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Terry Lawson #1
Κόλλα
Δυτικό Εδιμβούργο, 1970. Τέσσερα αγόρια γεννιούνται και μεγαλώνουν στην άκρη της πόλης, στις εργατικές κατοικίες. Οι ζωές τους καθορίζονται από ηθικούς κώδικες μιας παλαιότερης γενιάς, οι οποίοι θα δράσουν ως καταλύτες σε απανωτές αλυσιδωτές αντιδράσεις που αλλού θα οδηγήσουν στη λύτρωση και αλλού στην καταστροφή.
Ο Irvine Welsh ακολουθεί τις ζωές του Άντριου, του Τέρι, του Μπίλι και του Καρλ, και αφηγείται τον τρόπο με τον οποίο βιώνουν, μέσα απ' τη φιλία τους, την αβέβαιη καθημερινότητα μιας κοινωνίας που βρίσκεται στο μεταίχμιο καθοριστικών οικονομικών και πολιτικών αλλαγών. Οι τέσσερις τους προσπαθούν να επιβληθούν στο κοινωνικό του περιβάλλον, αλλά και στους ίδιους τους εαυτούς τους, και -το κυριότερο- να αποβάλουν από πάνω τους τη ρετσινιά του Schemie, του αγοριού που προέρχεται από τις εργατικές κατοικίες.
Πρότυπα που καταρρέουν, αφελείς εφηβικές προσδοκίες που διαλύονται μέσα σε ένα κοκτέιλ ανεξέλεγκτης βίας, σεξ, άφθονων ναρκωτικών και αλκοόλ, και μια φιλία που σχοινοβατεί, γκρεμίζεται και καταπίνεται από την πραγματικότητα, για να αναδυθεί ξανά αρκετές δεκαετίες μετά, μέσα από μια απεγνωσμένη προσπάθεια για συμφιλίωση με τα φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος.
Ο Irvine Welsh ακολουθεί τις ζωές του Άντριου, του Τέρι, του Μπίλι και του Καρλ, και αφηγείται τον τρόπο με τον οποίο βιώνουν, μέσα απ' τη φιλία τους, την αβέβαιη καθημερινότητα μιας κοινωνίας που βρίσκεται στο μεταίχμιο καθοριστικών οικονομικών και πολιτικών αλλαγών. Οι τέσσερις τους προσπαθούν να επιβληθούν στο κοινωνικό του περιβάλλον, αλλά και στους ίδιους τους εαυτούς τους, και -το κυριότερο- να αποβάλουν από πάνω τους τη ρετσινιά του Schemie, του αγοριού που προέρχεται από τις εργατικές κατοικίες.
Πρότυπα που καταρρέουν, αφελείς εφηβικές προσδοκίες που διαλύονται μέσα σε ένα κοκτέιλ ανεξέλεγκτης βίας, σεξ, άφθονων ναρκωτικών και αλκοόλ, και μια φιλία που σχοινοβατεί, γκρεμίζεται και καταπίνεται από την πραγματικότητα, για να αναδυθεί ξανά αρκετές δεκαετίες μετά, μέσα από μια απεγνωσμένη προσπάθεια για συμφιλίωση με τα φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος.
501 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
519 people are currently reading
15636 people want to read
About the author
Irvine Welsh
128 books7,624 followersProbably most famous for his gritty depiction of a gang of Scottish Heroin addicts, Trainspotting (1993), Welsh focuses on the darker side of human nature and drug use. All of his novels are set in his native Scotland and filled with anti-heroes, small time crooks and hooligans. Welsh manages, however to imbue these characters with a sad humanity that makes them likable despite their obvious scumbaggerry. Irvine Welsh is also known for writing in his native Edinburgh Scots dialect, making his prose challenging for the average reader unfamiliar with this style.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
read-enough-of
March 29, 2015I could not put this book down. Even after I finished it.
June 18, 2022
It's nowhere near the caliber of Trainspotting, which must be mentioned every time one reviews anything by Irvine Welsh, but Glue was an interesting attempt to write something in that same Extended Universe with quite different themes.
Also about four Scottish friends growing up in the dredges of society under the spectre of AIDS and poverty, but the biggest difference is that many of these characters actually become successful. Welsh explores some more colorful characterization, with a famous DJ and a famous boxer who both get to escape their humble origins. There's also another celebrity who turns up, an American singer touring, which at least gets to show Welsh's range in writing about different worlds and economic classes.
A surprisingly sentimental and sappy take on friendship, and very compassionate towards those souls who constantly end up in and out of prison. The biggest impact of the book is the introduction of one sex addict Terry Lawson, certainly the grossest of the group who gets to have the staying power to return in multiple future books. Worth reading for that fact alone.
Also: If you listen to the audiobook then just the abridged version is fine...
Also about four Scottish friends growing up in the dredges of society under the spectre of AIDS and poverty, but the biggest difference is that many of these characters actually become successful. Welsh explores some more colorful characterization, with a famous DJ and a famous boxer who both get to escape their humble origins. There's also another celebrity who turns up, an American singer touring, which at least gets to show Welsh's range in writing about different worlds and economic classes.
A surprisingly sentimental and sappy take on friendship, and very compassionate towards those souls who constantly end up in and out of prison. The biggest impact of the book is the introduction of one sex addict Terry Lawson, certainly the grossest of the group who gets to have the staying power to return in multiple future books. Worth reading for that fact alone.
Also: If you listen to the audiobook then just the abridged version is fine...
June 17, 2010
for me, i found 'glue' to be an epic novel. 556 pages that i read in 48 hours. i don't remember anything about those days other than totally immersing myself in this novel. i really hadn't felt truly excited by a novel in a long time, although i'm often reading things i enjoy.
it was everything about it that made me really love what i was reading. the characters start off as children, not really aware of their surroundings [like most children who are more concerned with playing with friends than real life:] and the novel spans, a life time for some and an end of an era -or two- for others.
i have to give a special mention to andrew galloway who is by far my favourite character in this book. poor gally, i love him so.
there are themes carried over from 'trainspotting' [but not so much with the anarchist lifestyle.:] but 'glue' is no poor-mans sequel. it holds well on its own, with its own life [although not its own world. some of these characters find their way into the 'trainspotting' sequel 'porno'.:] it's a novel with something for everyone, universal truths and down in the dirt entertainment. it is a irvine welsh novel and if you've picked up something he's written before then that should give you an idea of the kind of thing you're in for. it is a harsh reality, with snarling and bumbling real life characters and a pull that will not let you put it down until you finish every word.
it was everything about it that made me really love what i was reading. the characters start off as children, not really aware of their surroundings [like most children who are more concerned with playing with friends than real life:] and the novel spans, a life time for some and an end of an era -or two- for others.
i have to give a special mention to andrew galloway who is by far my favourite character in this book. poor gally, i love him so.
there are themes carried over from 'trainspotting' [but not so much with the anarchist lifestyle.:] but 'glue' is no poor-mans sequel. it holds well on its own, with its own life [although not its own world. some of these characters find their way into the 'trainspotting' sequel 'porno'.:] it's a novel with something for everyone, universal truths and down in the dirt entertainment. it is a irvine welsh novel and if you've picked up something he's written before then that should give you an idea of the kind of thing you're in for. it is a harsh reality, with snarling and bumbling real life characters and a pull that will not let you put it down until you finish every word.
