I understand what you're saying, Island. I probably won't re-read the whole book, but I've already re-read some sections.

I've collected some of my thoughts and I'm just going to list them below in no particular order. I also have some questions at the end.

• The character of Bruce Robertson is so over the top – he’s like a caricature of a misanthrope.

• The first 2/3 of the book does seem to go on and on recounting his sadistic antics and risky behavior…I found it kind of repetitive. At other times I had to stop reading because I’d just had enough of Bruce Robertson and needed time away from him. Had to force myself to pick up the book again. I think the movie will probably have to condense this part of book, which I think will actually be an improvement.

• For me the last 100 pages redeemed the book. The general outcome isn’t really a surprise—you expect Bruce’s downfall somehow—but there are some remarkable revelations at the end that took me by surprise. I mean you know the guy is one sick puppy but the end reveals he’s certifiable. I found myself feeling some sympathy for the character, which I didn’t expect. And with James in the part, I’ll feel even more sympathy for him…which is probably why they cast an essentially likeable actor as such a loathsome character.

• I think the tapeworm is an essential character/voice in the book…both for what it represents and to give voice to Bruce’s backstory. It seems like they have to incorporate it into the movie somehow.

• At the end I was moved. Overall I found it depressing and disturbing…but memorable.

1. Do you think Welsh gave too much away in the prologue?
2. I think the ending raises the old nature vs. nurture question. What do you think: is Bruce a monster or a victim? Or both?
3. Is it funny? It’s called a dark comedy, but when is a book or movie so dark that it ceases to be funny? There are parts that are amusing in a very twisted way—mainly in the games Bruce plays to take out his competition. I have to say I didn’t laugh at those parts—more like shook my head in disbelief. LOL “I can’t believe he just did that!” The scene that seems almost slapstick is the part with the dog and the porn film Bruce tries to make in order to bring down one of his competitors. Wonder if they’ll dare put that in the movie.
   

4. I found an interview w/ Welsh about the book and was intrigued by this statement:

   HH: Self-loathing seems to be a frequent emotion in your characters.

   IW: Yes, I think it’s a Scottish quality, because we're a colonized nation.

   Not sure I understand that statement. Does anyone else?

Welcome, KC! It's hard to actually like the book, isn't it? Bruce is such an unsavory character.

I doubt the scene with the dog will be in the movie. I think the only point of filming it would be to show the lengths and the convoluted games Bruce goes to ridicule/ruin his compatriots and competitors. It's pretty mind-boggling what he does to Bladesey and his wife.

How do you think they’re going to portray Bruce’s inner monlogue? There are so many times when he's saying one thing to someone's face while he's thinking the exact opposite. And the way he’s saying it aloud has to be believable for him to be able to dupe people for so long. I wonder if they might break the 4th wall and have the character talk directly to the camera, a la Ferris Bueller. A very sick, twisted Ferris Bueller. LOL Not sure how they're going to have the character express his innermost thoughts--which I don’t think he expresses to anyone else in the book--if they don't do something like that. ??

After thinking about it I don’t think the prologue gives away too much. When I first read it I remember thinking I hope that's not Bruce doing that. But as I read on I saw that the book was written in Bruce’s voice--except for the parts that I thought were Carol’s voice—so I assumed the prologue had to be him as well. But there were still lots of unanswered questions about what happened and why, and some of the description of the murder, like "I feel myself losing my balance in those awkward shoes," can't be fully understood until the end of the book anyway.