Trainspotting - Irvine Welsh

It was in college that a friend had told me that "Trainspotting" was a good read. I was surprised then to find out that it was a book as well. Danny Boyle's movie was the only thing I had seen, mostly for the music back then. When I picked up "Fight Club" I thought I would also order "Trainspotting", the intent being to compare the movie and the book.

A couple of pages into the book and I was swearing loudly. Welsh had written the book in a Scottish accent! It took me a long time to understand which word had what English equivalent. The complexity of the reading took my mind off the plot and the flow of the story many a times and I had to turn back and forth to establish a connection between what I was reading and what I had read. All this edge of interest in the book. Welsh has written the book as individual chapters being narrated by some character or third person. The characters usually do not identify themselves immediately and at times are randomly introduced. This makes you more interested in what is happening rather than to whom it is happening, which, in my opinion, is the better way to enjoy this book. Welsh has portrayed a gang of junkies and addicts at the center of a vague plot. This is more of an insight into how junkies think and why they behave the way they do. No moral lecturing makes it even better. The social and legal implications of the British punk is highlighted pretty well. Compared to the movie, the book lacks a strong story but more than makes up for it with the strong thought processes and the per chapter protagonist structure.

Rents, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie are mostly at the center of the story, each addicted to heroin, heroin, sex and violence respectively. They live in Leith in Edinburg and are unemployed, resorting to various illegal activities to gather money for survival and drugs. The story moves between their lives and circle of friends touching many briefly. The frivolity and irresponsibility with which they lead their lives is highlighted. Eventually people start dying because of AIDS and the remaining try mending their lives.

"Trainspotting" was a light read once I got over the word mapping exercise. One in which you particularly did not care about the plot and just enjoyed the thoughts of a man. The way he thought in the given situation and how he acted because of it. I will probably not pick up another Welsh anytime soon but perhaps I might consider "Porno" once I am done with my list of pending books.