December 15, 2025
Glue is Trainspotting lite. Most artists have one or two great stories. Welsh had one of the greatest stories in Trainspotting. He regurgitates it over here. Nothing wrong with it. I am not complaining. Juice Terry is another Sick Boy. Business Birrell is a more level headed decent version of Begbie. Carl is a more mature Mark Renton. I dare say Gally is like Spud. I enjoyed this book. Welsh's strengths are characterization and dialog. Nobody creates more interesting characters than Welsh. If Welsh was American, he would have been a fucking legend. He already is. But I guess Scotland is not as happening as other parts of the world. Welsh deserves a lot of credit for bringing Scottish working class and lowlife into the mainstream. Bringing the lowlife of your country into the global mainstream mono culture is not an easy job. But it is the most rewarding. Scorsese started it with the Italian Americans. Guy Ritchie did it for the British. Tarantino did it for all Americans. Lijo Jose Pellisery did it for Malayalis. Irvine Welsh did it for the Scottish.
January 7, 2020
"What would have happened if Jesus had been late for the last supper, boys?"
"Eh would've goat fuck all tae eat."
This is really more of a 3-star book in its majority, but a 4-star book in truth, and I'll explain why in a minute.
If you read Welsh, this one will seem mighty familiar: a bunch of scheming schemies growing up in Edinburgh's slums, except where in novels like Trainspotting the central axis was heroin, among other drugs, here it tries to be more of a warmer-type novel of friendships and the storms they weather. But it never quite catches on the same way that the other novel does (though Renton and Begbie and crew make some flash-in-the-pan cameos), perhaps because the character's are a little flatter, Juice Terry and his eternal quest for "hole" the only exception. The other three characters in the titular adhesive quartet just aren't very interesting. Structurally, the novel works, each character gets his own chapter and the book spans four decades so you get some development, but not much investment, kind of like the schemes themselves.
The four-star strength comes from the outstanding final section which takes place during the 2000 Edinburgh festival where shit really gets turned up a notch when the characters basically hijack this eating-disorder having multimillionaire American popstar and take her out for a night on the town, pubbing, drugging, and, yes, shagging. This final section is outstanding and would've made a fine novel on its own, as things take some bizarre, wicked turns, which is where Welsh really shines.
"Eh would've goat fuck all tae eat."
This is really more of a 3-star book in its majority, but a 4-star book in truth, and I'll explain why in a minute.
If you read Welsh, this one will seem mighty familiar: a bunch of scheming schemies growing up in Edinburgh's slums, except where in novels like Trainspotting the central axis was heroin, among other drugs, here it tries to be more of a warmer-type novel of friendships and the storms they weather. But it never quite catches on the same way that the other novel does (though Renton and Begbie and crew make some flash-in-the-pan cameos), perhaps because the character's are a little flatter, Juice Terry and his eternal quest for "hole" the only exception. The other three characters in the titular adhesive quartet just aren't very interesting. Structurally, the novel works, each character gets his own chapter and the book spans four decades so you get some development, but not much investment, kind of like the schemes themselves.
The four-star strength comes from the outstanding final section which takes place during the 2000 Edinburgh festival where shit really gets turned up a notch when the characters basically hijack this eating-disorder having multimillionaire American popstar and take her out for a night on the town, pubbing, drugging, and, yes, shagging. This final section is outstanding and would've made a fine novel on its own, as things take some bizarre, wicked turns, which is where Welsh really shines.
April 4, 2022
Colla: s.f. sostanza dotata di forte potere adesivo, ottenuta facendo bollire scarti animali.
Andrew, Billy, Carl e Terry sono quattro amici che si conoscono da bambini a scuola, per poi crescere insieme nella Corea, uno dei più squallidi sobborghi edimburghesi, tra risse da stadio, sesso, droga e sbornie, perdersi quindi di vista per poi ritrovarsi tutti o quasi ormai quarantenni, emarginati e bruciati dalla vita, ma ancora amici.
« Vorrà dire che mi devi un drink » disse lei, alzando le sopracciglia, con un fondo di serietà nella ciancia flirtevole.
Duncan forzò un sorriso di disimpegno, « Solo se arriva al numero uno» rispose, cercando di non sembrare disorientato come in effetti si sentiva. Dicono che rimorchi sempre di più quando sei sposato, ed è vero, rifletté lui. O forse è solo che te ne rendi conto.
La storia, raccontata in un caleidoscopio di voci narranti e divergenti punti di vista che oscillano tra la prima e la terza persona, in modo tale che il lettore veda da prospettive diverse i quattro protagonisti, risulta familiare: un gruppetto di amici che cresce nel degrado della capitale scozzese, conducendo una vita turbolenta ai margini della società.
Duncan amava le grosse piastrellone calde sotto il tappeto. Ficcavi i piedi sotto il tappeto vicino al caminetto ed era lusso allo stato puro.
Più tardi, quando arrivò l'inverno e con la posta anche le prime bollette, gli impianti di riscaldamento a pannelli della corea si spensero con una tale simultaneità che sembrarono quasi azionati da un interruttore centrale.
Ma mentre nel romanzo il cui adattamento cinematografico del 1996 rese Irvine Welsh famoso in tutto il mondo il tema principale era quello della droga, qui l’autore pone maggiore enfasi sulla virile amicizia tra i quattro protagonisti, che resiste al passare del tempo e a tutti i suoi travagli, attraverso ben quattro decadi di vicissitudini e disavventure.
L'incendio ha cominciato a bruciare verde ed era una roba fenomenale da vedere, potevi stare li a guardarlo tutta la notte. Sembrava come a scuola, dove ti dicono che quella parte azzurra della fiamma nel becco Bunsen è fredda. Dava l'idea che ci potevi entrare nella fiamma verde e sarebbe sembrata una magia.
Purtroppo Terry “Gas Terry” Lawson, Billy “Business” Birrell, Andrew “Gally” (Gally), Carl Ewart (DJ N-Sign), rispettivamente uno sfaccendato erotomane da quattro soldi, un pugile con problemi di tiroide, uno sfortunato galeotto tossicodipendente e sieropositivo, ed un deejay di successo ma con un debole di troppo per ecstasy ed affini, sono uno stralunato quartetto di personaggi decisamente meno memorabile della banda di pazzi scatenati protagonisti di Trainspotting e dei romanzi suoi epigoni, al punto che quando questi ultimi fanno capolino ogni tanto fra queste pagine, finiscono per rubare la scena, anche se per poco, a tutti gli altri.
Una vecchia coi capelli bianchi e gli occhiali, il cappello e la giacca gialla, guarda verso di noi. Sta lì cogli occhi fissi. La povera donna sembra un po' rinco e tocca. Dev'essere una merda essere vecchi. Io non diventerò mai vecchio, io no.
Andiamo avanti.
Nonostante tutto il libro ingrana più di una marcia verso la fine, con la sua tragica conclusione preceduta da Gas Terry e gli altri che, trascinando una popstar americana in quella che sarà la notte più folle della sua vita, in un vero e proprio capolavoro di humour nero che meriterebbe anch’esso solo un film a lui dedicato, guadagnano alla fine più di un punto ingraziandosi maggiormente le simpatie del lettore divertendolo e commuovendolo.
Frank Begbie guarda Spud come se lo stronzo fosse suo compare e gli avesse fatto fare una figura dimmerda. «Pezzenti del cazzo. Questo è l'unico tè che bevono 'sti stronzi... un bastoncino del cazzo per ciascuno degli zingari dimmerda » fa, e dopo ride a Tommy e Renton. « Sono i Murphy del cazzo! »
Questo Colla di Irvine Welsh, risulta essere un gran bel tentativo iniziale di creare un vero e proprio universo condiviso letterario, avente per protagonisti tutta una serie di personaggi straordinariamente reali che vivono, e a volte muoiono, ai margini della società, schiacciati dalla vita, ma che riescono comunque a restare amici tra loro, nel bene e nel male.
La corea è malmessa... be', questa parte qua. L'altro lato della strada colle case più vecchie, che noi degli appartamenti credevamo che erano baracche, adesso è rifiorito di brutto. C'hanno tutto: finestre nuove e porte nuove e i giardini puliti e in ordine.
Qua, nelle case a schiera che non vuole comprare nessuno, sta andando proprio tutto a pezzettini.
E l’erotomane e logorroico Terry Lawson tornerà in seguito in più di un libro dell’autore, andando ad intrecciare la sua esistenza con quella dei ben più famosi ragazzacci di Leith, le cui apparizioni sporadiche qui, quasi in una sorta di prequel a Trainspotting, sono state decisamente inaspettate e gradite.
Da dove mi arrivano queste reazioni?
Bevo dal mio bicchiere e lo guardo di profilo mentre fissa la fiamma del camino. È a pezzi, è massacrato. E io non voglio essere con lui, voglio essere con Elsa, ritornare in quel letto. Mentre lo guardo, tutto quello che riesco a desiderare è che loro adesso non siano qua: lui, Terry e Billy. Perché qui non è il loro posto. È il mio invece. Dappertutto è casa mia.
Anche solo per questo Colla, titolo che fa riferimento più che alla sostanza da sniffare al legame di amicizia che tiene insieme per quattro decenni Gas Terry e compagnia, merita decisamente di essere letto.
Sempre se vi garba lo stile borderline di Welsh, o se non vi turbano troppo i racconti di vite al margine infarciti di sesso, degrado e turpiloquio: in quest’ultimo caso lasciate perdere, ma in caso contrario fateci un pensierino, tenetevi forte e godetevi la corsa.
Certe volte non ci puoi fare niente se il tuo migliore amico è un balordo.
Quattro dirompenti, volgari, disturbanti, esilaranti e commoventi, stelle e mezzo.
Andrew, Billy, Carl e Terry sono quattro amici che si conoscono da bambini a scuola, per poi crescere insieme nella Corea, uno dei più squallidi sobborghi edimburghesi, tra risse da stadio, sesso, droga e sbornie, perdersi quindi di vista per poi ritrovarsi tutti o quasi ormai quarantenni, emarginati e bruciati dalla vita, ma ancora amici.
« Vorrà dire che mi devi un drink » disse lei, alzando le sopracciglia, con un fondo di serietà nella ciancia flirtevole.
Duncan forzò un sorriso di disimpegno, « Solo se arriva al numero uno» rispose, cercando di non sembrare disorientato come in effetti si sentiva. Dicono che rimorchi sempre di più quando sei sposato, ed è vero, rifletté lui. O forse è solo che te ne rendi conto.
La storia, raccontata in un caleidoscopio di voci narranti e divergenti punti di vista che oscillano tra la prima e la terza persona, in modo tale che il lettore veda da prospettive diverse i quattro protagonisti, risulta familiare: un gruppetto di amici che cresce nel degrado della capitale scozzese, conducendo una vita turbolenta ai margini della società.
Duncan amava le grosse piastrellone calde sotto il tappeto. Ficcavi i piedi sotto il tappeto vicino al caminetto ed era lusso allo stato puro.
Più tardi, quando arrivò l'inverno e con la posta anche le prime bollette, gli impianti di riscaldamento a pannelli della corea si spensero con una tale simultaneità che sembrarono quasi azionati da un interruttore centrale.
Ma mentre nel romanzo il cui adattamento cinematografico del 1996 rese Irvine Welsh famoso in tutto il mondo il tema principale era quello della droga, qui l’autore pone maggiore enfasi sulla virile amicizia tra i quattro protagonisti, che resiste al passare del tempo e a tutti i suoi travagli, attraverso ben quattro decadi di vicissitudini e disavventure.
L'incendio ha cominciato a bruciare verde ed era una roba fenomenale da vedere, potevi stare li a guardarlo tutta la notte. Sembrava come a scuola, dove ti dicono che quella parte azzurra della fiamma nel becco Bunsen è fredda. Dava l'idea che ci potevi entrare nella fiamma verde e sarebbe sembrata una magia.
Purtroppo Terry “Gas Terry” Lawson, Billy “Business” Birrell, Andrew “Gally” (Gally), Carl Ewart (DJ N-Sign), rispettivamente uno sfaccendato erotomane da quattro soldi, un pugile con problemi di tiroide, uno sfortunato galeotto tossicodipendente e sieropositivo, ed un deejay di successo ma con un debole di troppo per ecstasy ed affini, sono uno stralunato quartetto di personaggi decisamente meno memorabile della banda di pazzi scatenati protagonisti di Trainspotting e dei romanzi suoi epigoni, al punto che quando questi ultimi fanno capolino ogni tanto fra queste pagine, finiscono per rubare la scena, anche se per poco, a tutti gli altri.
Una vecchia coi capelli bianchi e gli occhiali, il cappello e la giacca gialla, guarda verso di noi. Sta lì cogli occhi fissi. La povera donna sembra un po' rinco e tocca. Dev'essere una merda essere vecchi. Io non diventerò mai vecchio, io no.
Andiamo avanti.
Nonostante tutto il libro ingrana più di una marcia verso la fine, con la sua tragica conclusione preceduta da Gas Terry e gli altri che, trascinando una popstar americana in quella che sarà la notte più folle della sua vita, in un vero e proprio capolavoro di humour nero che meriterebbe anch’esso solo un film a lui dedicato, guadagnano alla fine più di un punto ingraziandosi maggiormente le simpatie del lettore divertendolo e commuovendolo.
Frank Begbie guarda Spud come se lo stronzo fosse suo compare e gli avesse fatto fare una figura dimmerda. «Pezzenti del cazzo. Questo è l'unico tè che bevono 'sti stronzi... un bastoncino del cazzo per ciascuno degli zingari dimmerda » fa, e dopo ride a Tommy e Renton. « Sono i Murphy del cazzo! »
Questo Colla di Irvine Welsh, risulta essere un gran bel tentativo iniziale di creare un vero e proprio universo condiviso letterario, avente per protagonisti tutta una serie di personaggi straordinariamente reali che vivono, e a volte muoiono, ai margini della società, schiacciati dalla vita, ma che riescono comunque a restare amici tra loro, nel bene e nel male.
La corea è malmessa... be', questa parte qua. L'altro lato della strada colle case più vecchie, che noi degli appartamenti credevamo che erano baracche, adesso è rifiorito di brutto. C'hanno tutto: finestre nuove e porte nuove e i giardini puliti e in ordine.
Qua, nelle case a schiera che non vuole comprare nessuno, sta andando proprio tutto a pezzettini.
E l’erotomane e logorroico Terry Lawson tornerà in seguito in più di un libro dell’autore, andando ad intrecciare la sua esistenza con quella dei ben più famosi ragazzacci di Leith, le cui apparizioni sporadiche qui, quasi in una sorta di prequel a Trainspotting, sono state decisamente inaspettate e gradite.
Da dove mi arrivano queste reazioni?
Bevo dal mio bicchiere e lo guardo di profilo mentre fissa la fiamma del camino. È a pezzi, è massacrato. E io non voglio essere con lui, voglio essere con Elsa, ritornare in quel letto. Mentre lo guardo, tutto quello che riesco a desiderare è che loro adesso non siano qua: lui, Terry e Billy. Perché qui non è il loro posto. È il mio invece. Dappertutto è casa mia.
Anche solo per questo Colla, titolo che fa riferimento più che alla sostanza da sniffare al legame di amicizia che tiene insieme per quattro decenni Gas Terry e compagnia, merita decisamente di essere letto.
Sempre se vi garba lo stile borderline di Welsh, o se non vi turbano troppo i racconti di vite al margine infarciti di sesso, degrado e turpiloquio: in quest’ultimo caso lasciate perdere, ma in caso contrario fateci un pensierino, tenetevi forte e godetevi la corsa.
Certe volte non ci puoi fare niente se il tuo migliore amico è un balordo.
Quattro dirompenti, volgari, disturbanti, esilaranti e commoventi, stelle e mezzo.
May 20, 2017
Just fucking brilliant. This incredible epic is Welsh at his finest.
April 21, 2008
If you don't want to read a book filled with words that are written so that when you read them you are pronouncing words in a Scottish accent then this and many of his books are not the books for you. If you don't mind that then go for it, it only takes about a chapter to become proficient in reading his work.
I personally loved the story. It's sort of the prequel to Trainspotting. This book introduces you to many of those characters as young boys but the book is not about them but other young boys growing up in Scotland with their own set of issues and insecurities.
Welsh is a colorful writer giving his characters very full lives making you love some characters and loathing others.
I personally loved the story. It's sort of the prequel to Trainspotting. This book introduces you to many of those characters as young boys but the book is not about them but other young boys growing up in Scotland with their own set of issues and insecurities.
Welsh is a colorful writer giving his characters very full lives making you love some characters and loathing others.
January 15, 2010
This was one of the first Welsh books I discovered, and I loved it. It's as heartbreaking as it is funny and the four main characters are bizarrely likeable. The fourth of the five sections is not quite so captivating as the others but it doesn't detract from the novel too much at all.
November 11, 2012
"Glue" is about four boys from working class families in Edinburgh. It follows them from being small kids to adulthood, with some stops along the way. It runs roughly parallel with Welsh's "Trainspotting" and some of the characters from "Trainspotting" make brief appearances in "Glue" as they know some of the same friends and hang out at some of the same bars.
We're first introduced to the four mates in 1970 as small kids with their families. Carl "N-SIGN" Ewart and Billy "Business" Birrell's fathers meet at the metal fabrication shop where they both work hard and bond to become lifelong friends, which the boys follow. "Juice" Terry Lawson and his sister watch as their father leaves them and their mother for another, younger woman. And Andrew "Gally" Galloway is told "you're the man of the house now" while his mother cries and his father has to leave with some policemen, who he says "they need my help".
We meet them next in their midteens in 1980, Terry having dropped out of school to work on the juice lorries, hence his nickname, where he gets to meet and sleep with all the girls in a bunch of neighborhoods. The other three are still in school and hating it. From all four of them, three Hibees and a Jam Tart, we get their view on their brilliant plan for football hooliganism at a Hibs vs. Glasgow match, that they think has never been done before to go without their colours to the opposing side's bleachers and start a fight.
Then we meet them again in 1990 when the four head off to Munich for the Oktoberfest to drink, have fun and raise hell. Terry is the happiest of the bunch, whose life is all about thievery, sex and drinking, Billy is the hardest, a champion boxer, Carl is a successful club DJ, but Gally's been in and out of prison and has the worst luck of all.
And finally, we come to 2000 where all four of them have separated in various ways, not the least of which is death. Events bring the remaining three together again.
Welsh writes the whole thing, dialogue and narrative in a thick Scottish accent, with unconventional punctuation and chock full of vulgarities. I found myself not understanding words till many chapters later when suddenly they made sense, like "boatil" is actually "bottle" and "eh" is really "he" and so forth. It helped at times to try and imagine Scotty, from Star Trek, saying some of it...
It's hard to read, but well worth the effort.
We're first introduced to the four mates in 1970 as small kids with their families. Carl "N-SIGN" Ewart and Billy "Business" Birrell's fathers meet at the metal fabrication shop where they both work hard and bond to become lifelong friends, which the boys follow. "Juice" Terry Lawson and his sister watch as their father leaves them and their mother for another, younger woman. And Andrew "Gally" Galloway is told "you're the man of the house now" while his mother cries and his father has to leave with some policemen, who he says "they need my help".
We meet them next in their midteens in 1980, Terry having dropped out of school to work on the juice lorries, hence his nickname, where he gets to meet and sleep with all the girls in a bunch of neighborhoods. The other three are still in school and hating it. From all four of them, three Hibees and a Jam Tart, we get their view on their brilliant plan for football hooliganism at a Hibs vs. Glasgow match, that they think has never been done before to go without their colours to the opposing side's bleachers and start a fight.
Then we meet them again in 1990 when the four head off to Munich for the Oktoberfest to drink, have fun and raise hell. Terry is the happiest of the bunch, whose life is all about thievery, sex and drinking, Billy is the hardest, a champion boxer, Carl is a successful club DJ, but Gally's been in and out of prison and has the worst luck of all.
And finally, we come to 2000 where all four of them have separated in various ways, not the least of which is death. Events bring the remaining three together again.
Welsh writes the whole thing, dialogue and narrative in a thick Scottish accent, with unconventional punctuation and chock full of vulgarities. I found myself not understanding words till many chapters later when suddenly they made sense, like "boatil" is actually "bottle" and "eh" is really "he" and so forth. It helped at times to try and imagine Scotty, from Star Trek, saying some of it...
It's hard to read, but well worth the effort.
February 15, 2008
Someone had warned me that, along with Filth, this was where Irvine Welsh got especially difficult to get through. I'll admit that Filth's "bad cop" anti-hero narrator did make for some rather tough slogging there, and I never got around to picking this one up.
Until now, and it's good that I did. This may, on the contrary, be Welsh's most warmly-rendered and human novel, and its quartet of narrators growing up in the "schemes" (Edinburgh's destitute housing projects) may be his most sympathetic. Welsh's brand of realism, as usual, involves refusing to flinch away from marked character flaws and the acknowledgement that a lot of really awful things can happen (in excruciating detail), but here there's a heartfelt core to give the proceedings a sort of meaning. Easily his best since Trainspotting and Marabou Stork Nightmares, possibly just his best, period.
On the heavy use of dialect off-putting to some: just start reading and it'll all click into place after a few sections. You might even catch yourself narrating your life in heavy Scottish for a few days.
Until now, and it's good that I did. This may, on the contrary, be Welsh's most warmly-rendered and human novel, and its quartet of narrators growing up in the "schemes" (Edinburgh's destitute housing projects) may be his most sympathetic. Welsh's brand of realism, as usual, involves refusing to flinch away from marked character flaws and the acknowledgement that a lot of really awful things can happen (in excruciating detail), but here there's a heartfelt core to give the proceedings a sort of meaning. Easily his best since Trainspotting and Marabou Stork Nightmares, possibly just his best, period.
On the heavy use of dialect off-putting to some: just start reading and it'll all click into place after a few sections. You might even catch yourself narrating your life in heavy Scottish for a few days.
January 18, 2009
A tale of friendship and life. A concept novel that follows 4 males as they grow up together in the same working class area. The story is set in 4 parts, each 10 years advanced from the last. We get to see the boys at 5 years old, and then again as awkward teenagers before seeing how they have developed into adults in the final two sections. This novel is Welsh's finest in my estimation. Juice Terry is probably my favourite of his characters and that's saying a lot!
August 25, 2016
Život i odrastanje u Edinburghu kroz 70-e, 80-e i 90-e godine. Seks i ljubav i seks bez ljubavi, nogomet i navijanje i huligani, droga, siromaštvo i borba. Ali najviše od svega prijateljstvo i odanost koja prati prijateljstvo.
Irvine Welsh oslikava život Škotske iz predgrađa i radi to majstorski dinamično i onako kako to samo on zna. Nakon Trainspottinga, još jedna genijalna knjiga koja oduševljava i na koju sam se navukla već nakon prvih nekoliko stranica.
Irvine Welsh oslikava život Škotske iz predgrađa i radi to majstorski dinamično i onako kako to samo on zna. Nakon Trainspottinga, još jedna genijalna knjiga koja oduševljava i na koju sam se navukla već nakon prvih nekoliko stranica.
January 14, 2008
This is definately one I have to go back and read. This exploration of four friends and the different paths they take over several decades is very enjoyable. Disturbing and vulgar, hilarious and heartbreaking, especially the character of Andrew Galloway and his tragic turn. Another good one from Edina's laureate of squalor.
dropped
August 2, 2023Read up to p.158. Tiresome.
June 27, 2016
Irvine Welsh is at his best in Glue – it’s a book about friendships, and how the glue that holds us all together is affected by the passage of time, and our surroundings, and all sorts of external factors including drug addiction and disappointment, two of Welsh’s big themes that seem to follow him from book to book.
The good thing about Glue is that Welsh gets a lot of time to play with his characters and to put them into different situations, to see how they react. Even after watching the film of Trainspotting, as an example, I still found it hard to differentiate between the different characters – here, in Glue, they’re so well-defined that I still remember them, as well as the ending, which is unfortunate. I would’ve liked to have re-read it, but I guess I’ll save that for later, when I’ve read the rest of Welsh’s ouevre. He certainly has a lot of stuff out there – I’d guess I’ve read around half of it, and that’s still at least half a dozen books.
In this novel, we follow a group of friends from their time together as kids in the 70s to the turn of the millenium, when a lot of secrets start coming to light. Of course, I can’t talk about what those secrets are without spoiling the end of the book, but the interesting thing here is that the twists start kicking in about two thirds of the way through the novel, and then just don’t let up until you’ve turned the final page. In many ways, that’s why I’ve given this a nine – not many books hit you in the face, but this is one of them.
For me, one of the interesting things was that my generation came a couple of generations after the one that’s featured here, and whilst I did grow up in a working class town, it wasn’t as bleak as the childhood that Welsh depicts. That said, I can recognise some of the personality types, and I can also see some of the characters from this novel in some of the famous people that dominated the era, although I’m not going to mention any names – that’s for you to find out.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Irvine Welsh, and it’s hard to pick a single book to hold up above the others, and so I’m not going to try to. That said, I think Glue is as good as any of his other books, if not better – I’d recommend it accordingly. Really, most people have already read one of Irvine Welsh’s books by the time that they pick up a copy of Glue, although it’s also not a bad book to start with.
I guess, if I had to, I’d recommend Filth or Maribou Stork Nightmares, because those are my two favourite Irvine Welsh novels. But it’s pretty close, and to be honest, most people discover his work through Trainspotting – a bit like Chuck Palahniuk, with Fight Club. You should probably read Trainspotting first because it’s the book that he’s associated with – after that, think about picking up a copy of Glue. Or do what I do, and stock up on Irvine Welsh books whenever you come across them in charity shops – it’s cheaper.
The good thing about Glue is that Welsh gets a lot of time to play with his characters and to put them into different situations, to see how they react. Even after watching the film of Trainspotting, as an example, I still found it hard to differentiate between the different characters – here, in Glue, they’re so well-defined that I still remember them, as well as the ending, which is unfortunate. I would’ve liked to have re-read it, but I guess I’ll save that for later, when I’ve read the rest of Welsh’s ouevre. He certainly has a lot of stuff out there – I’d guess I’ve read around half of it, and that’s still at least half a dozen books.
In this novel, we follow a group of friends from their time together as kids in the 70s to the turn of the millenium, when a lot of secrets start coming to light. Of course, I can’t talk about what those secrets are without spoiling the end of the book, but the interesting thing here is that the twists start kicking in about two thirds of the way through the novel, and then just don’t let up until you’ve turned the final page. In many ways, that’s why I’ve given this a nine – not many books hit you in the face, but this is one of them.
For me, one of the interesting things was that my generation came a couple of generations after the one that’s featured here, and whilst I did grow up in a working class town, it wasn’t as bleak as the childhood that Welsh depicts. That said, I can recognise some of the personality types, and I can also see some of the characters from this novel in some of the famous people that dominated the era, although I’m not going to mention any names – that’s for you to find out.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Irvine Welsh, and it’s hard to pick a single book to hold up above the others, and so I’m not going to try to. That said, I think Glue is as good as any of his other books, if not better – I’d recommend it accordingly. Really, most people have already read one of Irvine Welsh’s books by the time that they pick up a copy of Glue, although it’s also not a bad book to start with.
I guess, if I had to, I’d recommend Filth or Maribou Stork Nightmares, because those are my two favourite Irvine Welsh novels. But it’s pretty close, and to be honest, most people discover his work through Trainspotting – a bit like Chuck Palahniuk, with Fight Club. You should probably read Trainspotting first because it’s the book that he’s associated with – after that, think about picking up a copy of Glue. Or do what I do, and stock up on Irvine Welsh books whenever you come across them in charity shops – it’s cheaper.
August 28, 2018
Ποταμός Welsh. Ασυγκράτητη ροή λέξεων/εικονων/νοημάτων.
Ενα οδοιπορικό στο Λιθ , του φτωχικου προάστιου του Εδιμβούργου, ξεκινώντας από τη φτώχεια και την περιθωριοποίηση των 70ς μέχρι τα στοιχήματα του σύγχρονου 21ου αιώνα.
Οι εργατικές κατοικίες, χτισμένες από την κυβέρνηση, το ταμείο ανεργίας, το εργοστάσιο,η φυλακή. Όλα αυτά μαζί δημιουργούν μια άθλια δυσωδία χαμηλών προσδοκιών που, αν τις άφηνες, μπορούσαν να στραγγαλίσουν τη ζωή σου.
Τόσοι εγκέφαλοι, που το όνειρο τους γίνεται σμπαραλια από τα ΜΑΤ και τους παλαβους μαυραγορίτες εμπόρους ναρκωτικών, παιδιά των θατσερικων χρόνων. Η παλιά γροθιά καταπίεσης παραμονεύει ακόμα κάτω από την υποκριτική ρουτίνα της καθημερινότητας. Κόντρες,
αγριες απολαύσεις κ σκληρές απογοητεύσεις για τους ήρωες του, τους κρατάνε σε δυναμικές ισορροπίες κ τους υπενθυμίζουν ότι προέρχονται από την ίδια μήτρα και συγκεκριμένους κανόνες ηθικής, που τους πηγαίνουν παρακάτω
Ενα οδοιπορικό στο Λιθ , του φτωχικου προάστιου του Εδιμβούργου, ξεκινώντας από τη φτώχεια και την περιθωριοποίηση των 70ς μέχρι τα στοιχήματα του σύγχρονου 21ου αιώνα.
Οι εργατικές κατοικίες, χτισμένες από την κυβέρνηση, το ταμείο ανεργίας, το εργοστάσιο,η φυλακή. Όλα αυτά μαζί δημιουργούν μια άθλια δυσωδία χαμηλών προσδοκιών που, αν τις άφηνες, μπορούσαν να στραγγαλίσουν τη ζωή σου.
Τόσοι εγκέφαλοι, που το όνειρο τους γίνεται σμπαραλια από τα ΜΑΤ και τους παλαβους μαυραγορίτες εμπόρους ναρκωτικών, παιδιά των θατσερικων χρόνων. Η παλιά γροθιά καταπίεσης παραμονεύει ακόμα κάτω από την υποκριτική ρουτίνα της καθημερινότητας. Κόντρες,
αγριες απολαύσεις κ σκληρές απογοητεύσεις για τους ήρωες του, τους κρατάνε σε δυναμικές ισορροπίες κ τους υπενθυμίζουν ότι προέρχονται από την ίδια μήτρα και συγκεκριμένους κανόνες ηθικής, που τους πηγαίνουν παρακάτω
June 1, 2011
Glue is populated with strong characters. The four main friends the reader follows - Gally, Juice Terry, N-Sign Ewart, and Billy Birrell - stick together through thick and thin. From primary school to soccer riots (which is an hilarious scene) to teenage clubbing to middle age, the four remain friends. What's more is their mannerisms and behavior towards each other change very little over the course of the novel, which gives it a remarkably cohesive feel. In the end, the reader is made to feel most sympathetic towards Gally because he is the group's martyr and his story is the most integral to the climax of the novel. However, all four main characters receive equal page time, and because of this they are so developed that you know what one will say before it is said. The reader gets to intimately know each of the four.
Also, the situations the lads experience throughout are exciting, hilarious and wildly varied. The afformentioned soccer riot is great, the European vacation is very interesting, and the reunion at the end is nearly heartbreaking.
In fact, the only aspect of the book I didn't care for was the year hopping. The story begins when the boys are about 10 and progresses in 5 year increments up to middle age. It works on the level of a character study, but it makes the novel seem more pieced together than linear. Irvine Welsh is obviously an incredibly talented writer, but the jumping around seems like a crutch to prop up a story idea that never reached maturity. One page Gally is at the nightclub, the next he's just getting out of prison.
All that said Glue is a great read, the more so since Filth was such a disappointment. The characters and situations are great, and with the exception of the year hopping, I found every facet of the novel to be great especially for fans of Welsh's work. If you love any of his work read Glue - it is truly intriguing.
Also, the situations the lads experience throughout are exciting, hilarious and wildly varied. The afformentioned soccer riot is great, the European vacation is very interesting, and the reunion at the end is nearly heartbreaking.
In fact, the only aspect of the book I didn't care for was the year hopping. The story begins when the boys are about 10 and progresses in 5 year increments up to middle age. It works on the level of a character study, but it makes the novel seem more pieced together than linear. Irvine Welsh is obviously an incredibly talented writer, but the jumping around seems like a crutch to prop up a story idea that never reached maturity. One page Gally is at the nightclub, the next he's just getting out of prison.
All that said Glue is a great read, the more so since Filth was such a disappointment. The characters and situations are great, and with the exception of the year hopping, I found every facet of the novel to be great especially for fans of Welsh's work. If you love any of his work read Glue - it is truly intriguing.
March 30, 2011
This novel follows several decades of the lives of four Scottish friends, from their high school days in Edinburgh until their thirties, when circumstances have put them each on separate paths. In essence, this is a story about life growing up in "the scheme" (government housing projects aimed at eliminating Edinburgh's slums), and the rules that come along with that life: edicts like "always back up your mates" and "never grass on anyone". The title refers to friends sticking together when everything is falling apart.
This novel has a very similar appeal to Trainspotting. It bears Welsh's same graphic blend of urban life, sex, drugs, and occasional violence. The first half in particular is a fast-paced montage of these elements. Towards the end, the novel gets a bit more profound, at least in terms of examining friendship (the "everything falling apart" bit comes into play here). A very enjoyable book overall; the vulgarity of Welsh's style (entertaining though it is!) belies some good observations on loyalty and working class life.
This novel has a very similar appeal to Trainspotting. It bears Welsh's same graphic blend of urban life, sex, drugs, and occasional violence. The first half in particular is a fast-paced montage of these elements. Towards the end, the novel gets a bit more profound, at least in terms of examining friendship (the "everything falling apart" bit comes into play here). A very enjoyable book overall; the vulgarity of Welsh's style (entertaining though it is!) belies some good observations on loyalty and working class life.
February 10, 2014
I think this is Welsh's most soulful novel. It doesn't try to make itself as interesting as some of his other works, just letting the characters move the reader. It's a little more sprawling than I would have liked, but that's just me. The dialect can get confusing when it gets particularly thick, but that's normal and expected since I'm not used to trying to understand people from that background. Besides, it's really a necessary part of Welsh's books as I see it, and necessary for characterization. I guess I just liked how bare and honest Welsh decided to let this one be. No tricks, just good characters.
May 18, 2023
absolutely fucking loved. friendship and ageing and distance.
really enjoyed following multiple characters perspectives through different life stages and the interwoven lives they lead.
thought last quarter was strange as format changed and new narrators were introduced but was the best portion of the book by far.
“We tend to be rather murky little ponds, containing many layers of suspended dirt and grime and our greatest depths are stirred by the strangest of currents.”
“If only he loved himself as much as he loved the rest of the world”
really enjoyed following multiple characters perspectives through different life stages and the interwoven lives they lead.
thought last quarter was strange as format changed and new narrators were introduced but was the best portion of the book by far.
“We tend to be rather murky little ponds, containing many layers of suspended dirt and grime and our greatest depths are stirred by the strangest of currents.”
“If only he loved himself as much as he loved the rest of the world”
Read
June 30, 2017DNF. No ranking. No review. I gave it a little over 100 pages (110, to be honest). It is written in a language I do not understand.
May 22, 2020
'Glue' is about four friends who hail from Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. It begins with them as infants in the 1970s, and ends at the dawn of the new millennium. From a young age, these ‘schemies’ participate in football violence, boozing and drug use. There is future DJ Carl, the sensitive Gally, talented boxer Birrell, and ‘Juice’ Terry; a liability and incessant womaniser, obsessed with gettin’ his hole. The swearing is relentless; c*&% being a particular favourite, and not merely as an insult, but also as a term of endearment. Themes include music, trade unions, social class and peer pressure.
Set in the author’s customary stomping ground, this episodic tome (556 pages) is in essence about growing up. As is often case with iconic Transgressive author Welsh’s novels, this is an experimental work. The text vacillates constantly between the first and third person; the effect being that the reader sees the four main characters from different perspectives.
'Glue' adeptly captures the zeitgeists of the various eras it encapsulates. While this darkly humorous and at times depressing novel could be argued to be meandering and convoluted, its sharp Leith-vernacular-heavy dialogue, entertaining scenes and scabrous descriptions will appeal to all fans of the Transgressive Fiction genre.
Set in the author’s customary stomping ground, this episodic tome (556 pages) is in essence about growing up. As is often case with iconic Transgressive author Welsh’s novels, this is an experimental work. The text vacillates constantly between the first and third person; the effect being that the reader sees the four main characters from different perspectives.
'Glue' adeptly captures the zeitgeists of the various eras it encapsulates. While this darkly humorous and at times depressing novel could be argued to be meandering and convoluted, its sharp Leith-vernacular-heavy dialogue, entertaining scenes and scabrous descriptions will appeal to all fans of the Transgressive Fiction genre.
February 21, 2011
I loved this so much! It has been hanging around my house for absolutely ages (my first ever RiSi swap in fact) and I regret not getting around to it sooner. Irvine Welsh has such a talent for creating characters who are completely endearing and engaging despite getting up to horrendous things. It sounds like a cliché but I was really disappointed when I finished this book and wanted to stay with the characters longer & find out what happened next. Juice Terry is especially hilarious. I also loved the way characters from Trainspotting kept cropping up as it's one of my all-time favourites so it was great to get these little snapshots of what was going on with them.
September 24, 2010
This book was hard.
Hard in every way.
The language, the plot, the characters.
All hard.
And every bit worth it.
Hard in every way.
The language, the plot, the characters.
All hard.
And every bit worth it.
November 14, 2024
"From Genesis to Revelation, the Next Generation..."
It takes most authors a few novels to match the level of sophisticated character development that Irvine Welsh achieves with Glue. Even compared to his more popular works like Trainspotting, the main characters of Glue are extraordinarily complex. The story follows the lives of close friends Andrew “Gally” Galloway, Carl “NSIGN” Ewart, Billy “Business” Birrell, and Terry “Juice” Lawson throughout the first 4 decades of their lives, beginning with their first meetings in primary school as social, economical, and political factors, as well as age, inevitably test their bonds over time.
The book is divided into 4 main sections corresponding to the 70’s (childhood), 80’s (adolescence), 90’s (mid-20’s), and the early 2000’s (30’s). Most chapters are narrated in first-person phonetic Scotts dialect like most of Welsh’s material. Much of the chapters in the 70’s are more about the friends’ parents and their upbringings in Edinburgh, so dozens of characters are introduced very early and quickly. It’s a good idea to take small notes about their families starting out, because they are all still being referenced hundreds of pages later and it’s easy to become befuddled as the focus shifts towards the main characters in the next section. There are also many side characters like Dozo Doyle, Gentlemen, Polmont, the various love and ex-love interests of the main characters, and even cameos by the Trainspotting crew. The cast of Glue is a little intimidating, but every nuance comes together in the end and rewards the reader for keeping up with the intricate details.
Among the factors that test the bonds of the main four’s friendships over time include familiar themes in Welsh’s novels; sex, drugs (especially heroin), AIDS, mass unemployment, and a revolving door of dodgy scams. The difference in Glue is that the narrative isn't dominated by any particular one of them. These elements constantly force the characters to reflect on their own moral compasses, which are always in a state of flux in the 10-year gaps between chapters. “Never grass (snitch)” is a principle that is constantly revisited throughout.
Though Irvine Welsh has cited EDM genre Acid House as a prime source of inspiration for his work, Glue reads more like Progressive House. Although the reader stays rooted to the same four characters and they all skip to the same beat throughout their lives, it’s the subtle changes over time that create the biggest impacts which gradually escalate to breaking points. The shifting dynamics, essentially change, is what this piece is all about. If John Digweed was a librarian, he would read this book aloud 24/7 and eventually people would be forced to choose another library.
Glue isn’t just one of my favorite Irvine Welsh books, it’s one of my favorite books period. Friendships are complicated and this story is brutally honest about that fact. Gally, Carl, Billy, and Juice feel like very real human beings weathering a very real and cruel word and it’s the synthesis of Welsh’s fiction with the legitimate history of Edinburgh that once again plays a vital role in producing that surreal ambiance. If you enjoyed Trainspotting, you will fall in love with Glue.
It takes most authors a few novels to match the level of sophisticated character development that Irvine Welsh achieves with Glue. Even compared to his more popular works like Trainspotting, the main characters of Glue are extraordinarily complex. The story follows the lives of close friends Andrew “Gally” Galloway, Carl “NSIGN” Ewart, Billy “Business” Birrell, and Terry “Juice” Lawson throughout the first 4 decades of their lives, beginning with their first meetings in primary school as social, economical, and political factors, as well as age, inevitably test their bonds over time.
The book is divided into 4 main sections corresponding to the 70’s (childhood), 80’s (adolescence), 90’s (mid-20’s), and the early 2000’s (30’s). Most chapters are narrated in first-person phonetic Scotts dialect like most of Welsh’s material. Much of the chapters in the 70’s are more about the friends’ parents and their upbringings in Edinburgh, so dozens of characters are introduced very early and quickly. It’s a good idea to take small notes about their families starting out, because they are all still being referenced hundreds of pages later and it’s easy to become befuddled as the focus shifts towards the main characters in the next section. There are also many side characters like Dozo Doyle, Gentlemen, Polmont, the various love and ex-love interests of the main characters, and even cameos by the Trainspotting crew. The cast of Glue is a little intimidating, but every nuance comes together in the end and rewards the reader for keeping up with the intricate details.
Among the factors that test the bonds of the main four’s friendships over time include familiar themes in Welsh’s novels; sex, drugs (especially heroin), AIDS, mass unemployment, and a revolving door of dodgy scams. The difference in Glue is that the narrative isn't dominated by any particular one of them. These elements constantly force the characters to reflect on their own moral compasses, which are always in a state of flux in the 10-year gaps between chapters. “Never grass (snitch)” is a principle that is constantly revisited throughout.
Though Irvine Welsh has cited EDM genre Acid House as a prime source of inspiration for his work, Glue reads more like Progressive House. Although the reader stays rooted to the same four characters and they all skip to the same beat throughout their lives, it’s the subtle changes over time that create the biggest impacts which gradually escalate to breaking points. The shifting dynamics, essentially change, is what this piece is all about. If John Digweed was a librarian, he would read this book aloud 24/7 and eventually people would be forced to choose another library.
Glue isn’t just one of my favorite Irvine Welsh books, it’s one of my favorite books period. Friendships are complicated and this story is brutally honest about that fact. Gally, Carl, Billy, and Juice feel like very real human beings weathering a very real and cruel word and it’s the synthesis of Welsh’s fiction with the legitimate history of Edinburgh that once again plays a vital role in producing that surreal ambiance. If you enjoyed Trainspotting, you will fall in love with Glue.
March 2, 2016
Glue prati četiri prijatelja iz Edinburgha kroz četiri desetljeća njihova prijateljstva, od početka u sedamdesetima, dok su još bili samo klinci, prolazi se kroz burne osamdesete kada su bili divlji tinejdžeri, devedesetih kad su se samo htjeli zabavljati na eksovima i u konačnici se dolazi do dvije tisućitih u kojima su najbolje godine definitivno iza njih.
Svaka ta cjelina djeluje skoro kao zasebna priča, ali radnja ionako nije toliko bitna u ovom romanu. Umjesto toga, u fokusu su tu uvijek prijatelji i njihovo odrastanje, njihovi uspjesi i padovi.
Uz sve to, Glue je ipak tradicionalan Welshov roman; droga, alkohol, seks, humor, vulgarnost, nasilje...
Ali iako se ovdje nalazi sve što volim kao fan Welsha, u cijelu tu kombinaciju ovaj put dolazi i konstantan osjećaj nostalgije, emocije zbog koje mi je ovaj rad još i snažniji od ostalih njegovih koje sam imao priliku pročitati.
Pa onda kada sam završavao knjigu stvarno sam imao osjećaj da sam s njima već 40 godina, usprkos tome što je knjiga dugačka samo 450 stranica i zapravo pokriva samo jako mali dio života četvorice škotskih prijatelja.
Svaka ta cjelina djeluje skoro kao zasebna priča, ali radnja ionako nije toliko bitna u ovom romanu. Umjesto toga, u fokusu su tu uvijek prijatelji i njihovo odrastanje, njihovi uspjesi i padovi.
Uz sve to, Glue je ipak tradicionalan Welshov roman; droga, alkohol, seks, humor, vulgarnost, nasilje...
Ali iako se ovdje nalazi sve što volim kao fan Welsha, u cijelu tu kombinaciju ovaj put dolazi i konstantan osjećaj nostalgije, emocije zbog koje mi je ovaj rad još i snažniji od ostalih njegovih koje sam imao priliku pročitati.
Pa onda kada sam završavao knjigu stvarno sam imao osjećaj da sam s njima već 40 godina, usprkos tome što je knjiga dugačka samo 450 stranica i zapravo pokriva samo jako mali dio života četvorice škotskih prijatelja.
April 29, 2014
This is a hard one to review. I have not finished it and I don't know that I will, which would usually earn a one star scathing review, but the fact is, it's an excellent book, just very difficult to read. Glue is a well told, many faceted linked narratives of victims and victimizers living hand to mouth. The writing is fresh, the characters equal parts appalling and captivating, but the novel is in dialect which means this takes about 4x the amount of time to read and some words are just incomprehensible. While I get why it has to be this way, the fact is it just made it a lot harder for me to pick up knowing how much effort it would take to plow through and how much I would miss as a result. If you're more tolerant of that than I am then I do recommend trying it because it has the makings of a worthwhile read.
July 7, 2011
I found this book to be an engaging, crazy, and even heartfelt account about the lifelong friendship between the four childhood friends. This is one of those books that has stuck in my head since the one and only time I read it. Perhaps because I could relate in some ways to the characters, I think about this book and the stories every so often.
I also found it refreshing that Welsh wrote a structured novel with linear events. I also appreciated that he returned some of the old characters from Trainspotting, like Renton and Spud and Begbie. It made for a good read.
I also found it refreshing that Welsh wrote a structured novel with linear events. I also appreciated that he returned some of the old characters from Trainspotting, like Renton and Spud and Begbie. It made for a good read.
August 7, 2007
All time fav IW book- character driven tale of four friends and the woes they weave over the decades. Absolutely love Juice Terry, the self proclaimed fanny merchant/ aerated waters salesmen (see him later- and fatter in Porno). Wish they would make this into a movie. When I had the fortune to meet Mr. Welsh I had him sign my well read copy of this book and Porno. The page he signed had been torn out and taped back together. Lol.
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