Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Trainspotting
Book Review: By Adam W., a 7th Grader
Summary: 5 Stars
Trainspotting is a brilliant book that delves deep into the mind of an addict. Or more so addicts, as there are multiple narrators through out the story. Each chapter is a short story but yet a somewhat central plot ties them all together. The main character (who's in most of the chapters) is Renton, a drug addict and a failure to his parents. Through out the book he engages in many various, disgusting, vile things as well as an attempt or so to stop his addiction after getting another addicted and seeing the horrors of heroin.
Everything has pinpoint accuracy. Even the language and the accent is perfect. There are certainly some strong points in the fact that you can actually feel the need for heroin and how the characters become slaves to it. It's an uncommon, unbiased view.
Trainspotting has no candy coating. There is no kid friendly wrapping, it's all the terrible truth. However it's still hilarious. It's the kind of dark humor that's not expected in a book about addicts.
The plot isn't terribly complex. It's a rather loose one, since it's just a bunch of short stories. Renton and his buds are druggies, and they basically do a lot of drugs and various assosiated acts. Renton introduces Tommy to heroin early on, which ends up affecting his conscience later on.
I would not advise skipping over reading this book to see the movie. Both are absolutly brilliant but the book is different. Going into their minds is dark, real, and somewhatr funny. Everyone should read this book that doesn't mind 8 swears a paragraph and constant vile activities.
Book Review: By far, one of the best books I have ever read...
Summary: 5 Stars
Do yourself a favor. Read this book. It's a challenge. I've seen a lot of people get frustrated with the Scottish dialogue and give up. Don't quit. Just keep at it. You won't regret it.Book Review: Choose Life
Summary: 4 Stars
As other reviewers have noted, Trainspotting is more a collection of short stories than an actual novel. Beyond the gritty surface, Trainspotting is more idea-driven than story-driven, as what ties it all together is the theme of addiction and acceptance.
On one level, heroin addiction is portrayed as a symptom of a moribund Scottish working-class, struggling to deal with a post-industrial, post-Thatcher UK. It's telling that the only thing for a healthy person to do in the book is to move to London or out of the country entirely.
On another level, heroin addiction is portrayed as a symptom of existential angst. Mark Renton AKA Rent-Boy is a nihilist for whom heroin is simply the most ready-made, prepackaged form of self-negation that he has access to. He fancies himself a martyr for the cause of oblivion, but as he himself attests, this martyrdom is childish, romantic, and entirely ego-centric.
I would argue that, in essence, Trainspotting is a coming-of-age story. It deals with a group of young adults who are addicted to self-pity in varying degrees, in this case in the form of heroin. Some of the characters are able to get beyond their own fear and needless self-loathing and become full-fledged human beings. Others are not so lucky; the book is littered with psychic debris. In a more just society, more people might make it, but not everybody. That's life, and nobody can make you choose to live it.
Book Review: Choose life. Choose Trainspotting.
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first came across Trainspotting in the fall of 1994 I was reluctant to immerse myself in the graphic protrayal of heroin addicts. After seeing the film on a visit to "Auld Reekie" this spring I reconsidered.I say to anyone who isn't quite sure about whether or not to take on the adventure of Trainspotting that it is worth it. Yes, much of the subject matter is dark (comedy) but Welsh's writing is spectacular, you begin to understand the depths of the human condition and how we get there. (PS- Scots can be tricky but most of the slang can be understood from context)
Book Review: Cool but disturbing.
Summary: 4 Stars
Welsh had been honest in this book and his research and/or personal experience had allowed us a 'wee' glimpse into the daily lives of the not-so-well educated and low-income strata of the Scottish society, which is quite akin to many others in several aspects, of course. I have read this book (together with all other Welsh's novels before 1997) prior to my studies in Scotland. Having been in Edinburgh for almost three years now, I can empathise and identify with the characters, language and culture as depicted in this Scottish-accented book.However, one may worry that the contents of Welsh's books (as with other Scottish fictions) will have an adverse effect on the integrity of societies and their development; particularly so for the developed cities of Scotland, as impressionable adolescents (and adults alike) will be able to identify with (if they are honest) the many 'undesirable elements' that saturates the book and may deem the many affiliated aspects of their social lives to be normal with the added touch of cool glory. Of course, this applies to other societies as well.
A book is never just a book and a disease can be gloried to an epidermal galore.
A noted Scottish reviewer once said in early 1999: "Yes we do want the world to have a modern image of us people and our cultural heritage of Scotland. We are more than kilts, whisky and "Braveheart"....However, do we want that image to be associated with Welsh's literature?"
Overall, this is a well-told story creatively written.