If you enjoy Irvine Welsh's specific brand of offensive humor, then this is the book for you. So much offensive humor!
If not, then this book will be If you enjoy Irvine Welsh's specific brand of offensive humor, then this is the book for you. So much offensive humor!
If not, then this book will be a bit of a long slog...
In this episode of the Trainspotting Extended Universe, we have the focus on Terry Lawson. Originally introduced in Glue (which was a less successful take on the original Trainspotting formula), he was also a more important cast member of the T2 sequel also known as Porno. The somewhat well-meaning sex addict Juice Terry can get exhausting as the main point of view, but don't get me wrong as Irvine Welsh is a phenomenally good writer. The author's craft with words is still extremely impressive decades after his original hit, and being able to get so deeply into the minds of degenerates in Scotland is usually entertaining as hell. It's just that the plot goes on and on and this should've been a slimmer book.
So, Terry is a cab driver who only does scud movies on the side--Sick Boy is a minor character here by the way--while running scams and questioning his family line. Then the main inner conflict comes when he has to give up sex because of a heart condition, the poor bastard. There are side stories about a hurricane at the time, a missing girl and her well-endowed simple boyfriend, and drama about a brothel. Have I left out the necrophilia and incest?
One of the more interesting aspects, especially since this was presciently published in 2015, is a certain character: American right-wing businessman asshole with a reality show who loves golf. Yes, based on who you think. Welsh's take sure is engaging, but fair warning if you are sick of that subject by now.
Personally, I'm all in on Welsh's world-building and the novel A Decent Ride is required reading for me. That said, I wouldn't recommend this to most people unless you've read at least three of his novels prior and are very into it. Again, this book is simply too long and gets so damn repetitive. He's a great writer with a well-earned reputation, but perhaps the prestige led to a lack of editing as can happen with such novelists' latter careers. Just not Irvine Welsh's best. ...more
With Dead Men's Trousers, is Trainspotting a trilogy now? No, it's bigger than that. While indeed this is number three, after Porno (which was looselyWith Dead Men's Trousers, is Trainspotting a trilogy now? No, it's bigger than that. While indeed this is number three, after Porno (which was loosely "adapted" into the T2 film), there is also the Skag Boys prequel.
Not to mention, this new novel also directly takes place after the solo Begbie novel Blade Artist which feels like required reading now. Then there's that novel Glue, featuring characters such as the perverted Juice Terry and DJ N-Sign--who have also been in more novels.
Basically, Dead Men's Trousers is like episode 28 of the Irvine Welsh Literary Universe. Kind of like the MCU, but moderately more literate. And while this latest episode is no Endgame, it is thoroughly entertaining.
Let's be honest, Welsh has been riding that Trainspotting wave for decades. Mark Renton, Sick Boy, Spud, and the above-mentioned Begbie. It was a cool novelty at first to find out what happened to them next, and before. Now it just seems like the whole point; that this was always supposed to be a series. In a sense, the original groundbreaking novel feels more like a masterpiece if it stands up on its own.
What we are trading that for is years of entertainment, and I for one will take it. But I definitely understand if others aren't into this diluting of the "franchise." As said, I'm into it and I'm entertained.
It's kind of similar to latter-day Simpsons episodes. Not quite the institution it used to be, but if you just watch to watch you can enjoy.
That said, there's a lot of plot in latter-day Welsh. It's not just about the misery of the human condition by way of a decrepit Scottish junkie setting. This time, there are crazy imaginative scenarios organ transplants and various murders.
The original Trainspotting novel, in many ways, was more of a collection of short stories that were plenty powerful on their own. In Welsh's current writing style, the chapters aren't singular anymore and part of a traditional storytelling structure. For example, there's an excellent chapter about Sick Boy's brother-in-law who is goaded into a shocking moment in which he destroys his family after his drinks are spiked with MDMA on Christmas. That should have been enough, but then the story keeps going and going as we find out what happens next and how the family responds and then he gets sucked into the whole organ transplant scheme. It can come across as too much.
While comparisons can be made to the first sequel novel Porno, which was about gentrification after coming home to the ol' scene, suddenly all our old friends are middle-aged and very successful. I suppose it has to do with the author's journey himself. But Begbie as a rich artist, Rents as a globe-trotting music manager, does it work? I don't know. Somehow, it does seem to diminish the brutality of our first impression all those years ago. At least Spud is still a loser.
