41/50: The Man in My Basement
The Man in my Basement by Walter Mosley.
My first Walter Mosley, and doubtful to be my last. Strange. I wonder if anyone's ever made a movie out of this? Or maybe it's not movie-able. No, I don't think it is. But bizarre, and yet. Good. Not satisfying to read, but isn't that the point of this book, anyway? I think it would have been more un-satisfying by not telling us how Charles ended up okay anyway. Or was that that point?
First I was thinking about how Mr. Bennett died in the cell. Does that in some twisted way make Charles a murderer after all? But how could it? Charles facilitated the darkness and the feelings which Mr. Bennett needed in order to kill himself. But then there's a stark contrast between Mr. Bennett and the neighbor which left everything to Charles. So, actions either out of his control or seemly small are the difference between being evil and between being an angel. On one hand, Mr. Bennett is dead because (in a small way) because of Charles. And on the other hand, Charles inhereted a house which he had no rightful claim over, simply because he showed a couple of small mercies for an old lady. Give them just a little, give them just that nudge in one direction or the other, and watch the results.
To kill? To love?
My first Walter Mosley, and doubtful to be my last. Strange. I wonder if anyone's ever made a movie out of this? Or maybe it's not movie-able. No, I don't think it is. But bizarre, and yet. Good. Not satisfying to read, but isn't that the point of this book, anyway? I think it would have been more un-satisfying by not telling us how Charles ended up okay anyway. Or was that that point?
First I was thinking about how Mr. Bennett died in the cell. Does that in some twisted way make Charles a murderer after all? But how could it? Charles facilitated the darkness and the feelings which Mr. Bennett needed in order to kill himself. But then there's a stark contrast between Mr. Bennett and the neighbor which left everything to Charles. So, actions either out of his control or seemly small are the difference between being evil and between being an angel. On one hand, Mr. Bennett is dead because (in a small way) because of Charles. And on the other hand, Charles inhereted a house which he had no rightful claim over, simply because he showed a couple of small mercies for an old lady. Give them just a little, give them just that nudge in one direction or the other, and watch the results.
To kill? To love?