Irvine Welsh's collection is made up of short stories set mostly in Edinburgh and its housing schemes, written in Scots dialect. In the title story, a young man hit by lightning during an acid trip swaps bodies with a newborn baby, and he spends time in a crib listening to the baby's parents. Other stories follow football hooligans, drug users, a Scottish dad, and a failed romance, with dark comedy and frequent profanity.
Readers who enjoyed Trainspotting will find similar voices and subject matter in smaller doses. It is also useful for anyone interested in contemporary Scottish writing and working-class dialect on the page.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1994
- Language
- EN
