Having Irvine Welsh as one of your best mates was not without its problems. Sandy Macnair and Irvine Welsh were friends long before fame and fortune arrived by train, and their adventures and Welsh's novels have obvious parallels. Their adventures were certainly extraordinary. Irvine Welsh was always the instigator, the free spirit who would act on a whim and deal with the consequences later. Sandy Macnair was his loyal wing man, there to enjoy the ride and to help pick up the pieces when things, as they usually did, went wrong. In Carspotting, Sandy Macnair now presents an affectionate portrayal of their adventures together and the highs and lows of the rollercoaster ride that was their late teens and twenties. As well as a highly entertaining read, Sandy also reveals nuggets that will fascinate all Irvine Welsh fans, like the real role model for Begbie, the true Gorgie/Dalry Oyster Bar, the real location of various scenes from Trainspotting and the story behind Marabou Stork Nightmares that none of the critics spotted, which makes this a fascinating and entertaining account of one of our best-loved authors.
Carspotting
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Shit hot stuff man. Reminded me that hanging out with Irvine and Sandy back then was like one long car crash with no seatbelts... --Skinny
About the Author
Sandy Macnair has lived most of his life in Edinburgh. Diagnosed as chronically unambitious from an early age, he has been half-heartedly employed as a shop stockist, civil servant, warehouseman, picture-framer, library assistant, canvasser, machinist, bookshop assistant, cataloguer, postman, proof reader, salesman and courier, with numerous unemployed spells along the way. He has written regularly for the Scotsman, and also been published by the magazines Rebel Inc and Be Glad For The Song Has No Ending. A long time contributor to all the various Hibernian fanzines, he has also self-published numerous booklets on the club s history. He also enjoys listening to ear-bleedingly loud rock music, going to gigs and festivals, hill walking and watching Hibs.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This engaging and all too often knowingly outrageous memoir covers Sandy's escapades with his friend, the ever controversial author Irvine Welsh, whom he knew of even before they both worked together in "a ****ing horrible civil service job in 1975 or 76.
Best line: Sandy: on seeing that the car he was travelling in was about to be pulled over by the police for shearing into another vehicle: "there's acid in the glove compartment, I reminded her helpfully".
There is much here that will resonate with all you drinkers out there, such as the story of Sandy and Irvine being ejected from a certain boozer in Duke Street, only to suffer the same fate a few moments later after re-entering through an alternative entrance in the mistaken belief that they'd come across another establishment, and Sandy has a keen eye for the quirks of the various characters he and Irvine encounter.
Sandy has a wealth of stories to draw upon and a keen sense of time and place; I shall never again pass through York Station without thinking of a ticketless Sandy and Irvine desperately trying to plot their escape. Sandy is a polished pub raconteur (as half of Edinburgh can vouch for, including yours truly!) and this translates hilariously to the printed page. What's more, Sandy's portrait of Welsh is "warts and all": he pulls no punches when critiquing the unevenness of some of Welsh's later work after the initial brilliance of "Trainspotting". Well worth picking up, but beware the author's health warning to prospective readers...
Best line: Sandy: on seeing that the car he was travelling in was about to be pulled over by the police for shearing into another vehicle: "there's acid in the glove compartment, I reminded her helpfully".
There is much here that will resonate with all you drinkers out there, such as the story of Sandy and Irvine being ejected from a certain boozer in Duke Street, only to suffer the same fate a few moments later after re-entering through an alternative entrance in the mistaken belief that they'd come across another establishment, and Sandy has a keen eye for the quirks of the various characters he and Irvine encounter.
Sandy has a wealth of stories to draw upon and a keen sense of time and place; I shall never again pass through York Station without thinking of a ticketless Sandy and Irvine desperately trying to plot their escape. Sandy is a polished pub raconteur (as half of Edinburgh can vouch for, including yours truly!) and this translates hilariously to the printed page. What's more, Sandy's portrait of Welsh is "warts and all": he pulls no punches when critiquing the unevenness of some of Welsh's later work after the initial brilliance of "Trainspotting". Well worth picking up, but beware the author's health warning to prospective readers...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Brian Fraser
Format:Paperback
Having been a fan of Irvine Welsh since the publication of Trainspotting, I was interesting in getting a hold of Sandy McNair's Carspotting purely for the Welsh connections. It's not bad, basically a collection of boozy tales involving the author and Irvine as carefree young men in the late 70s and 80s. McNair does over-egg the pudding at times when describing the clientele of certain City boozers (Hells Angels juggling live rats?) but the book does move along at a decent pace and none of the vignettes outstay their welcome.
One question does remain unanswered. Welsh writes a lot about drugs but has aways remained tight-lipped on the extent to which he himself indulged. McNair steers clear of this area, offering vague references to "illegal substances" here and there but never making it clear who was ingesting them.
Worth buying if you are an Irvine Welsh completist.
One question does remain unanswered. Welsh writes a lot about drugs but has aways remained tight-lipped on the extent to which he himself indulged. McNair steers clear of this area, offering vague references to "illegal substances" here and there but never making it clear who was ingesting them.
Worth buying if you are an Irvine Welsh completist.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I agree with whoever said that Trainspotting was 'the best book ever written by man or woman', so I was intrigued to read this. From the crazed penniless road trips to England to the awful pubs, parties and messed-up relationships, it's all here and I'm sure it's all true. I was reading this in bed late one night and had to stop, because my constant giggling was keeping my partner awake. Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A. Campbell
Format:Paperback
This is a great read and should sell more than the Bible and "Trainspotting" combined. His best since "Guile and Bile in the Emerald Isle"
Very descriptive writing: Feel the pain of the hangovers; smell the BO and laugh at the madness of the time-- and the people.
Buy it for yourself and your pals.
Alex the Ex Cabbie
Very descriptive writing: Feel the pain of the hangovers; smell the BO and laugh at the madness of the time-- and the people.
Buy it for yourself and your pals.
Alex the Ex Cabbie
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ideally should have been released 15 years ago to capitalise on the huge success of Trainspotting, however you needn't have been exposed any of Irvine Welsh's output to enjoy Carspotting. The warning on the label should really be `don't read in public places' as after a harrowing start, this book is continually laugh out loud funny, and there are plenty of colourful characters to enjoy. Sandy Macnair's writing hooks the reader and doesn't let `em go (I read in two sittings), though he's too fond of his adverbs in my view. Nice wee stocking filler for someone's Christmas?
By Gail
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I looked forward to this. As a fan of Irvine Welsh, I looked forward to reading a bit about him through the eyes of a third party.
Unfortunately Sandy McNair possesses none of We;sh's literary skills. I couldn't 'get into this at all' Boring drivel!
Unfortunately Sandy McNair possesses none of We;sh's literary skills. I couldn't 'get into this at all' Boring drivel!
By Grumpy Gibby
Format:Paperback
Ramblings of a neer do well who would be nothing without his loose connection to the modern day Walter Scott.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was mildly amusing. Was good to hear the stories from Irvine's past. Easy read compared to Irvine's own writing :-)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
He has talent
I enjoyed the book, not necessarily because of the connection with trainspotting . Only three stars because it is somewhat lightweight, although the writer has talent and humour- i... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Luchair F
1.0 out of 5 stars
whats the point?
Read this in a book shop while waiting for someone,so at least its short but what's the point.What could be worse than reading welshy?reading the real life? Read more
Published 17 months ago by bucky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Francis Begbie would approve
Superb stuff from Sandy McNair as he offers a damn funny look at some of the escapades, dodges, scams and crazy behaviour of the esteemed author of Trainspotting, The Acid House,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Colhibs
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