ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE OCTOBER 2023 VOL VI. ISSUE XXXV | LITERATURE
Article Published on: 07th NOV 2023 | www.demodemagazine.com
"FARSICKNESS" - BY AUTHOR JOSHUA MOHR
Hal, an Afghan war veteran, begins to hear a voice telling him to go "home"-to a castle, in Scotland. But Hal has never been to Scotland. So whose voice is it? What does it want? And why is it calling Hal "home"? What follows is a surrealist road trip story, part Heart of Darkness and part bipolar Guardians of the Galaxy. In Farsickness, Joshua Mohr spins a picaresque, hallucinatory yarn like only he can, as Hal and the reader journey deep into the human soul.
Joshua Mohr masterfully weaves a picaresque narrative, guiding readers and the protagonist, Hal, on a mesmerizing journey that delves into the intricate depths of the human soul. Mohr's storytelling prowess immerses readers in a hallucinatory experience like no other.
As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a mesmerizing journey, akin to Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," where Hal's inner demons and external mysteries intertwine. It's a voyage into the uncharted territories of his psyche, where he confronts his deepest fears, regrets, and desires. Intriguingly, this surreal road trip narrative also carries shades of the irreverent and cosmic, reminiscent of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" series. It blends the profound and the absurd, creating a narrative that challenges conventions and beckons readers to explore the complexities of the human psyche and the mysteries of the universe.
"Why" becomes the central question in Hal's quest for answers, and the journey to decipher the voice's cryptic message leads him down a path of self-discovery and transformation. Mohr's storytelling is a blend of psychological depth and cosmic wonder, making "Hal's Homecoming" a compelling and thought-provoking odyssey.
BOOK REVIEWS
"This book is like driving a Ferrari through a funhouse and then smashing through the windshield into another realm of existence. In other words, it's what a book should be." - BEN LOORY, author of Tales of Falling and Flying
“I wish this book was in hotel rooms instead of Bibles.” - Andrew Ervin, author of Burning Down George Owell’s House
JOURNEY OF THE AUTHOR JOSHUA MOHR
Joshua Mohr's literary journey is a testament to his exceptional storytelling prowess. With five novels to his name, including the critically acclaimed "Damascus," which The New York Times hailed as "Beat-poet cool," Mohr has established himself as a prominent voice in contemporary literature.
His novel "Some Things that Meant the World to Me" garnered recognition from O Magazine, earning a spot among their "10 Terrific Reads of 2009." Furthermore, "All This Life" secured the Northern California Book Award, a testament to Mohr's ability to craft narratives that resonate deeply with readers.
"Termite Parade" achieved the prestigious status of being an editor's choice on the New York Times Best Seller List, further solidifying Mohr's position as a literary luminary.
Beyond his novels, Joshua Mohr has ventured into the realm of memoir with "Model Citizen," an Amazon Editors' Pick that offers an intimate glimpse into his life and experiences.
In the realm of Hollywood, Mohr has demonstrated his versatility by successfully selling projects to prominent entities like AMC, ITV, and Amblin Entertainment, further highlighting his creative prowess in storytelling across various mediums. Joshua Mohr's literary and Hollywood contributions continue to captivate audiences and showcase his multifaceted talents as both an author and a storyteller.
Mohr's enduring impact on literature, spanning multiple genres and mediums, continues to captivate audiences and solidify his place as a revered figure in the world of storytelling. His ability to traverse literary landscapes, from novels to memoirs, and make a mark in the ever-evolving world of entertainment demonstrates his unique and enduring talent. Joshua Mohr's remarkable versatility and his capacity to seamlessly transition between literary forms, including novels and memoirs, underscore his enduring talent.
FIND THE AUTHOR - www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Mohr
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON INSTAGRAM
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR JOSHUA MOHR WITH DE MODE
Q: "Farsickness" is quite a departure from your previous work, with its trippy and surreal elements. Can you share the origins of the story and what inspired you to collaborate with your young daughter, Ava, on this project?
A. Well, the world is ending—LOL—so to me, this is an era of Zero Fucks Art. And the idea of writing a book that’s illustrated by my nine-year-old makes me so happy! It isn’t a kid’s book. It’s very adult. Tonally, it’s as if ALICE IN WONDERLAND relapsed.
Q: The novel follows Hal, an Afghan war veteran, who hears a mysterious voice urging him to go to a castle in Scotland. Could you delve into the themes and emotions you wanted to explore in this unique and surreal road trip story?
A. The concept of Farsickness is from the word fernweh, meaning to be homesick for a place you’ve never been. So this voice tells Hal to head home, to Scotland, a country he’s never visited. Ultimately, this is a book about PTSD. We all have a low-grade form from the pandemic. And I want to talk about that.
Q: Your writing often explores complex and deeply personal themes, including recovery from drug abuse and health challenges. How do these experiences shape your storytelling and the characters you create?
A. I went pretty batshit during lockdown, and I don’t think I’m alone in that—and yet we barely talk about our collective trauma. FARSICKNESS takes its characters on a quest to look at and learn to heal their wounds.
Q: Your writing often explores complex and deeply personal themes, including recovery from drug abuse and health challenges. How do these experiences shape your storytelling and the characters you create?
A. Four strokes and emergency heart surgery. I should have died, so I look at all this as bonus time on earth. And I’m here to be a good dad and make art like my ass is on fire. I feel an incredible sense of urgency to create.
Q: You've written both fiction and non-fiction. What differences do you encounter when transitioning between these genres, and do you have a preference for one over the other?
A. I find that they challenge each other, and suggest technique, almost as though they’re in healthy competition. Fiction was my first love, though. She’ll always be my favourite.
Q: "Damascus" received praise from The New York Times for its "Beat-poet cool." Could you share your thoughts on how your writing style has evolved over your career and what you hope readers take away from your unique narrative voice?
A. I’m a card-carrying nerd who unabashedly digs language. My favourites, Virginia Wolff and James Baldwin, were ninjas on the line level, so the voice is the most important thing to me on the page: language, vitality, and velocity.
Q: “All This Life" won the Northern California Book Award. What was the inspiration behind this novel, and how did it feel to receive such recognition for your work?
A. I’m always surprised anyone likes my weird books! It was an unexpected burst of joy to win. But accolades are traps. Real artists are always working. We’re in the shadows. We’re scribbling at three in the morning.
Q: “Termite Parade" was an editor's choice on the New York Times Best Seller List. What was the driving force behind this novel, and how do you approach the creative process when working on a new book?
A. I approach the writing process like a love affair. That first draft is exploratory, sensual, and hot. “Termite Parade” is a good example of that. I wrote the first draft in a two-month fever dream. I wrote “Farsickness” in three weeks.
Q: How do your experiences in the entertainment industry inform your storytelling and any upcoming projects you'd like to share with your readers?
A. I sold a show to Steven Spielberg’s Amblin last year, and it’s been great fun. I love where the pilot script has ended up, and now that the WGA strike just ended, we’ll go beg Netflix for money.
Q: “Farsickness" takes readers on a journey deep into the human soul. What message or emotion do you hope readers will take away from the book's exploration of the human psyche and the surreal?
A. It’s a story that wants to be hopeful, and it wants the reader to feel that hope. Hal has endured a fantastic trauma. We meet him doused in darkness, and the story takes him to the light. I want to get there someday, too.
Q: For aspiring writers looking to tackle diverse and challenging themes in their work, what advice or insights would you offer based on your own experiences and career trajectory?
A. That it isn’t their job to have The Answers. Their job is to pose Impaling Questions, True Questions—and never to offer any easy answers. The writer has to be crazy enough to take us into her heart.