Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

45 reviews

kittiesss's review against another edition

This was a re-read. While the writing is good, I had forgotten how bleak the story is and I just can’t do that to myself right now. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Excrement

sophiimoyer's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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

4.25

I would be lying if I said this book wasn’t tough to read - both because of the prose style in a heavy Scottish dialect and because of the subject matter. But honestly, i think that is what makes this book so amazing. It doesn’t sugar coat the lives of these characters. It is a startling insight into the world of addiction, its impacts on the characters’ lives and the lives of their loved ones, and the societal framework that surrounds those who use drugs. In between the, sometimes, outlandish anecdotes of this friend group, there are some really hard hitting social commentaries about life in Scotland during this time. 100% believe that this book - and Danny Boyle’s film adaptation - deserve all the “hype” it’s been given. 

Choose life. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Drug use

Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence

alice_appleby's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Grief, Mental illness, Child death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Abortion, Gore, Suicide, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Vomit, Drug abuse, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Violence, Rape, and Sexual violence

dannymonty's review against another edition

challenging dark funny medium-paced

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

4.25

The movie which this book is based on is probably my favorite of all time. I like it better than the book, but Irvine Welsh's novel has a style and charm that can't be ignored. This is a challenging read. Without the glossary, I would have drowned in the Scottish dialect completely. Once you get used to it, the language becomes part of the fun. The novel switches perspectives a lot, often without warning. What is impressive about the heavy use of dialect is that, because all the characters speak differently, you can tell who is talking without their name being mentioned in the text. Overall, this book is a substantial collection of shocking, gritty moments that make for a unique and memorable reading experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Child death, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Alcoholism and Chronic illness

Minor: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Cancer, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

wantstoloveajedi's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Death, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Vomit, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Excrement, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

vampiricfunghi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gore, Drug use, Excrement, Child death, Child abuse, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Hate crime

blau_elmo's review against another edition

funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

The book is mostly written in a Scottish accent, filled with Scottish slang that I couldn't understand. That being said, that added to the memorability and appeal of the book.

The themes of drug use in the early 80s, the replacement of heroin with lesser drugs or alcohol or cigarettes etc. all feel very real, and even in the humorous moments, there is a darkness that permeates throughout. 

Ultimately, it is a book about the wasted lives of a group of junkies, their desires for redemption (unfulfilled), and the sheer dark power of addiction. 

Very unique, very subtly sad. But at least

good ol' Rents gets away from his terrible friends at the end of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

thomasdj's review against another edition

challenging dark funny slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, Vomit, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Excrement, and Child abuse

Minor: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Murder, Fatphobia, and Miscarriage

ritamarika's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

The movie was much better than the book. There were some really weird parts in this book that I wish I never had to read. The topic of drug addicts is an important one, but I can't get past how despicable some of the characters were. Some scenes made me sick to think about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, and Child death

crazyrhythms's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse