Dr Gloom 21924 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Yes, I enjoyed skagboys. I find all his books entertaining, easy reads but they all kind of blend to the one. I liked the one I read recently about Juice Terry. The sequel to filth and the other one set in Miami about the personal trainer were also decent. Was glue the one about four mates, juice Terry and one of them was a DJ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4386 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Aye, it's a bit vague for me but Glue definitely had a DJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Yep, that's Glue. Skagboys was class too. Maribou Stork Nightmares is one of his early ones that doesn't get mentioned much but I thought it was brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Was that the one with a TV presenter character with a strong regional accent who drove a around in a hearse, committing necrophilia in various UK morgues?....it might have been one of 3 short stories?.. What you're on about was called Skagboys That's Ecstasy: 3 Chemical Romances. Thought it was poor by his standards. Still a good read. Was about 20 years before Savile died like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21627 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I love most but not all his books , but for me trainspotting is a level above everything else he has done. It's brilliantly written, I think you need to read it several times to even understand who half the narrators are mind you. Best thing is each chapter is a standalone story but they all mesh together to create a masterpiece imo. Filth would be my second favourite, decent film too. Then the likes of porno, skagboys, and glue are excellent and on a par, as are some of the short stories. Need to get back in the habit of reading so may pick up the Blade Artist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Agree about re-reading Trainspotting. Probably the most important British novel of the last 25 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1245 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Trainspotting is possibly the best book I've ever read. Loved Porno too but it's not as good. The only other of his books I've read is Crime which I also thought was excellent. A bit removed from the other two but still really good. I'll have to get Glue, Skagboys and The Blade Artist downloaded for my Kindle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 3894 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Agree about re-reading Trainspotting. Probably the most important British novel of the last 25 years. Why is it the most important british novel of the past 25 years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44900 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Let me guess: Bravo Two Zero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Why is it the most important british novel of the past 25 years? Bore off, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4762 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Why is it the most important british novel of the past 25 years? Question seconded, I've not read it but I am curious why it would be held up as that over anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anorthernsoul 1221 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Agree about re-reading Trainspotting. Probably the most important British novel of the last 25 years. I thought 50 Shades Of Grey took that title? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Question seconded, I've not read it but I am curious why it would be held up as that over anything else. Obviously I haven't read every British novel in that period but I can't think of anything else that had an impact like it. It was innovative in its use of Scots dialect, its subject matter and it had a massive appeal beacuse of that to people who wouldn't normally read novels of its complexity. Its timing was culturally important too. The British literature scene was pretty staid at that time and a novel of that depth and complexity being based around working class 'low lifes', for want of a better phrase, was (and to an extent still is) revolutionary. It gave the scene a massive boot up the arse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17281 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Why is it the most important british novel of the past 25 years? Because it was written in several different narrative styles, and they were all brilliant, as were the myriad plot lines and the incrediblly visceral but strangely recognisable and familiar characters. I'm certainly nowhere near as well read as some on here but for me it's the just about the best book I've ever read. I was 23 ish when It came out and I'd definetly hadn't read anything that blew me away in the same way up till then, and I've still not read anything since that had me nervous about turning the next page....am not sure if this style if novel had been attempted very much if at all at the time it was published in 1993, am pretty sure it hadn't, and that for me is why I'd agree with Alex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44900 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I've never read this book but I will now. The fact Renton likes it makes me think it might be shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 3894 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Obviously I haven't read every British novel in that period but I can't think of anything else that had an impact like it. It was innovative in its use of Scots dialect, its subject matter and it had a massive appeal beacuse of that to people who wouldn't normally read novels of its complexity. Its timing was culturally important too. The British literature scene was pretty staid at that time and a novel of that depth and complexity being based around working class 'low lifes', for want of a better phrase, was (and to an extent still is) revolutionary. It gave the scene a massive boot up the arse I liked the book but neither of those things are true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17281 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I've never read this book but I will now. The fact Renton likes it makes me think it might be shit. anyone with half a brain loves it.....not sure who on this board that won't apply to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17281 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I liked the book but neither of those things are true. If you're on about McIlvaney or Rankin then you've sort of got a point. But they wrote/write pretty formulaic pot boilers compared with Trainspottimg iyam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I liked the book but neither of those things are true. That repsonse is precisely why I didn't answer you tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 3894 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 If you're on about McIlvaney or Rankin then you've sort of got a point. But they wrote/write pretty formulaic pot boilers compared with Trainspottimg iyam. Actually I was thinking more of James Kelman and Alasdair Gray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Carr's Gloves 3894 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 That repsonse is precisely why I didn't answer you tbh. Because you were scared I would pick holes in your hyperbole? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35095 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 If you're on about McIlvaney or Rankin then you've sort of got a point. But they wrote/write pretty formulaic pot boilers compared with Trainspottimg iyam. Aye, I obviously wasn't inferring it was the first book to do those things, but the combination of the style, subject matter, complexity and, at the same time accessibilty to lots of people who (quite understandably) found lots of literature boring as fuck is what combined to make it unique and important. Basically it was funny, clever and different without being up it's own arse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I've never read any Irvine Welsh. Never thought he was for me as I've never done the horse. I doubt i will any time soon either, but I'll add some to my Goodreads and the best intention will do for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 44900 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Basically it was funny, clever and different without being up it's own arse A fitting epitaph for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGingerQuiff 2412 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 KCG gets cranky when you praise other people's novels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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