Book Review: The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosely
This month’s book club selection was a bit different than the normal literary fare for our group. The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosely weaves the tale of an African-American man, Charles, in his mid-thirties whose involvement in the world around him has diminished to practically nothing. He has no family, has lost his job, alienated his friends and is in serious danger of loosing his familial home. Having done questionable things during his previous employment, he has been blacklisted and is unable to find work. He drowns his sorrows as many have done before him, but is soon presented with a unique opportunity. An older white gentleman, Mr. Bennett, arrives on Charles’s doorstep with a proposition, allow him to spend the summer in Charles’s basement and be handsomely compensated, but no one can know of the arrangement. Averse to the idea and made uneasy by the white man, Charles turns him away, but eventually gives in to the scheme due to his desperate circumstances. Charles does not understand the details of what is to come, this is no ordinary landlord and tenant relationship, but more of a warden-prisoner arrangement that will make Charles question his life, his prospects, and leave him unimaginably altered by the experience.
Scholars of race relations will undoubtedly find a great deal of symbolism in this story. Charles is the descendant of free black people who were never slaves. In preparing the basement for Mr. Bennett, he discovers a treasure-trove of his family’s history, though it takes a great deal to make him see the worth of these items that have so long been collecting dust. Mr. Bennett, though white, is hiding his true identity to pass in the world. His reasons for seeking out Charles and the basement dwelling are initially vague and ultimately disturbing. The ending of the book is a little difficult to believe and though fundamental changes have been made to Charles and his way of life, we are ultimately left questioning how he will interact with the world.
Though interesting, this book was not exactly my cup of tea. Definitely for a mature audience, there are some parts of this novel that I found not only unpalatable but pointless. The main problem is that the author does not make us care about the characters. They are both so flawed, and Mr. Bennett initially so vague, that instead of building intrigue through mystery, the author fails to make us invested in them. The story is blessedly short, and not particularly complicated; therefore it is a quick read. If you are interested in racial studies, you may find this story enlightening, otherwise you will probably want to skip this book.