Dark Deeds Round Glory Day (Press, 16 July 1988)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Dark Deeds Round Glory Day (Press, 16 July 1988)
In her 1988 novel "Glory Days," Rosie Scott delves into the gritty underbelly of Auckland, weaving a narrative rich with street language and emotional depth. The protagonist, Glory Day, is portrayed as a formidable woman both in stature and spirit, shaped by a turbulent past marked by neglect, violence, and addiction. Living in a rundown house with her 10-year-old daughter and a young man named Al, Glory channels her struggles into her art, creating powerful and often brutal paintings that reflect her life experiences. Her upcoming exhibition features a series entitled “Senseless Violets,” focusing on themes of violent death. To support herself, she performs blues music at Mainstreet, a nightclub with ties to her past. Despite her efforts to maintain a semblance of normalcy, Glory becomes entangled in the chaos of her environment when she offers help to a young girl suffering from a heroin overdose. This act of kindness leads her into dangerous territory, alongside Grace, a flamboyant transvestite prostitute. Together, they navigate a world rife with crime and intrigue, encountering a cast of characters that deeply shape Glory's journey. Scott’s narrative is teeming with vivid characters, including Glory’s reluctant agent, Nigel, who views her and her associates as unsavoury yet recognises her artistic significance. The model Roxy, a beautiful but troubled figure, adds further complexity to Glory’s life, alongside other individuals from the darker sides of society, including unsavoury policemen and members of a local gang led by Moe. Interestingly, these gang members are depicted as unexpectedly compassionate, providing support for Glory during her artistic struggles and attending her show in full gang attire, symbolising loyalty and solidarity amid a backdrop of tension. The novel balances humour and bleakness as it showcases Glory’s unapologetic nature and the candid interactions among her eclectic group. Scott’s work invites readers to explore the intersections of art and life in a harsh urban setting, presenting a nuanced portrayal of personal resilience in the face of societal decay. Ultimately, "Glory Days" offers a vivid exploration of how art can emerge from a life fraught with adversity, while also highlighting the unexpected connections that can arise in a community often judged solely on its surface.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand