However Trainspotting is written in the Edinburgh dialect with a heavy use of slang, so it’s a little hard to read. I often have to read sentances twice or three times, but I’m getting moar fluid wi tha Edinbru dialect so ay am.

But I know have an inner monologue with an Edinburgh accent as that’s how I read the book in my head.

Also the huge amount of swearing and shocking realism in the book is exciting; I have to confess that I’ve never read transgressive fiction.

The 1996 film Trainspotting was one of the first 18 certificate films I bought while under-age and it was one of the first films to really give me a radical perspective on life as a teenager. I’ve finally gotten round to reading it thanks to a nudge from Constance.

After Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh wrote Glue which features some of the same characters; that’s going on my Christmas list.