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rieviolet's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I cannot fault Forster's writing style and I also think that he really has a way with portraying characters' feelings and thoughts. I found most of the characters quite unlikeable but they still felt very alive on the page.
I think that he is also quite good at making social commentary but, at least in this particular book, a lot of sharp analysis was counterbalanced by a lot of "not so good" analyis. Maybe it's because he focused on a culture that was not his own. In any case, as an Italian, I can say that his depiction of Italy evoked many different reactions in me: I was amused, perplexed and in disbelief, annoyed, striken and in sad agreement ("Italy is such a delightful place to live in if you happen to be a man", but then again such a comment could honestly be applied to most countries in the world). Overall, I think that it was quite a clumsy representation of the country and its people.
It was a bit of a up-and-down reading experience. I struggled in the beginning to get into the narration but, as the story progressed, I became more engrossed and wanted to keep on reading. However, that ending, I did not like it one bit. The shift in tone was so abrupt and the tragic final event was extremely upsetting and its consequences barely explored, but I could at least somehow understand how we got there (also keeping in mind the themes that the author explored here, and even more so in later books). And then, the final scene on the train with Miss Abbott and her confession. I'm sorry E.M. Forster but that made no bloody sense at all.
Not a terrible read but not one that I might want to revisit in the future, I'll stick with Maurice.
I think that he is also quite good at making social commentary but, at least in this particular book, a lot of sharp analysis was counterbalanced by a lot of "not so good" analyis. Maybe it's because he focused on a culture that was not his own. In any case, as an Italian, I can say that his depiction of Italy evoked many different reactions in me: I was amused, perplexed and in disbelief, annoyed, striken and in sad agreement ("Italy is such a delightful place to live in if you happen to be a man", but then again such a comment could honestly be applied to most countries in the world). Overall, I think that it was quite a clumsy representation of the country and its people.
It was a bit of a up-and-down reading experience. I struggled in the beginning to get into the narration but, as the story progressed, I became more engrossed and wanted to keep on reading. However, that ending, I did not like it one bit. The shift in tone was so abrupt and the tragic final event was extremely upsetting and its consequences barely explored, but I could at least somehow understand how we got there (also keeping in mind the themes that the author explored here, and even more so in later books). And then, the final scene on the train with Miss Abbott and her confession. I'm sorry E.M. Forster but that made no bloody sense at all.
Not a terrible read but not one that I might want to revisit in the future, I'll stick with Maurice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Child death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
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