Filth by Irvine Welsh (1998)
Filth is possibly the most aptly titled book - EVER. People who might not enjoy this book include women - all of you, people averse to racism, sexism, the cruel and inhumane treatment of others, people with morals, and generally, the living. I thought about not finishing, putting it down several times, but as brutal and foul as the story is, after a while, the humor grows on you. You may not want to admit that you laughed at a particular passage but don't feel too guilty about it. Welsh displays many humorous and psychologically shrewd touches and it's a testament to his skill more than a reflection of your depravity that keeps you going (so I tell myself).
The story starts off with a graphic and brutal murder. Our protagonist (as in main character, not hero), Bruce Robertson, is a Scottish detective assigned to the case. Robertson is a whoring, raping, drug using, parasite infected, lying, manipulative excuse for a human being, but not unschooled in the ways of police work and human psychology. He's really the perfect cop for the case except for a minor conflict of interest which I'll let you discover on your own.
Filth is possibly the most aptly titled book - EVER. People who might not enjoy this book include women - all of you, people averse to racism, sexism, the cruel and inhumane treatment of others, people with morals, and generally, the living. I thought about not finishing, putting it down several times, but as brutal and foul as the story is, after a while, the humor grows on you. You may not want to admit that you laughed at a particular passage but don't feel too guilty about it. Welsh displays many humorous and psychologically shrewd touches and it's a testament to his skill more than a reflection of your depravity that keeps you going (so I tell myself).
The story starts off with a graphic and brutal murder. Our protagonist (as in main character, not hero), Bruce Robertson, is a Scottish detective assigned to the case. Robertson is a whoring, raping, drug using, parasite infected, lying, manipulative excuse for a human being, but not unschooled in the ways of police work and human psychology. He's really the perfect cop for the case except for a minor conflict of interest which I'll let you discover on your own.
When Robertson's not scheming to get more overtime, he's scheming on how to score more coke, how to sabotage the careers of friends and foes alike, how to get his wife back (but only when he's not scheming on how to bed the wives of his friends), and generally succeeds in accomplishing it all.
Robertson is no mere hack. He has strong beliefs about law, order, culture, society, weakness, winning and losing. Unfortunately rather than actually living up to his ideals, his behavior is the exact opposite of what he claims to cherish. His disdain for criminality is only surpassed by the scale of his own crimes. His disdain for political correctness in law enforcement (such as the hiring of female police officers - damn lezbos - and the need to investigate the murders of non-whites - they shouldn't be in Scotland to begin with, etc.) would hold him in good stead with your average republican. However, despite his numerous and all-consuming flaws, vices, crimes, regressive thoughts and actions, he operates behind the scenes, controlling people and events with careful manipulation, never revealing to others the depths of his pathologies.
Robertson is no mere hack. He has strong beliefs about law, order, culture, society, weakness, winning and losing. Unfortunately rather than actually living up to his ideals, his behavior is the exact opposite of what he claims to cherish. His disdain for criminality is only surpassed by the scale of his own crimes. His disdain for political correctness in law enforcement (such as the hiring of female police officers - damn lezbos - and the need to investigate the murders of non-whites - they shouldn't be in Scotland to begin with, etc.) would hold him in good stead with your average republican. However, despite his numerous and all-consuming flaws, vices, crimes, regressive thoughts and actions, he operates behind the scenes, controlling people and events with careful manipulation, never revealing to others the depths of his pathologies.
The plot to me was subtext, the novel is really the study of a personality type. Welsh succeeds in developing this filthy character and if you can stomach it (and get used to the Scottish dialect used in the novel), you will appreciate its virtues.
" - Dunno if you've heard, he tells me - but Clell tried tae top himself this morning. Jumped off the Dean Bridge. This news sends me into an excited rapture. Even more thrilling than Clell attempting suicide is the thought that he must have been so miserable to try, and that by failing he's merely succeeded in humiliating himself and the pain will still be there.""- The other week Bruce ... you told me you loved me? Remember? Her voice drops an octave. - Or was that just something you made up because you thought I wanted to hear it? It was made up because I had a stiffer and a standing prick hath no conscience. And if that standing prick is attached to Bruce Robertson then it hath less than no conscience. You cant afford a conscience in this life, that has become a luxury for the rich and a social ball and chain for the rest of us. Even if I wanted one, which I certainly do not, I wouldn't have the faintest idea as how to go about getting one."
"This is all bullshit, but life is one big competition. Ray is a pal, but he's also a potential or actual competitor and the only way to handle competitors is to control their level of uncertainty. That's what life is all about: the management of your opponent's uncertainty levels. We don't want this cunt getting too big for his boots, thinking that he somehow counts."
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