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Porno by Irvine Welsh

September 25th 2007 02:40
Porno Irvine Welsh
The title of this book, along with the cover, ensure that you'll hesitate before pulling it out on the bus, but Irvine Welsh's sequel to Trainspotting is such a satisfying read, that you might say 'ah, to hell with it' and let people think you're a pervert.


Published in 2002, the book focuses the lives of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie, nine years after the end of Trainspotting... they've almost all cleaned up on heroin, and have moved onto fat lines of cocaine.

The name of the book is in reference to Sick Boy entering the pornography business, trying to make his name in film by making a low budget porno movie. It's quite entertaining and, in the same style of Trainspotting, Welsh writes from the view of several different protagonists... whether it's the arrogant Sick Boy, the down-and-out Spud, the matured Renton or the still-psychotic Begbie - as well as a new character, Nikki.

Welsh shines with his ability to differentiate the narrators with unique voices... Spud and Begbie speak in Scots, and there's even a subtle difference between them, whereas Renton and Sick Boy speak in proper English, but slip into Scottish slang when pressured. It's an easy way to make the characters feel lifelike.

While Porno doesn't push the reader into unfamiliar territory, as Trainspotting did, showing us the harsh reality of lower-class Scotland, with the drugs and the violence, Welsh's sequel touches on new concepts. The gentrification of Scotland as the middle class absorbs old neighborhoods is a major topic in the book, with some characters enjoying the fact that their homes are being cleaned up - but some 'whingeing on' about the effect of new money.


Porno is fun to read, especially once you've come to terms with the dialect, and it's easy to feel connected to the characters, as they've been very well fleshed out in the original book as well as the film. Recommended!



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Comments
6 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Brenton

September 25th 2007 05:38
Ayem waiting oan a tape player until aye kin give a listen tae the tape version aye goat for $4.00.

Comment by KylieW

September 25th 2007 06:50
I've always been tempted to read this book, but afraid to. I enjoyed Trainspotting so much that I didn't want to be disappointed.

Perhaps, I'll give it a go

Comment by Cibbuano

September 25th 2007 23:33
brenton - ye Jambo cunt!

kylie, I enjoyed it, definitely...


Comment by Brenton

September 26th 2007 00:15

Comment by Brenton

September 26th 2007 00:18
Oops, comment5 went to the wrong post.

I was going to say that I honestly couldn't enjoy Trainspotting. I have genuinely hated everything from Welsh except for Marabou Stork Nightmares which I LOVED (and which is why I keep going back)

High hopes for porno, esp. on tape with all those accents.

Comment by Lilly1

October 7th 2007 16:33
I have heard that they are planning on making Porno into a sequel, but they are waiting until the original characters from Trainspotting are a litte older so that they can play their characters 9 years down the road and actaully look like they have aged.
Does anyone know if this rumor has any marrit or is it just that a rumor?
I would love to see this made into a movie and see what they expect the Trainspotting characters to look like now, they are clean of herion, but doing coke.
Anyways, if anyone could help me out with this rumor I would love to know?

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