I just finished Trainspotting and absolutely loved the grimey-ness of it. I’ve tried to pick up a couple other books but I think at the moment I want something that’s also funny and dark. Maybe not quite as dark as some of the topics it gets into, but still something with quite a lot of humour and also focuses on working class people (I’m working class and just in the mood for that right now) as opposed to upper or middle class. Can anyone help? Thank you!
by cigbuttskincare
5 Comments
Trainspotting has a sequel called Porno, but I don’t know if it’s any good
For something lighter but similar, try The Commitments by Roddy Doyle, which is about an Irish soul band
Sounds like we have a similar taste in books, so some suggestions. Not all are similar in style, but they have a similar misanthropic, we’re-all-fucked-aren’t-we vibe to them.
Maribou Stork Nightmares by Irvine Welsh
Skag Boys by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting prequel. As good, imo)
Young Team by Graeme Armstrong (very Welsh-y)
Kill Your Friends by John Niven
City of Bohane by Kevin Barry
Women by Bukowski
Fraction of a Whole by Steve Toltz
Skagboys is the prequel to Trainspotting and is excellent, as is Glue also by IW, some overlapping characters appear in various books. His later stuff isn’t as good imho. I echo the Roddy Doyle suggestion.
Read ALL of Irvine Welsh’s books.
Porno, Filth, Glue and Skagboys are the next best Irvine Welsh books IMO.
Others have suggested a few good books I’ve also read… I’d add The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks… Requiem for a Dream or Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Shelby Jr…. Most things by Cormac McCarthy.