The Bottoms

In Joe R. Lansdale's book, The Bottoms, he reveals a time of a divided community with strong racial tension. The Bottoms is centered on a primarily "white" town in east Texas where racism and the Klan are heavily prevalent. The main character, Harry Collins, provides insight to what growing up during the Great Depression might have been like. He finds pleasures in the simple things, like drinking a Coca-Cola. Harry's strong conscience and moral values help to keep the murder investigation going. Although he grew up in a white community during a time when racism was acceptable, he cannot seem to grasp why the murder of a black woman is not being investigated. Lansdale's blunt comments about racism are thrown at the reader with no apology. This contributes to the authenticity of the novel and helps enlighten the reader about how separate the black and white communities really were. Lansdale makes it a point to show the changes in the investigation after white members of the community begin to get involved. Lansdale helps the reader to feel as if they are a part of the community with vivid details and character descriptions. Not only does the book provide a detailed look into racism in the late 30's but it also becomes a coming-of-age tale of Harry Collins. As he relives all of his experiences explained in the novel, he begins to yearn for his past. Through all of his misfortunes and troubles as a child, he is satisfied with his childhood and the things he learned from it. Harry is not regretful or embarrassed of the way he grew up, but rather proud of how it shaped him into the person that he is. Although The Bottoms is meant to be a murder mystery it becomes a novel full of lessons about life and dealing with hatred and discrimination. Harry provides readers with insight as to how to benefit from difficulties and hardships in life and turn them into positive character traits. Lansdale did more than an adequate job at presenting a realistic