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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 2, 2020 14:50:56 GMT
 I'm a few chapters into... The Young Team (2020) by Graeme Armstrong Predictable comparisons have been made with Irvine Welsh but it's quite different in many ways Armstrong has stated he wanted his novel to be “an up-to-date rendering of youth culture in Scotland”, and while Irvine Welsh’s depiction of 80s Leith smack addicts undoubtedly informs the book, new substances bring new problems.
Central character Azzy observes: “Trainspotting wis a different generation … heroin hud made its mark and is fuckin hated in the schemes … If any yir troops take it, yi huv tae leather them n banish them.”
There is no glamorisation of drugs, just the raw reality of addiction: “It’s only when yi try tae stop,” Azzy muses, “that the monster reveals itself.”
Armstrong makes the language sing...
“A grab him by the tracky tap n header fuck oot his beak”
Saturday night holds... “residual sufferin ae deathly roughnesses, eckto-weekender re-burns where we hunted fur more Class As” You get the idea. So far it's really compelling
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2020 18:19:16 GMT
I've heard of this.
Sounds like a lot of bollocks to be honest.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 2, 2020 19:21:48 GMT
I've heard of this. Sounds like a lot of bollocks to be honest. I'm totally engrossed now It reminds me a lot of Who They Was by Gabriel Krauze - another book about gang culture which is an autobiographical novel Who They Was is west London based The Young Team is based in Airdrie Both have the unmistakable ring of authenticity Both books centre around gangs, postcodes, estates and territory Who They Was is more about dealing, criminality and a bit of turf war The Young Team, so far, is wholly about gang rivalry The tales of toxic masculinity feel very relevant Give it a read and make your own mind up I got my copy out of the library |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2020 19:58:05 GMT
The only thing good about Airdrie is the road to Coatbridge!
It's a horrible wee loyalist town with a right wing football team.
The roots of 'gang culture' in Glasgow are an altogether more interesting subject.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 3, 2020 6:34:25 GMT
The only thing good about Airdrie is the road to Coatbridge! It's a horrible wee loyalist town with a right wing football team. The roots of 'gang culture' in Glasgow are an altogether more interesting subject. I can only repeat my suggestion you give it a go One thing that's interesting is that each gang has a mix of Rangers and Celtic fans - the postcode/scheme rivalries and gang affiliations are more important than football/sectarian divisions in that part of Scotland It's clearly all based on personal experience and well worth a gander It's getting better and better |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2020 12:15:25 GMT
The schemes are parochial in a lot of ways but that doesn't explain the origins of gangs in Glasgow as the majority of them have them came about due to Irish Immigration and Scottish hostility to it. Hence the Cumbie from the Gorbals and Tongs from Calton who were mostly Catholic Irish gangs.
Also the Billy boys from Brigton who were a fascist/loyalist gang.
Having know a few people from Airdrie over the years it's no secret that the town has a large Orange constituency as does most of Lanarkshire.
I wouldn't buy such drivel as most gangs these day just contain petty criminals, drug dealers and other anti social youths.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 3, 2020 12:28:30 GMT
I wouldn't buy such drivel as most gangs these day just contain petty criminals, drug dealers and other anti social youths. It's surprisingly good I recommend it Graeme Armstrong was a violent young man whose life was dedicated to fighting rival gangs. People were seriously injured and died in their fights. What's interesting is the light the book shines on that world Without insights things are harder to change It's refreshing that these voices are getting heard in the literary world Libraries avoid the need to spend money when you're unsure about whether you're going to enjoy something |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 6, 2020 8:39:29 GMT
Developing into a really interesting book about addiction, excess, maturity, life choices etc. I'm about halfway through now
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 9, 2020 16:28:42 GMT
Finished!
A few musings....
Having recently read, and been blown away by Who They Was (2020) by Gabriel Krauze, along comes another teenage gang inspired masterpiece also published in 2020.
The Young Team (2020) by Graeme Armstrong shares a lot in common with Who They Was. Both authors grew up on estates with high levels of crime and violence, and limited opportunities for the people that live there. Both tales are highly autobiographical and terrifying. Both are, ultimately, tales of redemption.
Predictable comparisons have also been made with Irvine Welsh’s work given both write in Scottish dialect. I’m a big fan of Irvine Welsh however I think the comparisons are lazy. Graeme Armstrong captures a different world. One he knows well. Comparisons with the Trainspotting crew are superficial. This is a different era, a different world, and it's completely distinct from 1990's Leith.
The Young Team is a 21st century tale of alcohol, drugs, raving, territorial disputes and violence. It focusses on young working class males on Lanarkshire estates who are compelled to live up to the hard man image of their elders. Predictably for most it’s a road to nowhere, littered with burnouts, corpses, casualties, regret, anger and sorrow.
I got both the audiobook read by Graeme Armstrong, and a physical copy too. Both are wonderful experiences. Hearing the Lanarkshire accent creates another level of immersion. Either medium is great, combined though is unbeatable.
I was engrossed from start to finish. Graeme Armstrong is a major new talent and I cannot wait to discover what he does next.
Back to Who They Was. It has made the Booker Prize shortlist and must surely be in with a shout of winning, however quite why The Young Team hasn’t enjoyed similar levels of acclaim is a mystery. Do yourself a favour and read both books.
5/5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2020 18:31:36 GMT
Theres no way you can compare Glasgow to Edinburgh especially when it comes to gangs.
The authoritative study is a book by RG McCallum called 'Tongs ya Bas' which was printed by Clydeside Press in the 80's and is long out of print.
My older cousin was a 'leader aff' for a Glasgow gang in the 70's. In fact in Glasgow you can hardly ignore gang culture(stupid as it is)
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 9, 2020 18:35:58 GMT
Interesting intel - thanks Rogue
I daresay you'd find this an interesting read too
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2020 18:49:20 GMT
I would never buy such a book as I don't believe criminals should profit from their 'work'.
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 9, 2020 18:59:15 GMT
I would never buy such a book as I don't believe criminals should profit from their 'work'. I understand that I think to call Armstrong a criminal would be overstating it. Unless you call punch ups and drug taking a crime. He was not a dealer or anything. Just a wee dafty (his words) who got heavily into fighting with a gang from the rival scheme. But to suggest the book is just salacious tales of drugs and violence is massively selling it short It's beautifully written, powerful, redemptive, insightful, and makes some profound points about life for kids like he was. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2020 22:01:49 GMT
I would never buy such a book as I don't believe criminals should profit from their 'work'. I understand that I think to call Armstrong a criminal would be overstating it. Unless you call punch ups and drug taking a crime. He was not a dealer or anything. Just a wee dafty (his words) who got heavily into fighting with a gang from the rival scheme. But to suggest the book is just salacious tales of drugs and violence is massively selling it short It's beautifully written, powerful, redemptive, insightful, and makes some profound points about life for kids like he was. You obviously don't know West of Scotland gang members. To suggest that they only attack other gang members and are not the scourge of their communities displays astonishing naivety and is not most peoples experience of them. |
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Post by Lord Emsworth on Sept 10, 2020 5:32:45 GMT
We're at cross purposes
I'm describing this largely autobiographical novel
Not gangs in West Scotland more generally
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