Reviews

Skagboys by Irvine Welsh

roxyc's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

charratesbooks's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

The misogyny is accurate but hard to bare

barrydillon23's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

majortomwaits's review against another edition

4.5

Very slow compared to the other books, however, it is very introspective and very touching at the same time. Reading Renton's diary chapters was especially emotional and I found that formatting to be a wonderful addition (the very same 'skag diaries' were mentioned in Dead Men's Trousers).

All in all, not my favourite in the series, but it remains a fantastic read.

cubit81's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

5.0

This is on par with Trainspotting. Better than Porno an amazing prequel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug use, Sexism, Fatphobia, Rape, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Grief, Death, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Police brutality

yer_real_da's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative sad slow-paced

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

3.25

Great seeing the Leith Four before their rapid descent into addiction, crime and violence that we see at full-throttle in Trainspotting. Enjoyable but a very slow read, multiple parts of the books could have ended up on the cutting room floor to make the book drag a bit less.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Cursing, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Police brutality, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Drug use, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia

Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy

fitzin's review

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

paigebayliss's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

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

4.25

dbro13's review

dark funny lighthearted

4.0

ebethw's review

adventurous challenging emotional

3.75