Status Zero [Paperback]

Roger Granelli (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Seren (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1854112554
• ISBN-13: 978-1854112552
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Living in the projects, October 10, 2003

By 

D. P. Birkett (Suffern, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Status Zero (Paperback)

The Penhrys estate story is similar to the Priutt-Ighoe in St Louis and many others - public housing designed by idealists that was destroyed by feckless and delinquent inhabitants. It has a special poignancy because it was built in a beautiful mountain setting in the Rhondda Valley, which had been a center of Welsh culture, pioneer socialism, and community spirit.It is the community descibed in the works of one of the greatest humorists of the century, Gwyn Thomas.Granelli nicely brings out some of the ironies with delicate touches such as the old trade unionist grandfather, the ancient Marian shrine, and hints of the dying Welsh language, now a badge of middle-class respectability so that nobody Mark knows speaks Welsh.
The scenery and ambience are beautifully described. The dialog is convincing and the plotting is plausible and compelling.
Mark Richards is a disaffected loner who rejects school and work and survives by burglary. Eventually he finds other ways of surviving. I thought his mother and his girl friend were more interesting characters. We have met too many disaffected loners in fiction before, and he fails to stand out from the crowd.