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kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
I admit I had very little idea what to expect when I picked up THE ACID HOUSE, but TRAINSPOTTING worked for me so I thought why not.
Welsh does bizarre, in your face scenarios; flawed, mad, bad, unlucky or just flat out odd characters; and he does a great line in Scottish venacular. What he doesn't do is pull any punches.
As with many short story collections from a single author, there are some that will work better than others for all readers. But to be a reader of this book you're going to have to have a high tolerance for "language", in your face drug taking, and being dragged backwards through the wild side.
The only proviso I'd make is if you've not read other collections or books, this may not be the best place to start.
Welsh does bizarre, in your face scenarios; flawed, mad, bad, unlucky or just flat out odd characters; and he does a great line in Scottish venacular. What he doesn't do is pull any punches.
As with many short story collections from a single author, there are some that will work better than others for all readers. But to be a reader of this book you're going to have to have a high tolerance for "language", in your face drug taking, and being dragged backwards through the wild side.
The only proviso I'd make is if you've not read other collections or books, this may not be the best place to start.
kaypiob's review
5.0
A brilliant collection of short stories, and short short short stories, from Irvine Welsh. The man paints with words, and not just figuratively speaking!
As with anything else written by Irvine Welsh, common themes tend to be sex, drugs, and violence, so reader beware.
As with anything else written by Irvine Welsh, common themes tend to be sex, drugs, and violence, so reader beware.
henderslam's review against another edition
4.25
Welsh's first short story collection is easily his best. The stories range from uncomforatably gritty and real to just plain bizarre.
graceless's review
4.0
Early works by Welsh are chaotic, sometimes stream of consciousness stuff. This is what made me love him in the first place! It was really good to go back to this book after about 10 years since I last read it. Enjoyed it even more as a 35 year old than I did as a 25 year old!
A fun collection of short stories, many you wouldn't want to listen to in the presence of your mother! Hilarious, depraved, depressing and entertaining - a must read for Welsh fans but not overly accessible up those that aren't fans!
I listened to this on Audible. In this version, Welsh read the book himself which was fantastic - we even does voices!
A fun collection of short stories, many you wouldn't want to listen to in the presence of your mother! Hilarious, depraved, depressing and entertaining - a must read for Welsh fans but not overly accessible up those that aren't fans!
I listened to this on Audible. In this version, Welsh read the book himself which was fantastic - we even does voices!
mercabx's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
4.5
"that cunt Nietzsche wis wide ay the mark whin he sais ah wis deid. Ah'm no deid; ah jist dinnae gie a fuck"
ruthenator's review
4.0
The last 2 stories solidified the 4th star for me. Otherwise it was up and down, easily 3 stars. Also, like Shakespeare, it didn't take long for me to fall into the language once I got into it.
siriuschico's review against another edition
4.0
Irvine Welsh is a fantastic writer. This is only the second book I've read from him (the first one being Filth), and I think I'm in love. There's this depressing underground feeling, a sense of no escape that he captures perfectly. We are all caught up in our bullshit, moving from day to day without any remorse.
"The Acid House" is a collection of stories that captures a remarkable variety of styles. Irvine doesn't just write about druggies (even though they appear in most stories), but he also writes about possessed babies and a pissed-off God changing a poor sod into a fly.
I think the most standout stories were:
"Eurotrash" - A wild ride of a story about a bunch of people with problems and attitudes. Until one of them takes her own life, the main character starts to discover that he has not as much insight into other people as he thought.
"The Last Resort of Adriatic" - A surprisingly melancholic story about one last fling. But, as usual, this suicide feels very egoistic (almost like most of them).
"Sexual Disaster Quartet" - What the fuck?
"The Two Philosophers" - Sometimes you can only solve philosophical problems with violence.
"The Granton Star Cause" - A very comedic take on "The Fly." I think I liked this one the most. What if you're so messed up and pathetic that even God himself is fed up with you?
"The Acid House" - An interesting take on soul-switching.
The other half of the book is the novella - "A Smart Cunt," in which Irvine Welsh is in his old coat - writing about a smart person trying to go through life with enormous emotional baggage - drugs help a lot.
Overall, it is a very nice collection worth your time, and I will definitely look out for his other works.
"The Acid House" is a collection of stories that captures a remarkable variety of styles. Irvine doesn't just write about druggies (even though they appear in most stories), but he also writes about possessed babies and a pissed-off God changing a poor sod into a fly.
I think the most standout stories were:
"Eurotrash" - A wild ride of a story about a bunch of people with problems and attitudes. Until one of them takes her own life, the main character starts to discover that he has not as much insight into other people as he thought.
"The Last Resort of Adriatic" - A surprisingly melancholic story about one last fling. But, as usual, this suicide feels very egoistic (almost like most of them).
"Sexual Disaster Quartet" - What the fuck?
"The Two Philosophers" - Sometimes you can only solve philosophical problems with violence.
"The Granton Star Cause" - A very comedic take on "The Fly." I think I liked this one the most. What if you're so messed up and pathetic that even God himself is fed up with you?
"The Acid House" - An interesting take on soul-switching.
The other half of the book is the novella - "A Smart Cunt," in which Irvine Welsh is in his old coat - writing about a smart person trying to go through life with enormous emotional baggage - drugs help a lot.
Overall, it is a very nice collection worth your time, and I will definitely look out for his other works.