readers advisory for all discussion

First, some background information:
Requiem for a Dream: one of my favorites! I became so involved in the book and thoroughly immersed. Sure, it was depressing. But what I felt made it so great was how it made me so emotionally invested in it.
Last Exit to Brooklyn: not bad, but I actually liked Requiem for a Dream better. My point is, I found Hubert Selby Jr.'s unorthodox writing style a challenge at first, but I eventually got used to it. If anything, it helped me become immersed in the stories.
A Clockwork Orange: I consider it one of the most well written books I have ever read. Sure, the nadsat was a challenge at first, but I eventually got used to that as well. I could figure most of it out from context, and if I was stuck on a word I would turn to the glossary. Overall, I definitely considered it well worth the read.
I guess what I'm saying is I have experience with transgressive fiction. I also have experience with books with unusual writing styles that take getting used to. And, apparently, I like them.
So here comes my question:
Trainspotting: should I give it a try? I often see it compared with Requiem for a Dream, which, as I said, is one of my favorites. I know that they are similar in their content (unflinching and brutally honest portrayals of substance abuse and addiction), and that is why they are compared to each other so often. I've also seen Trainspotting compared to A Clockwork Orange for its writing style. I actually checked out a Trainspotting preview/sample, and I did take notice of the unusual style. It does look like a challenge, but given my reading history I'm hopeful that my experience reading Trainspotting will be similar to my experience reading the others. I also have heard of the movie but have not seen it.
So... should I add it to my reading list?
P.S. If I was to read Trainspotting I probably wouldn't get around to it until late October at earliest or Christmas vacation at latest. I've got some busy days up ahead.

Hi Kathleen, I hope you don't mind me answering. I'm by no means a literary expert, but i have read Clockwork Orange and trainspotting and loved them both but I would never compare Trainspotting to Clockwork Orange. Clockwork is a bleak and terrifying glimpse into an imaginary future England based on the vile 60's housing estates / schemes that were built in the 60's and a spiraling inner city violence that accompanied it..and although Trainspotting does have its violent moments and its firmly rooted in real life behaviour and antics of drug addicted friends and as bleak as it does get, its driven along by humour. I Got something completely different from both books. It doesn't take long to get your head around the Edinborough accent (if you could decode the language in Clockwork it will be a doddle to read Trainspotting). I definitely recommend. Phil

i understand the comparison - they're both in dialect, they have the same pacing, they both have scenes of unforgettable violence, and they are both social commentaries about youthful self-destructive nihilism allowed to run wild. which nihilism is only true of some of the characters in trainspotting, but it does set a tone. and there's humor in clockwork!! it's just a much darker brand. but yeah - those two books could definitely share a bookshelf! you should read it, and most of his others.

Thank you, Phil and Karen! It looks like Trainspotting is about to be added to my to-read list.

yayy!!

If you like messed up/bleak stories try reading The Acid House. Some stories are heavier in Scottish dialect than others and you should have a strong stomach because most of the stories are just disgusting.

Thanks, Hester!

Maribou stork nightmares is great too...and most of it is not in the Edinburgh accent :)

that one is actually my favorite of his.

Ah, mine too!

it's definitely his most ambitious, and it's the kind of gimmick that could so easily have been horrible, but he pulls it off incredibly well. i haven't read his last few books, but i should probably give them a shot as well.

I recently read his latest, the sex lives of Siamese twins. I think that was his biggest departure from his norm and definitely his most mainstream. It was good but I prefer his edgy, grimier stuff myself

hahah well, that plot synopsis certainly sounds mainstream!! it's what all the kids are doing these days...

So, I finished Trainspotting last week! I enjoyed it and found it a worthwhile read :)

oh, i am so glad! success!