Among the deeper themes presented herein would be the concept of death. So many funerals. The violence scenes are serious, with the feeling that it can lead to a permanent end at any time. And about the acceptance of it. A beloved old school character even passes, but I won't spoil by saying who.
Lastly, as for the obligatory drug parts, surprisingly it's all about the psychedelic DMT. These profound realizations are admittedly shoehorned in, yet the writing is still excellent. The medium of prose itself is played around with as the hallucinatory trips are expressed by way of comics pages. It's certainly enough to get anyone curious about trying out that experience!
So, I wouldn't recommend the book if you've only seen the movie or read just the one book. If you are locked into the Irvine Welsh line, this is a book written by a talented crafter and you will enjoy it at least almost as much as the previous in the series. For all we know, there's yet another episode in the works, and the split between the pure literary and entertaining will be even wider... If so, I for one will be all-in wanting to know what happens next.
What a page-turner, 4stars even if rounding up....more
Of all the characters from the Trainspotting universe, Begbie may be most surprising one to suddenly be able to sustain a protagonistship in a new IrvOf all the characters from the Trainspotting universe, Begbie may be most surprising one to suddenly be able to sustain a protagonistship in a new Irvine Welsh novel.
Psycho wild card of Skag Boys, and of course Trainspotting, and the unrepentant antagonist of Porno (not to mention the different version in the film T2). He just never seemed the type to sustain a book all on his own, with no other POVs. Yet here it is, short and to the point like the eponymous art of the blade.
Especially a reformed, thoughtful Begbie. It does strain credulity here in The Blade Artist, but somehow it ultimately works. Unlike Sick Boy’s turn as antihero main character in Porno, it even seems like Begbie is genuinely rehabilitated which may make for the greatest literary trick of all. Sure it strains credulity a bit that he would grow so much as to become a famous artist in America, marrying his art therapist and raising a new family the right way, but the latest in Welsh’s world-building makes for a fascinating thought experiment if nothing else.
The bulk of the story consists of Begbie, or rather “Jim Francis”, going back to his hometown and it’s that whole you-can-never-go-home-again thing. Inevitably, it all leads back to violence with some actual shocking moments. The book never tries to gross the reader out or anything like that by being over the top, and every bloody detail comes across as absolutely necessary to the story.
Definitely required reading for fans of the rich land Mr. Welsh has been writing all these years. And it even features a cameo by Juice Terry!...more
Hey, I think I already read this some years back...
Yes, it's one of those books with the movie posters which we are always embarrassed to have. But tHey, I think I already read this some years back...
Yes, it's one of those books with the movie posters which we are always embarrassed to have. But this time they renamed it; the book Porno is now called T2 Trainspotting because of that film. It's almost false advertising in fact, as the new movie is very loosely based on the original prose novel sequel to you-know-which movie.
Yet here I am and I would still like to do a review that is in part film review and book, because it comparisons cannot help being made.
The novel Porno is longer than Trainspotting, and Welsh seems to have a lot more to say, but overall it is inferior in almost every way. It isn't as powerful, or as classic, and doesn't seem necessary. Still one does enjoy going back to the colorful characters of Trainspotting.
This time the shocking vice isn't heroin but rather a pornographic film as part of Sick Boy's scam. The plot is far more structured than the interweaving short stories of Trainspotting, with much of Welsh's later work follow 3-act structure and all that. Oddly though our favorite of the cast Renton isn't really the protagonist. It's more about Simon/Sick Boy and the narration from his point of view can be both fun and disturbing to say the least. It is interesting that the 1996 Trainspotting film had such an impact on the literary world, with Diane who was minimal in the book returning as a character, and even the part with Rents sending Spud money in the post-credits scene has become official cannon.
The plot point of Begbie going after Rents is probably the only major thing that transferred to the new film. So there's the four narrators: Sick Boy, Begbie, Rents, and Spud. And one new addition to the mythos, English porn star Nicki. Her point of view is fascinating, a rare female narrator in the Welsh-verse with feminine attributes indeed but also does the whole graphic sex worker thing. Interestingly, Porno as a novel is very ahead of its time by engaging in an ongoing debate as per feminism with regards sex work, issues about far more in recent times.
