Rating: Summary: First time reader Review: This is the first book by Forster that I've read, so I can't compare it to his other novels. But, I liked the book because the story shows good points about friendship in British controlled India. It's a brilliant story with a surprize ending.
Rating: Summary: Mystical......Romantic.......Unbiased......An Advanced Read! Review: I have just finished reading this book in my Indian Lit class, and although it was a challenging read, it was satisfying, and well worth the effort. Forster gives us unbiased, amazing descriptions, as well as mystical and mysterious adventures in ancient caves. This does not fall into the "good beach read" category....one must concentrate, discover, and question...the rewards are well worth your time!
Rating: Summary: A below average novel. Review: A Passage to India is a great book for those of you with insomnia. It put me to sleep when I tried to read it. This novel is really boring and utterly dissapointing. Forsters style of writing is very detailed and his vocabulary is very exqusit but I found A passage to India to be very unexiting and not worth my time. After reading the first 2 pages of this thing I alsmost puked. Maybe for some they might find this interesting but for me its caca.
Rating: Summary: Forster's Best Work, a masterpiece on so many levels Review: E.M. Forsters book "A passage to India" is indeed one of the best books I have ever read in my life. Forster shows great skill in bringing the tragic tale of an attempted friendship between Aziz and Fielding.The book revolves around what may be termed the secret understanding of the heart. This is an understanding of people, their feelings and their interaction with other humans. In a story which is not primarily political, Forster makes a political comment on what was happening in India at that time. The issue of the Marabar caves is not really an issue at all because even Forster says that it doesn't really matter what if anything happened in the caves, because it is the repercussions of what did of didn't happen that are important. I believe that the expedition into the Marabar caves merely amplified the emotions already inherent in the characters, for example Adela Quested tells us that she felt unwell since the teaparty with Fielding which took place long before the journey to the caves. Forster also presents us with well rounded characters except in the case of the Anglo-Indians, who are presented as tyrannical oppressors, and yet even they aren't all bad as they stand for values like honour and chivalry. What really annoys me about the Anglo-Indians is their high and mighty attitude, and pompous ways. I feel Forster uses character like Fielding, Moore, Godbole and Aziz to show us about true humanity. He doesn't pretend to understand India, it is a 'muddle' but through India he brings universal quandries and boundries to light. I recommend you read and reread this book as it is undoubtedly one of the best in english literature.
Rating: Summary: Forster makes a big mistake Review: Forster writes this book taking the history of India for granted. He does not cater to the needs of his western readers, rather, he tries to portary a short event in Indian history. This book leaves India misunderstood-to the western reader-and makes an Indian angry.
Rating: Summary: Good insight into British India Review: The plot is simple and average. It does, however, offers the reader a glimpse into the era of British India.
Rating: Summary: Hugely disappointing Review: How could a novelist with as high a reputation as Forster take such a major theme and make so little of it? British rule in India and its consequences constitute one of the most interesting and important aspects of world history. It is strange, therefore, that British novelists have rarely tackled the subject. But if this is the best they can manage, then it's probably no bad thing. Forster has no insight to offer on the nature of colonialism; how it affects the characters of the exploiter and the exploited; on the nature of racism; on conflicts of culture; or, indeed, any of the major themes suggested by a subject such as this. None of the characters seem fully realized, and the Hindu festival in the final part of the novel seems to me particularly embarrassing. Perhaps it's time that novels written in Indian languages were translated into English: they are bound to offer more insights than this hugely disappointing book.
Rating: Summary: A very entertaining and educating book, well worth reading. Review: A Passage to India captures your imagination of what a Brittish ruled India might have been like. The characters are very well rounded and very entertaining with their different ideas about life.
Rating: Summary: Indian Men are a reflection of Dr. Aziz Review: Forster's portrayal of Dr. Aziz is exactly how Indian men behave worldwide. They have this vague notion that White women are very 'available' and in the process end up either being slapped for indecent propositioning or worse- get jailed or deported from foreign countries
Rating: Summary: portrays human nature not just in india Review: I found that Forster's A Passage to India, not only portrayed human nature in India, but also all over the world. The rhetoric didn't give me much to to chew on, but I did catch on to the plot and the fact that the author was trying to tell a story. He told it well. I've always liked it when authors tell the stories, but for some reason, I really can't tell where Forster stands or stood rather in British Imperialism. Maybe I need to read more of his works. Because this book transcends stereotypes; there are actually people like this all over the world. The book was one of the mind, how people play mind games and have control over one another. It was one of people seeing nationality as a barricade against friendship. No one in the book truly comes to realize that there is only one race, the human race, but the undercurrent of friendship based on equality is the only friendship there is runs rampantly and the book ends beautifully.
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