In 2001 Joe R. Lansdale turned a corner of sorts with the release of his latest novel, The Bottoms. It seemed more mature than his previous work, although I�m hesitant to call it better. I am hard pressed to say that there have ever been more enjoyable stories than works like Cold In July, The Drive In, or the Hap and Leonard stories. Still, The Bottoms was flawlessly realized, and I would say that it�s my favorite American novel of the last decade. When I found out he was following it up with another period peace I was more than a little eager, even if I was a tad skeptical of a retread. A Fine Dark Line was released in 2003 and I am pleased to say that it was every bit as good as I�d hoped it would be. As for my previously noted skepticism, it wasn�t unfounded. A Fine Dark Line does often feel very similar to The Bottoms, but fortunately the work is strong enough to stand up to such close comparisons to such a fine novel.
As with just about anything from Lansdale, A Fine Dark Line is sort of a genre buster. First and foremost, it�s a coming of age story that perfectly captures the essence of a charmingly na�ve 13 year old. Throw in some strained race relations, a long forgotten murder mystery, a spiteful teenage girl, a share of domestic abuse, an old drive in movie theater, and a box of curious old love letters and you�ve got the makings of another Lansdale yarn. Equally heartwarming as it is suspenseful, Lansdale roles this story out with his proven skill as a folklorist.
The story concerns Stanley Mitchel Jr., a 13 year old in Dewmont, Texas. He lives with his parents, sister, and dog in the family owned and operated drive in movie theater. Stanley is a kind hearted young boy, but he�s forced to grow up a great deal in a short amount of time. It doesn�t make things easier for his that he is starting out a little behind his peers in his knowledge of the ways of the world. It wasn�t that long ago that he got in a fight with another kid that told him Santa Clause wasn�t real. It�s not that Stanley is slow witted or anything, it�s just that thus far in life, the world has been kind enough to let him enjoy childhood innocence without shaking things up too much. Almost like nature is making up for lost time, Stanley�s perception of the world is put to the test in the summer of 1958. Fortunately for Stanley, he�s not in it alone. Along with his family and the unfailing loyalty of his dog Nub, Stanley also shares in the wisdom of Rosy Mae, the family�s maid, and Buster the projectionist.
Being black, with the civil rights movement in its infancy, these two have plenty of their own problems to deal with. Being as skilled a storyteller as he is though, Lansdale handles the racial tensions with class and dignity. He avoids being pious but never skirts around sensitive issues. While never the focus of the story, the two main black characters are well rounded and fleshed out. They have good intentions and personality flaws that give the story more depth, and also serve to bring out a good deal more in Stanley�s character.
Speaking of Stanley, the wheels are set in motion that summer when he and Nub happen upon a buried box of love letters. The letters seem to chronicle a forbidden love affair that seems to have ended tragically. While trying to get to the bottom of the letters with the help of his older sister Callie, Stanley learns a lot about life; including racial oppression, rich old perverts, headless ghosts, and an something that appears to him to be a deflated balloon that gets his sister in a heap of trouble.
It�s stories like this that make Lansdale my favorite author in the world. His incredible pacing, dry wit, and flat out wonderful storytelling make him one of the most valuable treasures of the literary world. Lansdale is an amazing writer, and he is in top form here. I�m admittedly a sucker for a good coming of age story, but this one ranks up there with the likes of Boy�s Life by Robert McCammon, The Body by Stephen King, and Lansdale�s own The Bottoms. A Fine Dark Line is a winner on all accounts; I can�t recommend it strongly enough. |
