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Yo...Irvine Welsh?
Apologies if there's already a thread about him, but I did a search and didn't find one. I'm all new to his work and stuff. I recently watched Trainspotting and thought it was great. So I when I was in Barnes & Noble, I found some of his books. I picked up Glue and started reading. Whoa! I could not understand a goddamn word! I put it back on the shelf and gave myself a minute to recooperate. Is he too Scottish for me? Am I too American for him? That's not even Scottish, is it? Am I a dunce? Should I try reading Glue anyway? And despite all that, could I get some recomendations for a first time Welsh reader anyway?
I've only read Ecstacy. I went to the library for Trainspotting and it wasn't in. It was either Ecstacy or Porno. I don't know what Glue looks like but Ecstacy is very manageable. It's at least 90% perfectly readable English. He's a very funny author. I never ended up finishing the novel, though, it didn't really interest me.
Persevere.
Now, I was born in Scotland, so I can't exactly say that I'm coming at it from the same angle, but it frustrates me when people say that they can't understand the dialect.
First of all, as Nightrious says, most of it is perfectly readable English.
For the thicker Leith slang, treat it as though you're reading A Clockwork Orange. The words may be unfamiliar, and damn near made up, but by their context and tone you will understand them.
If you want, I'll read the first page of Porno in a Scottish accent and post it up here...
Also, Nightrious -
I didn't like Ecstasy as much as many of his other books. If you decide to read any more Welsh in future, make sure you read Trainspotting before Porno, as the latter is basically a sequel. I thought both were great.
Its one of those things thats worth the perciverance.You may struggle at first but before you know it your'e not even aware of the original problem.As for recomendations I can only speak personally but Maribou Stork Nightmares is one of my favourite I.Welsh novels.Stick with it man its well worth it, the guys got style.
For the record I have zero problem understanding Scottish, English, or Irish dialect. Had I not heard so many Americans stress their inability to understand such dialects, I would never have assumed it could even possibly be a problem.
And I'll be reading Trainspotting some time this year, for sure. Many a quality cultist has recommended it. Ecstacy wasn't bad. In fact one of the chapters I read several times I loved it so much*, but the whole part about the author girl was just flat out boring to me, and the necrophiliac guy was equally uninteresting, but at least comical.
*the chapter introducing the hellion house burgler guy who falls in love with the girl with no arms who jacks him off with her feet. Ha.
Filth was my favorite Welsh novel. That cop was sleazy, and you get to see his stomach talking.
For the record, Corellion thinks Americans are dumb. But we'd totally kick his ass at a Monster Truck Rally while our inbred pregnant teenage cousin wives watched. But hey, at least her inbred crooked smile would remind him of home.
USA! USA! USA!
I've posted about Irvine Welsh a gazillion times, and given my whole spiel about persevering because you'll get used to it and it'll be worth it...so I won't do it again now...maybe I'll go find some of my other posts...but I'll say this...
Read Trainspotting before picking Glue up again. Trainspotting is the most difficult read, because the dialect is most severe...but it has a glossary in the back to help you with terms you don't understand. So after Trainspotting, everything else seems much easier. The other reason to read that first is that Porno is a the sequel to Trainspotting, and Glue, while not a sequel, does share many characters who make small appearances in Trainspotting and Porno, or who are related to characters in those two...so reading Glue third makes it easier to keep track of characters and locations.
here in my country it's seven the night, go skateboarding!
I just finished Maribou Stork Nightmares and I was totally blown away, it was my first Welsh novel, the dialect wasn't too bad either, it's not completely in dialects, just certain parts. Go for that one, it's his most controversial, and it's a damn good story.
I know I'm about fifteen years late on this one, but I just read The Acid House and it knocked me on my ass. Welsh is a bad motherfucker. I loved Marabou Stork Nightmares as well. I'm really fiendin' to read the rest of his work. It's intense stuff.
Dang! For some reason I always pass on his stuff. Maybe it seems too challenging at the time.
I read Porno and loved it.
I own Trainspotting (yes I know I read them backward) and I own If You Like School, You'll Love Work.
I don't know. I know I NEED to read him. But man - I always pass...
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