Trainspotting, is set in the frenetic streets of 90s Leith, Edinburgh, and follows the hedonistic junkie lifestyle of antihero Mark Renton and his social circle. Mark attempts to get off drugs and is joined by his oldest friend Simon ‘Sick Boy’ Williamson – only so he can prove he can do it quicker than him. Meanwhile, Daniel ‘Spud’ Murphy attempts not to get himself off the dole in the most hilarious job interview ever. Following a few unfortunate incidents, Mark moves to London and finds that it is not always easy to escape the sadistic drug scene. The whole book is written “in Scottish” and changes narrative per chapter. Welsh’s risky writing style pays off; the brilliance is that you can hear the voices of the characters and experience the intensity and insanity of character moments.
 
The sophisticated plot covers sensitive topics (drug abuse, abortion, violence, etc) and can portray that in a hard-hitting manner. Therefore, I recommend this book to over 18’s only.

by Pamilla Sidhu