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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Lead to Passage to India through British chef Rick Stein and his romantic and poetically rousing recitations of EM Forster's work set in volatile and sensitive India a century ago I found he dealt honestly, compassionately but objectively, with the complexities of the society attempting to meld the religions of Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism, as well as its British oppressors.
Beautiful, insightful, thoughtful and provocative prose presents a clear engaging vision of the vast difficulties facing a nation of such immense challenges dealing with such differences of extreme terrains, philosophies, political views and living standards. Touching on the near impossibility of reconciliation between all parties and ideologies to the point of sustainable stability - Forster's insights would seemingly be vindicated by the historical course that evolved in India in the decades to follow his writing this masterpiece.
Beautiful, insightful, thoughtful and provocative prose presents a clear engaging vision of the vast difficulties facing a nation of such immense challenges dealing with such differences of extreme terrains, philosophies, political views and living standards. Touching on the near impossibility of reconciliation between all parties and ideologies to the point of sustainable stability - Forster's insights would seemingly be vindicated by the historical course that evolved in India in the decades to follow his writing this masterpiece.
I'd probably give it the full five stars if I understood more about Hinduism and the history of India. Definitely want to reread this in the future without time pressure!!
I wanted to like this book but it was really slow and not much happened. The blurb made it sound quite dramatic but it’s a book about people not the event.
Beautiful story. Forster explores the interaction between people of similarity and between people of difference with a rare insight. He uses dialogue rather than long description to develop his characters and plot. He sneaks in short, beautiful descriptions of the landscape, however, making his style very pleasant to read. The story is intriguing to say the least, as Forster gives us so much to enjoy throughout the course of the novel. He does it, however, without writing for pages on end. I found it really fascinating to learn about the various religions in India as well. The relationships in this novel, particularly between Aziz and the other characters, will keep you guessing and interested. A fabulous read!
**SPOILERS**
Was so glad to find this battered old copy at the bottom rung of a Booksale. A book on descriptive writing I had in high school had several passages from this, but I never got around to finding the actual book.
Forster paints us portraits of India from multiple perspectives: we have India acknowledged in her chaos by the locals, as embodied by Dr. Aziz, and India as a vagrants' land that needs to be civilized and educated in the Western sense, as believed by the British who had come to settle there in diplomatic conquest. The descriptions of the Englishwomen's views of the inhabitants of Chandrapore would be downright appalling to anyone from the 21st century, but it's even more disturbing to realize that orientalism has not withered since but has taken other forms.
While the plot centers on the mishap caused by Adela Quested, the emotional core of the novel lay in Dr. Aziz's relationships with Mrs. Moore and Mr. Fielding, which belay the gray areas in the meeting of East and West. Dr. Aziz had interacted minimally with Mrs. Moore, but loved her dearly simply for treating him and Englishpeople no differently. Mr. Fielding, on the other hand, is an aberrance, a man close to Dr. Aziz Indians primarily because he belonged nowhere, unmoored from Britain and unbelonging in India. The series of miscommunications they experience throughout the novel's crescendo are heartbreaking, primarily because the reader cannot but stand with Dr. Aziz in his accusations while knowing subconsciously, like him, that they are likely false given what we know of Fielding.
The ending is one of the best endings I've ever read, and captures the failed attempt at harmony not only of the two men but of two rather dissonant cultures.
Was so glad to find this battered old copy at the bottom rung of a Booksale. A book on descriptive writing I had in high school had several passages from this, but I never got around to finding the actual book.
Forster paints us portraits of India from multiple perspectives: we have India acknowledged in her chaos by the locals, as embodied by Dr. Aziz, and India as a vagrants' land that needs to be civilized and educated in the Western sense, as believed by the British who had come to settle there in diplomatic conquest. The descriptions of the Englishwomen's views of the inhabitants of Chandrapore would be downright appalling to anyone from the 21st century, but it's even more disturbing to realize that orientalism has not withered since but has taken other forms.
While the plot centers on the mishap caused by Adela Quested, the emotional core of the novel lay in Dr. Aziz's relationships with Mrs. Moore and Mr. Fielding, which belay the gray areas in the meeting of East and West. Dr. Aziz had interacted minimally with Mrs. Moore, but loved her dearly simply for treating him and Englishpeople no differently. Mr. Fielding, on the other hand, is an aberrance, a man close to Dr. Aziz Indians primarily because he belonged nowhere, unmoored from Britain and unbelonging in India. The series of miscommunications they experience throughout the novel's crescendo are heartbreaking, primarily because the reader cannot but stand with Dr. Aziz in his accusations while knowing subconsciously, like him, that they are likely false given what we know of Fielding.
The ending is one of the best endings I've ever read, and captures the failed attempt at harmony not only of the two men but of two rather dissonant cultures.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I much preferred everything else I've read by Forster.
oh my god getting through this book was exhausting. it was interesting as an early criticism of imperialism—keeping in mind that i should not be reading this through a 2018 worldview but one a hundred years old. like, i know the postcolonialists have probably torn this book apart but frankly i’m too tired to go in depth on criticism right now.
i would have liked more time to read and think about it but alas, school reading, so i’m just gonna brand it with a 3 stars and go to bed
i would have liked more time to read and think about it but alas, school reading, so i’m just gonna brand it with a 3 stars and go to bed
Found in a hostel in Tangier, Morocco and left at one in Marrakech.