Translated Accounts - James Kelman

How Late It Was, How Late - James Kelman

at best non-existent. And then he’s turned out onto the street and “try to be a good lad.” We follow him out to watch his progress. Mr Kelman, bless him helps us along. He knows Sammy’s type. He’s lived around them for years and he knows how they think, how they feel and the lives they live. He can steer us around Sammy’s environment and he can open us up to his thoughts. Sammy on the other hand is not so lucky, there’s no steering force for him. So he has to make his own way from now on, renegotiating his way home without the use of his peepers. The dark world of the newly-blind all noise and contact and panic and nausea. ...

How Late It Was, How Late - James Kelman

An epic journey through a wasteland of Glasgow tenements and benefit offices this book does not sound like an easy nor inviting read. But once the prose becomes digestable (which is quite quickly given its unrelenting phonetically rendered profanity) the poignant story of a chancer laid low is enthralling and moving. With rivals such as Irvine ...