This is the sequel to Trainspotting, and takes place ten years later. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on this one, always comparing it to Trainspotting, but I have to say I like it just as much, if not more than, its predecessor.It's slightly less intense than Trainspotting and shows sex rather than heroin as the drug of choice. Despite this, it's still filled with corruption from beginning to end.It's possibly not the best book to read in public. I have the edition with the cover above, and this provoked a few raised eyebrows from the public when I was doing my relentless 'read whilst walking somewhere' routine. If you're easily embarrassed, then this is one that should be read only in the comforting depths of your own home.The main thing to notice here is how deeply Irvine Welsh falls in love with his characters. They appear in sequels, but they also appear dotted around in the backgrounds of his other novels and this intertwining is something I love about his work. Porno seems to have been written to continue the stories of the much loved characters from Trainspotting, and who can blame the man for this? I found the character development to be almost perfect; every character was more or less where I would've expected them to be ten years down the line. The narrative is set out similar to Trainspotting’s, with each new chapter being narrated by a different voice. This is wonderful as it gives us a greater insight into the minds and actions of more of the characters, rather than just one. Again, some of the characters use Scot's dialect, which can become tiresome (I imagine) if it's not your native tongue. Most of Sick Boy's chapters were written in perfect English, but it was interesting to note the occasions where he reverted back into Edinburgh slang, and wonder upon the reasons for this. How pondersome of me, I know.There is a lot Welsh is trying to say here about consumerism and corporate capitalism, which is interesting to think about also.I wouldn't say this is a necessary read for everyone who has read Trainspotting. It is necessary, however, for lovers of Irvine Welsh and his characters; the insight into them here is phenomenal.It's filthy, it's dark, it's dirty and hilarious. I really don't understand what's not to love here. I'd even go as far as to demand another installment.
Irvine Welsh just gets better and better!!A friend of mine introduced me to Irvine Welsh by lending me Filth, Crime and Trainspotting. I started by reading Filth which was great but horrifically depressing. At this point I wondered what I had gotten myself into but I continued regardless. Crime just as dark as Filth but a touch more redeeming, then I moved onto his most famous work, Trainspotting, which if I'm honest, I didn't overly enjoy. I found the characters hard to like or care about and it was a pain to read as it jumped from character to character, often without any indication of who's viewpoint you had jumped too.I still enjoyed Trainspotting but not as much as I'd hoped. Regardless I ploughed on and read Glue which I thought was great. Fantastic characters and a brilliant read. The chopping from one character to the next was less jarring than Trainspotting and the book left me with a smile on my face.So onto Porno. This book was billed as a sequel to Trainspotting but it contains character from Glue as well so I'd highly recommend reading glue before Porno.Porno follows the trails of Simon William Davidson (AKA Sick Boy) as he returns home to Leigh after hitting a low point in London. After chance meeting with the notorious 'Juice' Terry, he learns that his friend is after a new location to host his amateur stag movie nights and Simon just so happens to have a spare room in the pub he's just taken over from a departing relative.Simon wastes no time in putting together a ramshackle crew to produce his first ever porn movie. As is to be expected, nothing in the story every quite goes to plan for poor sick boy.Throw into the mix a returning Renton, now clean and ripped, an ever despondent Spud, and an increasingly unstable Begbie and you have everything you need for a classic Welsh novel. Dark, often sordid but endlessly captivating as you follow these characters towards their ultimate doom, down a path usually of their own making.I'm finding it hard to write much more without giving too much away, but I will say that the ending is truly fantastic and left me smiling. Can't wait to read Skagboys now!
What do You think about Porno (2006)?
A very interesting story about predators and their prey. It's so long since I've read Trainspotting that I'd forgotten the characters quite a bit but I soon remembered them as they were still the same selfish, opportunistic lot. I never thought I could really like a book that had no characters that I could like. A realistic portrayal of good and bad in one person is fine but I need to root for the protagonist in some way and care about what happens to them. Well I did like Porno but although there were quite a few protagonists, as the story swaps between their different viewpoints, I didn't like any of them! Actually no, I liked Spud. Bless him he had no luck in life and he was so well meaning and had no malice in him. I didn't mind Rent boy too much either. He was a thief and selfish predator but he had grown a bit and did have some of the milk of human kindness in him. The reason I liked this book enough to give it 4 stars is because I became fascinated by the characters. I actively disliked Simon "sick boy"Williamson and Nikki too but I was fascinated by those two the most. I wanted to see what would happen to them and if they would "get their comeuppance" -no I'm not telling!:)Porno is very character driven and I love that. The changing viewpoint helps you get right inside each persons mind ...their horrible, sick, minds. Its very cleverly done.It made me want to watch the film of Trainspotting again and maybe read some more of Irvine Welsh's books.
—Elaine
Pure brilliance! When I set out a few weeks ago to read Trainspotting I did not know there was more to be revealed. I was sad when the journey was over until I discovered Skagboys (which may be my favorite) and now Porno. Like life Porno was at times boring, hilarious, terrifying but always brilliant. A few of my favorite passages:I believe in class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I believe in my tribe. I believe in the intelligent clued-up section of the working classes against the brain- dead moronic masses as well as the mediocre, soulless bourgeoisie. I believe in punk rock. In Northern Soul. In acid house. In mod. In rock n roll. I also believe in pre-commercial righteous, rap and hip hop.That's why advertising and pornography are similar; they sell the illusion of availability and the non-consequence of consumption. He really is a form of humanity that has been rendered obsolete by the new order, but he's still a human being. Cigarettes, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, speed, poverty and media mind-fucking: capitalism's weapons of destruction are more subtle and effective than Nazism's and he's powerless against them. I guess I have no choice now but to go on read all of Irvine Welsh's works. Who knows maybe there is even another novel with Spuds, Mark Rents, Sick Boy and Beggar Boy.
—Aaron
When I heard that the Trainspotting crew were coming back to film the sequel next year, and seeing that Irvine Welsh is one of my favorite authors, I figured that I had no excuses. I had to read the sequel. I had heard mixed things about Porno, and I was apprehensive about reading a book with a title like that in public, so I approached this one with caution.30 pages in and I already knew I would love it.I strongly suggest that before reading this book, you read not only Trainspotting but Glue, also, because a few characters from that book make an appearance here, and Juice Terry is practically a main character. Plus, it's just a great book!Now, about the plot: they make a porno. Well, ok, Sick Boy decides to direct a porno and cast a merry gang of misfits in the leading roles. If you've read other Welsh novels, you already know that plot is never a big concern of his, and his books never suffer for it, either. But for what it's worth, there's more plot here than Trainspotting and everybody loves it. But what really makes this book great, amazing, better than its predecessor (yes, I mean it), is that it's a culmination of everything else that Welsh has ever done. The universe he has created in his books is one of my favorite places to visit, and the characters he writes about are some of my favorite awful people to hang out with. I could almost see the movie in my head, hear the music that will play, feel myself belly laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.Does not disappoint, not one bit. 5/5.
—Stewart Mitchell
