Reviews

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

juels's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

wxllow_x's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

5.0

ferya's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

amy_rose29's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

violet_dixon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

atomic_gardener's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

taylor394's review against another edition

5.0

Choose life. Choose Trainspotting. Trainspotting is almost as addictive as the heroin coursing through Renton's veins. Although the Scottish dialect can be a challenge to read for some, it adds an amount of depth and atmosphere that directly immerses you into the novel and Scottish culture. Filled with unforgettable characters this gritty novel has become one of my all time favourites. Highly recommend for those interested in the Scottish, stories about addiction, people who enjoyed the film version, and anyone up for a pleasurable challenge ;)!

lilylottle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Really dark. Dialect gets easier to read. It was interesting to read something in such a different style and so cynical, but I wouldn’t read again and only tell certain people to read it. 

gobrien420's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

moshikami's review against another edition

4.0

I read this after seeing the movie, one of my favourites, and really enjoyed it. I think the most educationally important aspect of this book is the setting: Leith in the 1980's. A port town with many impoverished denizens who turned to heroin and other drugs. This book does a wonderful job in creating lifelike characters who would have existed in that time and place, most likely drawn from Irvine Welsh's personal experience.

I had a chance to visit Leith, and some of the locations mentioned in the book, and it really made the reading experience much more meaningful to see, and feel, those places in person. The movie is a fantastic adaptation of the novel, but it somewhat replaces the authenticity of the book with its stylized cinematography. I would highly recommend the book, if you enjoyed the film and want to explore it at a deeper level.