Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh

28 reviews

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

ratmuva's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I loved this book so much more than I originally thought. It took me a bit to get used to the way it’s written in Scots/English but it added more to the book. Some parts were super out of left field and hard to read, but all in all an interesting story. It was hard to keep up with the characters, but once you get them in order you see how all their lives intersect. Another book I would potentially read again. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug abuse, Excrement, Addiction, Violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Death

Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Body horror

Minor: Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Racism, Self harm, and Domestic abuse

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

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

tehgrouse's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

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

4.0

A challenging read, to say the least, because of the heavy Scottish accents but once you get used to it and look up a few slang words, it's a lot of crazy drug-fueled 90s young folk stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Violence, Child death, and Cursing

Moderate: Animal cruelty

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

cowboyvelma's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Drug use, and Domestic abuse

cleo_j's review against another edition

challenging funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Addiction, Violence, Sexual content, Death, Excrement, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Animal cruelty

maxor76's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Drug use, Vomit, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Drug abuse

Minor: Suicide attempt and Transphobia