Skagboys | Hardback

I have read all Irvine Welsh's books,some several times.The Acid House,Filth and Porno are excellent.This trash however i did not even finish.After 200 pages i began thinking i was reading the same thing over and over as the repetitive monologues merged.I gave up after another 50 pages.AVOID.

Before I start - I love Irvine Welsh's previous novels. So I am very dissapointed to be here critising this latest outing for Rentboy and the rest of the trainspotting gang.
Trainspotting was unique, Porno was excellent fun - but this story about how these characters came from teens to become the druggies and misfits seems one step too far and even as a firm fan of Mr Welsh's previous novels I felt it was time to move on and leave the Trainspotting gang and venture into new ideas.. Irvine Welsh could do so much more with his talent, to keep treading the same old ground feels to me like he is just looking to capitalise on these characters and to drag them out again is a bit of a let down...

This book really does see Irvine Welsh back doing what he does best. For some reason I was expecting to be disappointed by Skagboys, but I was gripped from the start, with Renton's involvement in the Battle of Orgreave giving a real feel of life during the mid 80's, and the hopelessness that led many in working class communities to seek solace in heroin.

By the end of the book you can really feel the desperation of the main characters as they set off on a scam to try and cure the sickness of withdrawal. If you liked Trainspotting, you must read this book. If you've never read Irvine Welsh before, this is as good a place as any to start.