The Slovenian main female lead in T2 is quite a different character, and frankly not as compelling. As for my take on the movie, Danny Boyle's directing -- and the editing -- is indeed awesome, but it doesn't work as a film on it's own. Even worse than in most sequels, it only exists as a reaction to the original and the overall point is just plain nostalgia. Worth watching, but simply not in the same league as the real Trainspotting. I suppose another thing though worth noting is that Porno and T2 but share a theme of the gentrification of old Scotland which is at least acknowledged.
Porno/T2 the novelization (not really, it's just the book Porno) is worth reading for an Irvine Welsh completist but don't expect the same impact as the first book. Oh and lastly I must say it would have been nice to see Juice Terry, the guy from Glue in the Welsh-verse, in real life cinema... but without the pornography storyline I guess there was no place for him.
Porno and T2, a book and movie that have almost nothing to do with each other!...more
Still powerful and brutal after all these years, still essential reading.
Irvine Welsh has returned to this well many, many times since the original bStill powerful and brutal after all these years, still essential reading.
Irvine Welsh has returned to this well many, many times since the original breakout hit. He's gone in interesting directions, writing about the seedy underworld of the Scots, and not necessarily always about junkies. He's even returned to these iconic characters several books over.
Yet Trainspotting is still his best work. It's so intense, the prose so masterfully unique and guttural--like music almost--each with a personal voice. There's nothing else like it and may never be.
You know the rest. Renton, poor Spud, pimpin Sick Boy, and psycho Begbie. A few others who weren't in the excellent film adaptation (which so expertly captured the spirit). Connected short stories of them interacting and fucking up, all from a mind capable of coming up with all sorts of disgusting scenarios most couldn't fathom. Funny sometimes, and incredibly tragic.
The point is, Trainspotting is full of heart. There's compassion, even when these guys cause their own problems time and again. It was a cruel world they found themselves in, and such stories were worth being told.
Irvine Welsh is, of course, after all these years still most famous for Trainspotting. Even after a prolific career and further films, he might never Irvine Welsh is, of course, after all these years still most famous for Trainspotting. Even after a prolific career and further films, he might never live that down (or rather, live up to it). Yet one can tell the author doesn't wish to be a one-trick pony (or one-hit wonder, take your pick of metaphors).
Among his many subsequent novels include Filth -- also recently made into a film -- about a disgusting corrupt police officer. That is, a 'polis'. The novel is truly amazing. The film, well, let's just say the book is always better.
I sense that after Welsh did so much research about police activity and procedure, even though the psychological novel wasn't a plot-driven crime drama or anything like that, that he then wanted to continue to put that knowledge to good use and decided to reuse the character of Detective Ray Lennox and all that cop lingo. Hence the novel Crime.
I also sense that he wanted to write about America after vacationing in Florida. He's a writer that writes what he knows, and does that very well. You can really imagine Mr. Welsh exploring Florida and taking in all the atmosphere. And as an American, I do appreciate the famed outsider's point-of-view on my country. It isn't written about with as much authority as Leith, Scotland, but it's quite well-written. There is even the trademarked phonetic speech dialogue style, with Southern accents y'all! Heespanic too, ese.
The research does pay off. In particular when it comes to the very disturbing child abuse plot that delves deeper as the book goes on. But don't let me spoil anything.
I hate to always compare to Trainspotting, but I'm gonna. Among others. Trainspotting had no plot. It was a collection of overlapping short stories more than it was a novel. The sequel, Porno, did have a tighter plot. While the brilliant prequel Skag Boys was more character arcs than 3-act-structure and conflict and maguffin-eque goals. Other books, such as Glue and the aforementioned Filth, have their own unique structures. Generally speaking, it seems safe to say Irvine Welsh is a writer far more concerned with depth of character development than plot.
Yet this book at times reads a bit too much like a film pitch of a novel, and one expects better from Welsh. Or at least, expects something different. He still writes about an off-duty cop pursuing evil villains with more talent than any other airport schlock bestseller writer, but just sayin: this is supposed to be THE Irvine Welsh.
(Well, if they do make a movie, and I'm sure the rights have been optioned, a live-action Ray Lennox was already in Filth...)
Sometimes the book drags on with too much detail. As the very vivid visual descriptions, again, come across too much of movie pitch.
Yet let me get back to the subject of plot, the initial plot point that sets everything moving strains credibility with a big coincidence. It mostly works, the story flows, but if you think about it too hard it can be a stretch.
And at the same time, if this is supposed to be a movie-style story, then it's all too straightforward. Not too many major twists and turns and that sort of thing.
