Welsh, I. (1993). Trainspotting. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.

The novel is divided into seven sections, and within each section there is multiple short stories narrated by different characters. The common theme of all the stories is the junkie's lifestyle and observations about life in Scotland, where most of the stories are set (the other location being London). The core group of characters are Mark “Rentboy” Renton, the antihero who is the focus of most of the novel; Simon “Sick Boy” Williamson, Renton's oldest friend and an amoral con artist; Daniel “Spud” Murphy, the naive and kind-hearted member of the group; and Francis “Franco” Begbie, a violent sociopath whose friends fear him more than they like him. Other narrators include peripheral characters such as Davie Mitchell, Tommy Lawrence, Rab “Second Prize” McLaughin, Kelly, and the occasional third-person point-of-view story. The plot of the novel is not linear, and most of the narrations are written in a Scottish dialect with words spelled phonetically. It only switches to Standard English during the third person P.O.V and Davie's chapters. Characters are often introduced in the novel without back-story, and it may take the reader some time to figure out who the narrator is, making each story a puzzle. As Mark's story is the one most prevalent in the novel, it is also the only one where the reader gets a complete view of the character's personality and life. Though other character accounts are interesting, it feels that they most exist to give further detail about the atmosphere Mark is in; even when not the narrator, he is often mentioned in the story by other characters.

It is through Mark that the reader learns what causes drug abuse and how it is sustained. Many chapters focus on Renton's multiple attempts to clean himself up, only to relapse later on. The novel also documents the toll drug use has on personal relationships, for as far as the user is concerned, the junk always comes first. Mark's view of the world is cynical and full of dark humor, which keeps him from forming meaningful relationships and he is unable to find enjoyment in anything. It is also harder for him to withdrawal completely while he remains in this environment, as his friends are all addicts and the drugs are easy to obtain. It is only by leaving the U.K. forever – though it means betraying his friends – that it seems Mark will have the chance at a future without drugs. Though the novel can be difficult to enjoy at first (those unfamiliar with the Scottish dialect and accent may be confused at what the characters are saying, though there is a glossary in the back of the book) and the pacing is slow, the novel's insights and character interactions keep the reader wanting to find out what will happen next. By continuously depicting both dangerous characters and situations, Irvine Welsh keeps the reader wondering what will happen next, as any sense of stability could collapse at any second. The writing is matter-of-fact, no excuses seem to be made for the characters and their destructive lifestyles. They are what they are, they'll do what they like, and one must either put up with it or 'git oot'. This is exactly the choice that Mark must make in the end.

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