Glue by Irvine Welsh Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Glue
Book Review: Welsh gets serious
Summary: 4 Stars
Although "Glue" contains lots of the sex, drugs, and violence that can be found in other Irvine Welsh books like "Filth" and "Trainspotting," it also finds Welsh seemingly trying to inject some more meaning into his writing. And for the most part, it's successful. The book follows four friends, Billy, Gally, Terry, and Carl, at ten-year intervals from their childhoods in the Edinburgh projects to their mid-thirties. With all four men getting a turn to narrate and some third-person narration as well, Welsh gives us a look inside the heads of each one, and we get to see how they're shaped by their working-class urban background. Welsh has a knack for crafting believable characters who are flawed but sympathetic, and "Glue" is no exception.As "Glue" wears on and Billy, Gally, Terry, and Carl get older, their lives become more difficult and complicated. As teenagers, they're preoccupied with little more than getting girls into bed and taking part in soccer riots. By the book's conclusion, they've had to confront the realities of adulthood: changing social mores, marriage, kids, jobs, drugs, crime, street morality, death, and more. And although the four men are joined by the bonds of friendship, Welsh also gives the reader an idea of the often complex and self-serving nature of these relationships. I think what Welsh was essentially going for was an examination of how life's complexity and ambiguity only grows as people get older, and he nails it.
Of course, it wouldn't be an Irvine Welsh novel without loads of profanity and graphic prose, and there's enough of that here to keep just about anyone entertained. Much like a Chuck Palahniuk novel, "Glue" is full of set pieces that are both revolting and hilarious at the same time (Terry's partner in crime getting covered in excrement is one prominent example). But at more than 450 pages covering a thirty-year period, "Glue" also aims to be more epic in scope than the typical Welsh or Palahniuk book. I don't like this book as much as the utterly hysterical "Filth," but it's nice to see Welsh trying to add some more nuance and meaning to his work.
Book Review: Welsh in form
Summary: 4 Stars
If you like Welsh's previous novels and are happy with more of the same then you'll enjoy Glue. The characters, narrative, and story have all been done by Welsh previously. That said, the character portrayals are magnificent. The book is funny, touching, and brutal throughout.Nobody portrays the underclass in a more genuine way than Welsh.
I would like to see Welsh expand his horizons. He is a great talent but is limiting himself.
To those previous reviewers who were outraged about the animal cruelty. There was a very definite point to it, showing what some of the characters were capable of (Doyle and Gentleman). The lives of some of the characters is not pretty or politically correct. The world is like this. Closing your eyes is not going to make it go away. If you don't like it I suggest you stick to Winnie the Pooh.
Book Review: Welsh is back on top
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first read Trainspotting a few years back, I was hooked on the harsh style that Irvine Welsh brought to his stories. Although a bit hard to get accustomed to, the novel immediately shot to the top of my favorites and I was recommending it to everyone. I eagerly snatched up anything the man published and although I enjoyed them, I felt like he had lost a step from the power of Trainspotting. "Filth" in particular was a bit of a stretch. I loved the gruesome, abominable main character, but it struggled to maintain a common ground. His latest work, Glue, re-establishes Welsh as one of the few writers who is so in touch with both a beautiful, original style and a firm knowledge of humanity. Through the perspective of four lifelong friends he tells a story of incredible highs and terrifying lows. Throughout all though is the inevitable bond that we can all relate to. The childhood friends who you have nothing in common with other than the fact that you were childhood friends. A beautiful, beautiful book that I never wanted to end.Book Review: Welsh lite
Summary: 3 Stars
By no means as cutting edge as Trainspotting or as just bloody brilliant as Marabou Stork nightmares, Glue will nonetheless appeal to most Welsh fans.Book Review: Weslh Imitating Welsh
Summary: 2 Stars
I hope this isn't true, but if "Glue" is any indication of the current state of Irvine Welsh's creative juices, than he is in a state of disrepair, or worse, decline. The novel is Welsh imitating Welsh. He tries to convey the best aspects of his earlier work - the slaggin' Scot slang of the urban poor best found in Trainspotting, provocative scenes best found in T-Spotting or Maribou Stork Nightmares or Acid House - but it comes across as trying rather than being, a fatal flaw for any writer, let alone one as previously charismatic as Welsh. It's tired writing, without any real edge, cliche-ridden to the point where Welsh brings back characters from the T-Spotting. Sad to say, these are the only interesting scenes in the novel. Stop recycling, Irvine, it's bad for your health and mine.