Porno

Rating:
Summary: A deeply flawed masterpiece
Review: Reading Porno is a bit like digging in the mud for nuggets of
gold. The story is rambling, the structure is haphazard and many
characters are forgettable, but the keen spirit of observation
of the author and his ability to make his point with
oscar-wildean wit provide more than enough morsels of pure
reading pleasure, especially when the agent is the pompous and
egomaniacal Simon (Sickboy) Williamson. Nikki Fuller-Smith's
insights come a distant second and Mark Renton's an even more
distant third. The chapters reflecting Frank Begbie and Spud
Murphy's thoughts I found, however, unreadable. In fact I
re-read the book skipping said chapters and it was a much
improved read.

Rating:
Summary: A deeply flawed masterpiece
Review: Reading Porno is like digging in the mud for gold nuggets. The story is rambling, the structure is haphazard and many characters are forgettable, but the keen spirit of observation of the author and his ability to make his point with wildean wit provide more than enough morsels of pure reading pleasure, especially when the agent is the pompous and egomaniacal Simon (Sickboy) Williamson. Nikki Fuller-Smith's insights come a distant second and Mark Renton's an even more distant third. The chapters reflecting Frank Begbie and Spud Murphy's thoughts I found, however, unreadable. In fact I re-read the book skipping said chapters and it was a much improved experience

Rating:
Summary: Where are they now ?
Review: Sick boy, Renton, Begbie and Spud are revived in this sequel to the Trainspotting sensation. In this novel Welsh is firing on all linguistic cylinders as he slides easily from strong assertive storytelling to stream of consciousness 'Leithian' patois. Essentially, a series of events surrounding a mutually beneficial attempt at becoming the new Ben Dover's of Scotland conspire to bring together a gallery of scummy characters who still manage to provoke our endearment and elicit our sympathies.

Whilst old hostilities are recycled in a new and slightly less exciting world, where youth is just over, friendships are also seen to 'fight for air' under the weight of cruelty and selfish intrigue. Leith is a 'midden', a waste ground of the damned or self damned, looking for anything to bring it out of the dark grave its inhabitants forage in. Sick boy is the self-styled coke-snorting entrepreneur and meglomaniac who pits himself against the horrific possibility of fading into obscurity.

He gets together a motley crew of loose good time girls and randy 'fellies' and takes them all the way to the Cannes adult film festival. All this, entwined in sexual encounters and the quest for the needle of love in a proverbial jungle of treachery and violence makes this book the best anti-rites of passage book I have ever read - still though, unavoidably depressing .

Rating:
Summary: The name's Simon...
Review: The trainspotting crew are back, older, and in Simon Williamson's case, wiser and wider...well, so he thinks. In this sequel to the first Irvine Welsh bestseller, Simon sets off to Amsterdam to settle an old score with his former friend, Mark Renton. Their collaboration on a business venture, in the form of an amateur porn film, turns remarkably sour in an ending that definitely opens the door for yet another follow-up sequel. The original work, Trainspotting, was spartan and cutting; Porno gives the central characters more dimension this time, which also allows Welsh to make fools of a few of them. The way Simon behaves at the Cannes Film festival...all the while Renton is cleaning out their bank account; The folly of Renton handing his mobile to Simon, only for a certain text to be sent to Begbie's phone... Welsh allows his characters to trip on their own shoelaces like this constantly, and it's in this way the ridiculous lives of these people advance for our entertainment. That use of Renton's phone is redolent of the hapless Andrew Galloway from "Glue". In a carpark fight, Gally allows another to take his knife from him...an already floored victim is fatally stabbed with it, and Gally accepts the 'chib' back from the murderer. "...Because it was wis mine, i suppose" is his sad reasoning to his mates later. And this is why Welsh is brilliant-set-piece moments of stupidity like this colour and shape the futures of his characters as the stories unfold.
If I've one quibble with Porno, it's Welsh missing the timing of Spud's entry upon the scene of Begbie lying bloodied and mangled on a Leith street towards the end [i'll not ruin it for those who've not read it], but by the time Spud sees the gathering up ahead of him, an ambulance and paramedics are already there. This is out of sync with the P.O.V. of both Renton and Begbie as created by Welsh in the two previous mini-chapters...Welsh has used this style before, of how differing viewpoints converge to present us with differing styles of "reading" or interpretation of a scene BY the characters as they are about to be involved; most notably, in "Glue". Also, on a technical note, I hope if Begbie rises again he first stops off for a wee word with Porno's proof-reader, who managed to allow through a misspelling of the novel's longest word [outside of a Dutch placename], 'enigmatically'. Such sloppiness kind of mocks the written phonetic Scots excellence of Welsh's dialogue.

Other than that, a welcome return of Spud, rents, the erstwhile Sickboy Simon, and the Beggar Boy. Ludicrous, comic and all-too-fallible people devoted to money, vengeance, chemical oblivion...and using a subset of disparate and equally desperate supporting players in manic pursuit of same. Bless 'em all, especially a certain Second Prize who attempts emancipation from their world, only to have his new group of bible-basher friends dissolve ingloriously before his eyes after a visit from the quiet Angel of Darkness himself, Renton. High comedy. I can't wait for the film.

Rating:
Summary: McPorn
Review: They're back - Irvine Welsh's gang of anti-heroes from "Trainspotting" resurface ten years on. Sick Boy, Spud, Begbie and Renton are older, but are they any wiser?

Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson returns to his home town of Leith to become the landlord of a seedy pub, and to attempt to break into the video pornography business. Links with the old gang are re-established gradually - thoughts begin to turn to seeking revenge on Renton, provided he can be located.

"Porno" is no disappointing sequel. It takes Welsh time to get the gang back together, but the novel still works well, as each of the main characters takes a turn in narrating the events. These are not two-dimensional creatures - Welsh even succeeds in showing the tragic, vulnerable side of the psychopathic Begbie. The fascination comes from that, and trying to sort out which one of the characters is showing his/her true self - how reliable are they, both to each other, and to the reader?

"Porno" contains a profound condemnation of the hopelessness at the heart of sections of British society - Leith is being given a face-lift, but that hardly affects the lives of ordinary people. Rather, it's papering over ever-widening cracks in society. Welsh's examination of the pornography industry is hilarious at times, but the reader is left with the impression of its soulessness:

"...advertising and pornography are similar; they sell the illusion of availability and the non-consequence of consumption."

"Porno" is achingly funny, tragic and thoughful all at the same time. In sum "it's no bad, ken?"

G Rodgers

Rating:
Summary: Welsh you Rapscallion how do you do it?
Review: This is an amazing sequel to Trainspotting. Having read all of Welsh's books this might be his finest to date (Trainspotting aside). The beauty of this book is in the interactions between the characters. The relationships built, and those expanded on from Trainspotting, are superb. Renton and Mark's relationship is the most interesting just like in Trainspotting, even though all the others are quite good. Renton and Mark are best friends who simply can't stand each other's selfishness. I loved the flashbacks to the moments in trainspotting. This book is beautiful. If you read and enjoyed Trainspotting you really have to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: As addicting as the drugs that the characters are on
Review: This is the first Irvine Welsh I've read. At first glance I thought I was rereading A Clockwork Orange. The slang is heavy, particularly with Spud's and Begbie's narratives and I had a love/hate relationship with it at first. But stick with it, it becomes easier as the book goes along and it makes for part of the books charm.

I would easily pick up another Irvine Welsh. This is one of the few books where the characters are so well written, you really don't care where they are going. Never once did I ask "What's the point?" Welsh has the ability to make the most unsympathetic of his mates human, and makes nothing black and white. No one gets off clean and the author doesen't apologize for it, which makes the book that much better.

Coming from someone who has only seen the movie Trainspotting and not reading the book, I did not feel lost. The book manages to tell just enough to get you up to speed. So movie fans should be fine. As it did with me though, the book Trainspotting is going to be on your must read list. I have read some reviews saying that this was not the authors strongest work. I cannot wait to read what some consider better. Now, if I only knew what Grassin' really means.....

Rating:
Summary: The Gang is All Here
Review: This sequel to the 5-star Trainspotting picks up approximately ten years later. It is most definitely an enjoyable read if you are already an Irvine Welsh fan. Sick Boy is the main character here, but all the old crew are featured prominently. A few of the characters from Glue are here, and yes, one of them is Juice Terry. Mark Renton is more of a background character at first, but he does come to play a crucial part in the narrative. Bottom line: if you already know you like Welsh, or Trainspotting, you will like this. Much talk of sex, drugs, and other risque and disturbing topics.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Folowup to Trainspotting
Review: Well, it's ten years after Mark Renton stole the loot the Trainspotting boys made off the drug sale and Begbie went to prison and his other "friends" Sick Boy and Spud are up to their normal routines. Sick Boy decides to leave London and go back to Leith and quickly falls in with a friend who's into porno. Sick Boy sees a career (and a ton of money for himself) and begins the scam to make himself rich. He digs up Renton and talks him into returning to help him and soon they begin scamming each other. Finally, Begbie gets out of prison (it hasn't mellowed him) and he's looking for Renton and his revenge.

The book is a high energy romp through a segment of the pornography business and Welsh keeps ratcheting up the tension as time goes on and the book approaches it's climax. Despite that, he continues to approach the topic (and his characters) with a good deal of humor. This is a real page turner and deserves to be picked up.

I've heard rumors of a movie being planned which would be great. Don't let the title mislead you, the book is not primarily about sex but rather the industry, the deals, and the crazy lives of the players. Many old Trainspotting favorites turn up (some briefly but often memorably) and the new characters are interesting to follow as well.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating roller coaster ride through a changing Leith
Review: Welsh managed to create a great book with a well fitting Title. The cover alone will embarrass you while riding on the train to work, but at the same time grip you with its intensity and that of its characters.

Viewing the story from the perspective of all main characters in turn, the reader gets sucked into their heads, learns what makes them tick, shares their dreams and ambitions. Despite their disgusting immorality, abuse of people surrounding them the readers still learns to develop sympathies even for the worst kind of characters like "Begbie", the foul mouthed, brutish, paranoid thug terrorizing the Leith neighbourhood after a brief spell in prison.

The nymphomatic, cool & intelligent Nikki and her escapades as a student of film & media and Scottish literature certainly eclipses most readers experience at university. She will painfully experience exploitation, but eventually gain a sweet revenge.

Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and the other colourful characters certainly bring some smiles on your face, whith their exploits when they are "pished", high or sexually intoxicated.

I particular enjoyed the cunning and successful scam played on Ranger supporters. It could work!

But readers be warned! The foul language and explicit scenes, combined with Scottish spelling may pose a great challenge to people not used to it!

In the final analysis I think it was an excellent read. Not pleasant, but hugely enjoyable. Don't wait for it to come out on film - it is to explicit and I cannot imagine Obi-wan Genobi to star as an Amsterdam Rave organiser!