I met Irvine Welsh last night at his book signing in Philly at the free library. I couldn't buy his new book because it was $26, but i will when i have the money. he is an amazing writer and I'm glad that I met him. I asked him about his new play about the life and mind of the little people in "The Wizard of Oz." It's currently playing in LA, but will be in NYC in a year. Anyone get to meet him? Peace + Love
How weird! I met him the other day.. Well,I attended a talk of his. That play is brilliant,from what I've heard. I've only read a few of his books,namely The Acid House,Porno,Trainspotting,Maribou Stork Nightmares and.. that's it I think. The Acid House is my favourite,by far.
I've read Trainspotting but I noticed Acid House whilst at work and went "hmmm, that looks good" It took me, literally, 3 months to read Trainspotting, not because I didn't enjoy it but because each bit is so heavy!
Is Trainspotting book far different from the movie?? I was in a book shop just today glancing through it, and noticed it's not that easy to read..it's got that kind of scottish written accent... I have to choose between Trainspotting and Fight Club...which do you suggest? (the cost is the same 12Euros)
I would say Fight Club. Fight Club is easily among some of my favourite books (and films actually). I think it's because I agree with a lot of it, a scary ammount maybe. As for the differences between the film and the book of trainspotting, that's an interesting question. Trainspotting isn't really a novel. It's more of a collection of short stories that just so happen to rotate around a group of characters. There is a bit of a narrative thread that runs through it but it didn't, for me, seem to be the focus. For me it was more of a snapshot of the lives of the characters, rather than a journey. So yes, they're different. If they were the same, I think, the film would have been utterly unwatchable (or at least, unsellable). In film, I think there is more of a need for narrative. I think the film does capture the essence of the book though. Most of what you see in the film appears in the book and what doesn't, you can imagine that it could, had Irvine Welsh decided to write that short story. I think when Irvine Welsh approached the screenplay, he wasn't intending to write an accurate copy of the book; a bit like how Douglas Adams approached the various versions of the Hitchhiker's Guide as completely seperate projects and any crossovers were coincidential (or because he couldn't be bothered to rewrite the dialogue). Much Love Sebbi
I am a BIG Irvine Welsh fan. I have read The Acid House, Maribou Stork Nightmares, Trainspotting, Ecstasy, Porno, and Filth. The only one I didn't like was Filth. It was utterly unreadable! I never finished it, I even tried multiple times. I don't know what happened when he wrote it, but it is the only book of his that I just couldn't enjoy, no matter how much I enjoyed his other works. It is a LONG story about a dirty, racist cop with a tape worm growing in his gut. It is by far the longest book he has written and the worst. My favorite though has to be Ecstasy, it's three love stories Irvine Welsh style. Mark Renton and Spud even make an apperance in the last story as young teenagers. I highly reccomend it to anyone who likes his books or his movie.
I just found a whole load of books lying in the street last week. Picked up the Acid House, as well as many other classics.
