Book Review: "The Collected Short Stories" by EM Forster

You know I have a thing this year for reading huge books of at least 700 pages and you've probably seen how they've been split into 'parts' when it comes to reviewing them. I've often said that I haven't got a clue as to how someone can really review a book of 700+ pages in less than 1000 words. But maybe they know something I don't. Thankfully enough for those of you who don't like huge books, The Collected Short Stories of EM Forster is a tiny little book - so small in fact, it fits into my jacket pocket when I carry it about. It's one of those old Penguin Books, and if you didn't know, those old Penguin Books were all made a certain size so that they may fit into the pocket of a Barbour Jacket. I have no idea why or how that is relevant but there's some fun trivia for you. Now, on to the short stories.

The book opens with The Story of Panic and is quite a strange story at that because it deals with the supernatural and an encounter with the god Pan. Eustace is seen as an odd and somewhat lazy boy who does not quite fit in and doesn't dress quite right. He's considered quite a dull guy and doesn't really go with the rest of the party. But one day, when he doesn't attend to the rest of the socials, he is transformed by a visit from the god Pan and becomes 'one with nature'. As the story moves on, there is something of an escape possible - but there's also an implication of murder via supernatural forces which is something much worse. I'm trying to not tell you the whole thing because some of the points can give away the story. This was perhaps the best way to open the book because it is definitely the strongest story within.

Another story I thought was quite interesting is called The Other Side of the Hedge. It's about a man in his 20s who, and this is quite strange, is obsessed with measuring his progress of walking along one narrow road many times over the course of years. In easier terms, he has spent his whole life walking this road and repeatedly measures his progress. Stay with me here, because it is very clearly an extended metaphor. He constantly boasts about how attentive he is on walking this road, leaving behind even his brother and not stopping to help others. He is very determined in his goals and yet, we can definitely see where this is going. When he goes beyond the hedge by accident, breaking down, he realises this other side contains people who live without competition with others. They are not on a narrow road, but instead are in a lush green landscape. One thing we can tell is the unsettling nature the main character believes comes with the lack of ambition or direction. But, he sees some important things here that might just change his mind.

I have to say, this was an incredible story with, at its heart, such a warming message about how we should not live in competition with others, but instead we should live empathetically. I too enjoy humanity as a concept, I'm just not a fan of individual people - but having empathy for the conceptual humanity I do like means that I am very clearly beyond the hedge. I hope I am. I have no competitive edge in me - I'm not going to break my back making myself a 'winner' by comparison to others. There's no point - we all end up in the ground in the end. Why would we purposefully make everything more difficult for ourselves therefore?

There are plenty of great short stories in this book and the best part about it is that though the book is short, the stories themselves are quite hearty. My edition again, fits in my pocket and so, I got it finished quite quickly by carrying it around. To be honest, I have to read more EM Forster - this anthology has simply proven it. I genuinely hope you read and enjoy this book as much as I did.