Why it's essential
’s Trainspotting is a singular piece of Scottish fiction. This novel not only gained immense popularity worldwide but also added to the ongoing conversation about addiction and social support programs.
What is Trainspotting about?
tells the story of Mark Renton, a heroin addict who lives in an unstable home in Edinburgh, Scotland. Over the course of the story, Renton and his friends do everything they can to get by, becoming increasingly desperate as they face the ugly truths of drug addiction.
Editor's review
Seth Hartman is an Audible editor and a certified podcasting fanatic. He lives for historical fiction, music and film analysis podcasts, and well-placed Oxford commas.
Like many of my favorite books, Trainspotting was introduced to me by my father. I can still remember him enthusiastically handing me his old copy, basically chomping at the bit for me to give it a try. My dad had never steered me wrong before, so it didn’t take much time at all for me to dive in.
My first impression of this book was that it was very difficult to understand. Famously, Trainspotting is written almost entirely in Edinburgh slang. This uncompromising decision by author Irvine Welsh forces the reader to play by his rules. Despite the somewhat difficult learning curve, this choice eventually pays off in dividends. By the midpoint of the story, protagonist Mark Renton’s idiosyncratic voice makes sense to the reader in a very visceral and intimate way, to the point where you almost feel like a part of his degenerate friend group. Who would have thought words like "dosh," "skag," and "eywis" could mean so much?
Speaking of uncompromising, the world Welsh drops the reader into is equally brutal. The narrative of Trainspotting sees Renton and his friends Sick Boy, Begbie, Spud, and Tommy trying to get by in the big city while managing their addictions. The Edinburgh experienced by Mark Renton showcases an underserved community crawling with violent criminals and anguished street urchins. Welsh takes great care to highlight the cultural context of this gritty cesspool, displaying his characters as products of their environment. Their lack of education and the normalization of their behavior is front and center in the narrative, occasionally used to comedic ends. These aren’t evil people (except for maybe Begbie), but they are nonetheless drawn to a life of crime in order to get by.Most people know from the 1996 film adaptation starring Ewan McGregor. But I personally think the book is the true way to experience this story. Despite its heavy subject matter and bleak outlook, actually has a hopeful message attached to it. Through the narrative, Renton seems to want out of his circumstances. Despite having several backslides and committing one or two felonies, he is looking for a way to better himself. As he puts it in one iconic speech, "Choose life."
