Morris Panych's AND SO FORTH is a gorgeous and very humorous novel that takes you through a range of different emotions. The book makes us laugh at the absurdity of a man's life while making space for the far more tender moments underneath.
Dying and then reborn, an old actor looks back on the small, petty things he might have done (such as stealing a blind man's stick to attract sympathy and marrying his friend Jack's girlfriend because Jack loved her and he loved Jack). He chose to leave all his money to his pot plant, Henrietta (he had his reasons). He also shares the imaginations of other beings—potatoes, chickens, squirrels, cats— ironically becoming more "human" as he does so. Over time, he learns more about the tragedy of his best friend, whom he once suspected of fathering his children.
In some ways the narrator is so honest about his life that the openness endears him to the audience, despite his obvious lack of social skill: "When my mother died, I started her eulogy by saying that I never really liked her. It was an arresting moment. Gasps were heard." Social norms are what left him wounded and bitter. The writing takes us through the full range of his emotions—from angry to gentle—and manages all of this while keeping the humor alive: "I remember my children wanting to hold my hand, but they got over it. 'Show some dignity,' I would tell them, even though I had none of my own."
Essentially, this is a study of masculinity: who men are supposed to be, the lives imposed upon them, and social roles our narrator was meant to take on—from the house in the country to the sexuality he tried to set aside. It's about the world that makes men unhappy, even though they might not want to be. About secrets we keep, and the way we twist ourselves into molds.
Panych has created an excellent read that works on multiple levels. Layered in wit and irony, this novel shows us how individuals interact with culture, expectations, personality, and soul. It's a book that stays with you, firmly insisting that admitting what we want for ourselves may be the most helpful way to live. Creative, tender, absurd, and profound, AND SO FORTH is an unforgettable read.
Morris Panych's AND SO FORTH is a humorous exploration of what makes us human, the roles we take on, and the secrets we keep. This novel soulfully guides readers through the absurdity of a man’s life.
~ Nicci Attfield for IndieReader