A Passage to India

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Summary: An epic saga of Indians under the British
Review: Being an Indian I was indeed rather perturbed by the treatment of the natives of the land by the outsiders. The scene at the open house showed the demeaning manner in which the locals were treated. To compound the second class treatment, the Marabar incident echoed the subjugation the natives had to bear with despite their status and education which equated the British if not surpassed theirs. The saving grace was the 'not guilty' verdict but that too was tarnished as Dr.Aziz was thereafter under constant supervision, a prisoner in Mau. On the converse, the likes of Mrs.Moore and Mr.Fielding helped to balance the pathos of the Indians as these two could both relate to and had earned the respect and admiration of the locals. Thus on the whole, to a large extent, Forster was able to portray the predicament of the Indians and the anxiety of the Bristish as realistically, nonchalantly and objectively as possible. However, as he later admitted the Indai of the 1920s was a far cry from the India after independence. On a personal note, I feel that the Indians still look at the British with a mixture of suspect and awe to this day. Novels such as these should be read by all, especially this generation of Indians and British.

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Summary: the book took awhile to get interesting.
Review: The book itself wasn't wasn't a real "gripper" and I thought that the whole plot wasn't intact. Although most of this had to do with the fact that it was an assignment from school I still think that the whole idea about someone being framed for a crime is all to knowledgable. I had a pretty good idea as to how the book would end. I did however like the fact that mrs.moore kept to herself in her feelings about Aziz's innocence.She could have jepordized her spot in society.So the bottom line is unless you have no life you willnot read this book.

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Summary: One of the most empowering books you will ever read
Review: Even if it was assigned reading, _Passage to India_ stands as one of the best books I have ever read. This book struck me as unique because of the author's unwillingness to present clear-cut characters. Many of the British are unpleasent people, but the same applies to the Indian characters. All of them have flaws; every social group is shown making rude remarks about another. Yet this only serves to make the characters realistic and *human*. Despite the gloom that oozes from much of the text, I personally found the very end of the book extremely empowering -- to this humble reader, the message of the book was that one day the world will be a better place, and that all suffering today helps pave the way for serenity tommorrow. Overall, I'd say _Passage to India_ is a book of timeless social commentary with an empowering message just as relavent to 1999 America as to early 20th century imperial India. -- EMB

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Summary: Existentialism in "A Passage to India?"
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book (even though it was a requirement for school!), but it left my mind a "muddle." I've searched the web for commentary and analysis, but haven't found much. Along with the intricate themes and messages of the book, I was intrigued by the character of Mrs Moore. Can she legitimately be called an individual on the verge of an existential crisis? She starts out as such an understanding, loving, religious figure, but progresses toward an apathetic one. The Caves obviously affect Mrs. Moore to the very depths of her soul and being. She wonders if there is anything in life that really means anything at all. She feels physically sick. She is emotionally withdrawn from the rest of the characters in the novel. She believes Aziz to be innoncent but does not speak out or make her opinion known; as if she feels, "what difference would it make?" So, although Mrs. Moore realizes that there is no inherent meaning to life itself! , she never gets the chance to create her own meaning after her existential crisis. I'm not sure if this is a correct analysis, but it intrigues me. Maybe other readers have been curious about the same thing.

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Summary: This made me take my own "Passage to India"
Review: Through Mrs Moore and Adela I reviewed my own life. How I saw the world and other people. It also made me rethink God. I liked the controling figure of the perfect specimen condemed to the lowest caste. How people were calling God to come when he was already there. How the God they knew was not the true God and the name they gave him was not his true name. How the English were superfical yet mighty and the Indians were thourgh and considered a lesser being. Forester wove these themes into an intricate thread of a story.

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Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This book is a fabulous book that deals with a political and spritual realms. Througout the novel these two relams remain separate untill the end of the book where they alomost join and form something that is unimaginable. But in the end they are unable to join, but although they do not join there is still a hope in the future

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Summary: The all-time classic of colonial India
Review: On the splendid visual backdrop of turn-of-the-century India, 'A Passage to India' is a timeless and classic masterpiece of English literature, poetically exploring relations between rulers and subjects, men and women, Englishmen and Indians. Forster's lucid style and unsurpassed technical ability comes together in a carefully crafted and delicately balanced work. With great sensivity and sincere love of the country, he conveys to the reader the full emotional spectrum of the cultural mosaic of India, from the most deeply felt pious devotion to various religious duties, to the unfathomable chasm of misunderstanding between natives and colonial rulers. On an higher impersonal level, Forster weaves an exact and finely constructed plot with almost supernatural undertones, as if the characters are drawn imperceptibly and unknowingly towards their fates by forces within the land itself

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Summary: Forster's best.
Review: This book is a book that is deeper than it first appears. It deals with the tension between the British and the native Indians of India, as well as with the tension between the Hindus and the Muslims. It also deals with the mystical in its portrayal of characters in search of the infinite and eternal. The book is divided into three sections which correspond with the seasons of the Indian year - the Cold Weather, the Hot Weather and the Rains. Each section of the book is dominated by each of the seasons. Each section also focuses on one of the three ethnic groups found in India during this time (1920's). They are Muslim, Anglo-Indian and Hindu. This is a very deep book, that has to be read at least a couple of times in order for the reader to pick up all the nuances.

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Summary: A Passage to India -- A Student's Perspective
Review: A Passage to India explores the clashing of two different cultures during the British rule over India. It starts out with Mrs. Moore and Miss Adela Quested coming to India to visit Mrs. Moore's son and Miss Quested's future husband, Ronny. Both ladies are wide-eyed and want to see what the "real" India is like. They long to have conversations with real Indians and to experience the life of India without British influence. Eventually, they meet Dr. Aziz, a local Indian physician, who tells them that he will show them the "real" India. Part of Aziz's "real" India is the nearby Marabar caves. He takes them to visit the caves where something happens that changes the entire story. As a result, relationships between the British and Indians are tested.

The writing style of this novel is so eloquent in describing the world of British Raj in India in the early twentieth century, that it is also able to be applied to life today. Take this quote from page 272 of the novel, "Truth is no truth in that exacting land unless there go with it kindness and more kindness again, unless the Word that was with God also is God. And the girl's sacrifice - so creditable according to Western notions - was rightly rejected, because, though it came from her heart, it did no include her heart." This passage stuck in my mind because it reminded me that even though this story was written over eighty years ago, its core and main message could still be applied to life today.

E.M. Forester, the author of A Passage to India, writes in such a way that he pulls the reader back to India under British rule in 1924. Through his speech and way of describing the interactions between the English and Indians, I felt like I was actually in 1924 watching everything taking place. Forester is a perfect example of a "classic author." His style is so polished, yet unique that he was able to create a novel that draws the reader in and makes the reader question life and humanity in general. I was especially impressed with Forester's sarcasm and his ability to be cynical of British rule of India, even though he was British himself.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Although, at times, I did feel that some parts just dragged on and on, I do think that I was then able to truly appreciate and learn from the lives of Aziz, his friends, and the British. In the past, I have always heard of the British Raj in India, but I never truly understood the impact of the British on India until I experienced A Passage to India.


Rating:
Summary: OU-BOUM
Review: This book threatens meaning badly.

DONT BUY THIS BOOK. NOW !!!

(too bad it isnt possible to give less then one star)