The strongest pieces are the flashbacks. Welsh does like to experiment with format in writing, and the second-person writing was a risk but it paid off very well in my humble opinion. That is not an easy thing to pull off, few other writers even come close.
In the end, it is a solid book and I enjoyed reading it and I was also disturbed and I learned something. Yet for a writer as brilliant as Irvine Welsh, it must be said that it isn't among his finest books. I'll try not to constantly compare to the great Trainspotting, but let's at least compare to Filth which this novel sequels. Filth, with it's tapeworm monologues and madness and pure evil police brutality, was a whole other level. Crime just can't compare. ...more
The prequel to the epic Trainspotting saga, which is now... at least five books now by my count?
That's a lot of stories about these guys, from the grThe prequel to the epic Trainspotting saga, which is now... at least five books now by my count?
That's a lot of stories about these guys, from the groundbreaking 90s novel which at the time felt like a perfect one-off. Author Irvine Welsh has been drawing from that well for a long long while, and he does it extremely well, but it's hard to say if this book feels necessary or not.
It is more explicitly political than the original, directly blaming Thatcher for the economic conditions which led to rampant drug addiction in Scotland in the 80s. It starts off with Renton in college, and ends with many scenes taking place in rehab. The novel still mostly structured like a series of interconnected short stories, some of them as grotesque yet hilarious as only Welsh could write.
Psycho Franco, manipulative pimp Sick Boy, and poor well-meaning loser Spud; they're all there with deeper dives into what makes the characters tick. If you want more of these characters, you will very much get it.
Welsh's novels tend to reference each other, and it's a must-read in that sense, but doesn't quite have the power and timelessness of Trainspotting. I'd still only recommend that one to fans of the film. Skagboys is also better than the first sequel Porno, a lot better than Franco's solo excursion Blade Artist, but perhaps not as good a read as the finale Dead Men's Trousers.
If this was its own book, its own thing that came out without any others and without expectations, it could be a masterpiece of junkie drama. Yet, comparisons can't be avoided, so this is mainly for the devoted fans at this point. ...more
It's nowhere near the caliber of Trainspotting, which must be mentioned every time one reviews anything by Irvine Welsh, but Glue was an interesting aIt's nowhere near the caliber of Trainspotting, which must be mentioned every time one reviews anything by Irvine Welsh, but Glue was an interesting attempt to write something in that same Extended Universe with quite different themes.
Also about four Scottish friends growing up in the dredges of society under the spectre of AIDS and poverty, but the biggest difference is that many of these characters actually become successful. Welsh explores some more colorful characterization, with a famous DJ and a famous boxer who both get to escape their humble origins. There's also another celebrity who turns up, an American singer touring, which at least gets to show Welsh's range in writing about different worlds and economic classes.
A surprisingly sentimental and sappy take on friendship, and very compassionate towards those souls who constantly end up in and out of prison. The biggest impact of the book is the introduction of one sex addict Terry Lawson, certainly the grossest of the group who gets to have the staying power to return in multiple future books. Worth reading for that fact alone.
Also: If you listen to the audiobook then just the abridged version is fine......more
If you follow the series of Irvine Welsh novels about the seedy Scottish underworld, then Porno is a necessary chapter as part of Welsh's evolution inIf you follow the series of Irvine Welsh novels about the seedy Scottish underworld, then Porno is a necessary chapter as part of Welsh's evolution into a more conventional author (despite the graphic nature of the plot--alluded to in the very title). But if you just read the groundbreaking and experimental Trainspotting 1, then this sequel will feel like an unnecessary distant second.
It helps to read Glue first, and it also helps to read Blade Artist and Dead Men's Trousers later. It's a lot of fun to revisit these characters and see what Renton and Sick Boy have been up to. Welsh has been a very prolific writer over the years, there's even a prequel in the series, so this book holds up pretty well as part of the broad canon of the Welsh-verse.
It's more plot-based, with a specific scam of making a movie being what brings Sick Boy and Rents back together. Franco is the villain, and poor Spud is there too. There's a new main character as well, Nikki the porn star. The ending is satisfying, and it all circles back well to the big betrayal where Trainspotting concluded so many years ago...
Note: Trainspotting 2 the movie was barely an adaptation of this. That film was probably too reverential as a legacy sequel, coasting on nostalgia of the legendary original. The novel has a completely different story and is a more interesting in my view. Just know that either way, living up to anything as good as Trainspotting is basically impossible. ...more
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