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my_a's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
But I didn't get a lot of it. Seemed like a series of short stories rather than a novel. You get used to the dialect quickly but I found it difficult following who was narrating & who was being spoken about - so I'd know what was happening but not who it was between. Especially was confused by the switching people characters names and nicknames - but didnt want to google them and ruin any plot! Made it really hard to track characters and plot. Lots of moments seemed undeveloped and just left without follow up - particularly "The First Shag in Ages" chapter. Somes scenes and dialogue I found really disturbing and uncomfortable.
I think I need to watch the film and re-read it more intentionally.
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Miscarriage, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Trafficking, and Fatphobia
porporina's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Grief, Murder, Animal cruelty, Rape, War, Ableism, Fatphobia, Gore, Abortion, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Excrement, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, and Classism
beac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer
quinnviv's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The way Welsh differentiates the characters point of views through the change in writing style and accent was marvellous and I loved the working class perspective on big topics. I would've loved to see more of Stevie's and Nina's character as they presented an interesting outsiders look into the depravity of the scene that Renton has found himself in. My only gripe with the book was that at times I found myself disappointed in the disappearance of story threads but the disjointed structure of the book seemed to reflect the headspace of its characters which I appreciated.
This structure of vignettes coming from multiple peoples perspectives rather than a fully cohesive story was reminiscent of sitting around a table with old friends and telling the highlights/lowlights of the past year. It treated the reader as smart, engaging with topics of systematic injustice for the working class in Britain with an educated but genuine voice of the lower class, as well as forcing you to infer gaps within the story. The moments where the perspective was from a woman showed an appreciation for their resilience when not only are they systematically oppressed but also poorly treated by the misogynistic men in the story.
Practically, reading this book allowed me to process the writing much easier as well as improved my Scottish accent.
Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Death, Child abuse, Body horror, Sexism, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Drug abuse, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism
kirstybaxter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual violence, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Excrement
Minor: Cancer
dumbmaddie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, and Sexism
moonandmadness's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia