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joehornsby's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Addiction, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault
ufoparts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dunder_mifflin's review against another edition
can't actually give this a rating because i dnf'd it though it was more just because it's a friend's book, i kept forgetting to read it, i didn't get mega into it at the start, etc.
maybe i'll give it a go in the future? maybe i'll just watch the film and leave it there. who knoooows
maybe i'll give it a go in the future? maybe i'll just watch the film and leave it there. who knoooows
lu1717's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ratsofdoom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
_dilliam_william's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
‘Same Rules Apply’
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, this used to be my favourite book in high school. Reading it now as someone more mature I’ve gained a different appreciation for it.
The way that the book portrays the cyclical nature of trauma is one of the best I’ve seen. Having someone do horrible things and be horrible to everyone, understanding why they are like this fully, yet still knowing what they do is wrong and can’t be excused, that is an important perspective to be shown.
My only drawback about this book is the way Bruce’s sexism, classism, racism, and homophobia are portrayed. I understand all of these aspects of him are meant to show the reader that he isn’t a nice person, and there are points in which the offensiveness is so overblown that it is obviously satire. My only problem is how it’s super stylised, Welsh almost seems to be having fun with it. I understand I might be reading too much into it and I don’t think these views are necessarily held by Welsh but it does make me uncomfortable and stops the book from being a 5/5 for me.
Overall though, I absolutely tore through his book, I enjoyed it despite already having read it, and analysing this book has been really interesting. Welsh’s best work I think, would recommend with every trigger warning in existence in mind.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars, this used to be my favourite book in high school. Reading it now as someone more mature I’ve gained a different appreciation for it.
The way that the book portrays the cyclical nature of trauma is one of the best I’ve seen. Having someone do horrible things and be horrible to everyone, understanding why they are like this fully, yet still knowing what they do is wrong and can’t be excused, that is an important perspective to be shown.
My only drawback about this book is the way Bruce’s sexism, classism, racism, and homophobia are portrayed. I understand all of these aspects of him are meant to show the reader that he isn’t a nice person, and there are points in which the offensiveness is so overblown that it is obviously satire. My only problem is how it’s super stylised, Welsh almost seems to be having fun with it. I understand I might be reading too much into it and I don’t think these views are necessarily held by Welsh but it does make me uncomfortable and stops the book from being a 5/5 for me.
Overall though, I absolutely tore through his book, I enjoyed it despite already having read it, and analysing this book has been really interesting. Welsh’s best work I think, would recommend with every trigger warning in existence in mind.
chicokc's review against another edition
5.0
Bruce Robertson es un policía de Edimburgo. En teoría debería de ser un policía modelo, servicial, que cumple la ley...pues no exactamente. Es un policía despreciable, homófobo, machista, depravado, violento, aprovechado, ninfómano, drogadicto, alcohólico y quiere ascender en su trabajo. Y hasta cierto punto, lo ha logrado.
jane_zig's review against another edition
4.0
you know it's weird when the only part of the book that doesn't give you a stress headache is the narrative of the sentient tapeworm living inside the main character