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A review by richardw2024
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Trainspotting is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I actually didn't finish it the first time I read it, but recently came back and re-read it and ended up really enjoying it.
The main thing to be aware of is the writing style. The book is written entirely in Scottish dialect, quite a lot of which is phonetic, which forces you to read it in a Scottish accent and it also uses Scottish dialect words. It took me about 20 or so pages to get used to - once I was used to it, I was able to read at a reasonable speed and wasn't really thinking too much about it (until I got to a bit that I didn't understand and had to re-read/think about). I didn't like it at first but I did as the book went on, I felt that it got me more into the characters heads and lives. If you aren't used to the Scottish dialect though, I think that this would be a really difficult book to read.
The main thing to be aware of is the writing style. The book is written entirely in Scottish dialect, quite a lot of which is phonetic, which forces you to read it in a Scottish accent and it also uses Scottish dialect words. It took me about 20 or so pages to get used to - once I was used to it, I was able to read at a reasonable speed and wasn't really thinking too much about it (until I got to a bit that I didn't understand and had to re-read/think about). I didn't like it at first but I did as the book went on, I felt that it got me more into the characters heads and lives. If you aren't used to the Scottish dialect though, I think that this would be a really difficult book to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, and Sexual content