburgh dialect. In which case, you will be in a good position to enjoy this stunning book. Otherwise, I'd imagine you will find the dialect really hard going.That aside, this characters and situations in this book are real. Very real. As an ex-Pat Scot who grew up in a scheme it was often an unsettling book to read. The ficticious characters in Glue could easily be interchanged with real characters I knew in my youth.
Read this book!
Book Review: All Welsh is good
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a very good read, especially for Irvine Welsh fans. Story line is well constructed. There are maybe some excess fillings but they all contribute to make the novel richer and the characters more lively.Book Review: Animal Cruelty Unacceptable
Summary: 1 Stars
I've read all of Welsh's previous works, and loved or at least strongly liked all of them, but Glue is crossing the line for me. The detailed animal cruelty did not add to the story, and after reading the part about the boy "shagging" all the girls, I feel that his objectification of women in combination with animal cruelty to be more than I could swallow. I stopped reading the book. It was too disgusting. I think Welsh has crossed the line of good taste, and is now aimlessly shocking readers.Book Review: Better than Trainspotting
Summary: 5 Stars
Yeah, I know saying that this is better than Trainspotting sets me up for ridicule, but it has to be said. Unlike Trainspotting, Glue has four fully fleshed out characters. Sure, trainspotting had four main characters, but Spud, Sickboy and Begbie were fairly one dimensional, especially in comparison to the four main characters of Glue. Glue has four well developed characters, and although their actions at times will drive you mad, you can't help but like them. At least, I couldn't. At its heart, this book is about friendship, above all else and that's where most of the pleasure of reading it comes from. Four kids become friends at the beginning of their life due largely to circumstance, but one's father teaches them the most important rule in life, always back up your mates. It is this theme that carries the book, no matter what they endure and even when they aren't the closest of friends, they're always there for each other when they're needed. The book uses time effectively, using it to show the ways people and friendships can and will change over time, which is another thing that Trainspotting lacked. Its conclusion is more satisfying, and ultimately I found its story more entertaining as a whole than Trainspotting.That said, there is a complaint that this book has drawn on the board that needs to be addressed: the dialect. Yes, nearly all of this book is written in a heavy heavy Scottish dialect. It's used extremely well though. It is only used when the reader is actually inside a characters mind, listening in on his thoughts (which admittedly, is nearly the entire book). This makes sense though, after all, one likely thinks the same way he talks. The characters talk with an accent, odds are they think in an accent too. The accent also gives a unique identification with the characters as well, lending each one a distintive voice. Not to mention, it would be rather unrealistic if a group of teens from the working class of Edinburgh spoke in perfect American English. And if readers could slug through "Clockwork Orange" where the slang isn't even real, it really isn't too difficult to figure out that "nae" means "no" and that "bairns" means "kids." You may want to read Trainspotting first, since most copies of that come with a glossary, which is helpful, although a bit incomplete. You'll also notice characters from Trainspotting make cameos in Glue.
Book Review: Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
Many might feel with this effort that Welsh is merely rehashing Trainspotting...in fact all of the major characters from that story make a brief appearance in Glue. Nevertheless, though Welsh's familiar themes of drug abuse, sex and delinquency abound, Glue is a story about people. The book details the life of four close friends growing up in Scotland from the 1970s into the new millenium...through troubles and joys. It is a fun read told with Welsh's unrestrained yet stylish flair. The human element is very strong here...we see the four friends in every light; what brings them together, what drives them apart and ultimately the tragedy that they must all overcome. It is a sad and beautiful story, yet more upbeat than some of Welsh's previous works. Personally, I think it is his finest. If you enjoyed Welsh's other efforts, definitely pick this one up today. It is worth every page.