A Passage to India

Rating:
Summary: An interesting look at Society in British India
Review: Written in 1924, this book offers an excellent presentation of social constructs in Colonial India from both the British and Indian perspectives. It was fascinating to see how various actions and situations were interpreted by members of the two different civilisations. When one reads this book keeping in mind the period in which it appeared, it is amazing to note just how ahead of its time it was. Ideas presented, such as the notion that India might one day be a nation instead of several very different groups of people-Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, are really quite revolutionary. While events did not transpire quite as the book may have alluded to (Colonial India was made of up the present-day nations of India and Pakistan, which came about after a very bloody war- hence two nations not one), they are nonetheless far ahead of their times.

While I encourage everyone to read this book for the very candid insights into the mindsets of British Colonials and Indians of the time period, I did not give this book a 5 for several reasons. Firstly, the use of many foreign words (of Urdu origin I presume), while adding flavour to the story also made reading a bit difficult as I was unfamiliar with many of them, and could not find them in and English dictionary. It was a bit confusing as many of the words were not explained. Secondly, in my opinion there were large passages where nothing of import was said. This, unfortunately, did not add to the reading experience for me. This aside, I do think it is a book worth reading, especially for its status as a modern classic and the unique point of view from which it is written.

Rating:
Summary: INTRODUCTION
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Rating:
Summary: Rebuttal
Review: I first read this book about 20 years ago and it blew me. At the risk of sounding culture-vulturish, I would say that it is not only a novel, it is music with its leitmotifs, it is architectural in its structure and it is a book with a profoundly (sorry about this overused word)humanistic point of view.

I disagree, strongly with other reviewers who have reviewed this book as a political manifesto. Forster does not condemn the English in India, but rather by allowing us to be flies on the wall to their behaviour and attitudes he allows us to observe them. The condemnation is ours. I don't feel that Forster wrote this novel in order to conform to today's political correctness and to point out "Gee, weren't the English nasty" or "Aren't White Anglo-Saxons dreadful".

The English in India are a convenient metaphor for his themes of inclusion and exclusion, acceptance and rejection, love that comes from knowledge and acceptance or hate that arises through fear and ignorance.

Don't read this book with a mindset of "What is going to happen at the trial" or Whodunit. Within the first few pages of the book, the central question around which this novel revolves is posited - "Can an Englishman and an Indian become friends?" and by extension can any two people break down the barriers and come together in friendship. Read the book with this question in mind.

Rating:
Summary: Attitudes on Trial
Review: A book can be read and enjoyed (or despised) on many levels. I enjoyed "A Passage to India" because of its authentic historical flavor and largely accurate portrayal of the English colonial mindset.

"A Passage to India" is essentially a trial of attitudes. These include the prejudice and disdain of the British toward their Indian colonial subjects, the fear and confusion the British experience when confronted by a cultural and artistic sensuality that vastly contradicts their own, and the hatred a victim feels toward his antagonists' entire race. The British accord the Indians with an inferior status and consequently are unable to treat them in a just or fair fashion. As a result, the British legal process becomes more of a persecution pageant than an instrument of justice. Similarly, the British cannot accept or comprehend the sensual quality of Indian art and culture. The stiff, repressed Ms. Questead is overwhelmed by her exposure to the erotic paintings of the Mahabara caves. When she experiences a mental collapse, the British assume that her condition is the result of sexual molestation and falsely accuse Dr. Aziz of this crime. When Dr. Aziz is acquitted he develops an implacable hatred not only for the British but also for his own attorney. Dr. Aziz's attitude is a direct response to his persecution and in this sense is, itself, a product of English colonialism.

Eventually Dr. Aziz realizes that he must judge and accept English people on a personal and individual basis. To accomplish this, his attitude toward them must be based on his direct experience with individuals, not on either party's identity as a European or an Indian.

Rating:
Summary: Colorful language does not a good story make
Review: E.M. Forster paints an exquisite picture of India during the era of British Imperialism. His language is beautiful with many stylized passages that create vivid mental pictures. The pages are full of rich and detailed images that I have found unparalleled in many cases.

But I do not understand how this book can be praised as much as it is. Beautiful prose is like movie cinematography. Great cinematography can make a good film greater, but if the movie is bad to begin with, the cinematography, no matter how excellent, cannot help the picture. Forster seems intent on portraying the conflict between the English culture and the Indian culture, and while he does an excellent job, this is all he does for 362 pages. The brief extent of the plot is approxamately one-third of that and hardly interesting.

The plot, to summarize, constitutes the assult of an English woman in the Marabar Caves by an Indian. The Indian is arrested and put on trial. The trial ends with the English woman saying that she was hallucinating and the Indian is acquited. The briefness of this whole incident appeared to me as if Forster was scared of delving into a trial and wanted a quick escape.

The most disappointing part about this is all the preparations for the trial. The English collect all these pieces of evidence to use against the Indian, but nothing is ever used. I, for one, was hoping for a nice trial, where we could have a little interesting action. Nothing on the scale of Grisham, I don't expect Forster to have a law degree, but let's actually PROVE this man's innocense instead of just saying "he didn't do it".

I can understand how some level of praise can be given to this novel. Forster does have good prose. And after having multiple years experience with English teachers and professors, I know that they enjoy figurative language and it's applications in a novel. I enjoy it myself, too, but not to the same extent. A story with a good plot is much more valuable to me than a story that is packed with figurative language and colorful prose.

I could not, under good consciousness, recommend this book. Despite the prose, this novel is a tiresome read and focuses almost all of it's time on the clash between the British and the Indian cultures, and while that does provide for some well-rounded uses of irony in a novel (some of the best I have seen) the whole premise gets boring and overused after the fourth chapter. Forster could have been more successful with this novel had he expanded more on the trial and used the culture difficulties to enhance that, instead of the reverse.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: "A Passage to India" is one of those novels many of us avoided reading in high school. You know the ones on the "Recommended" book lists? We were wrong to have avoided this one so long. The novel takes place during the colonial occupation of India. An Indian doctor is falsely accused and imprisoned for the attack of an English women. It is a multi-layered story about how cultures clash and predjudice repels and destroys relationships. The author, weaves elements of Indian language, religions, and customs into the story from his travels to India.

DO READ this book if: -You like a story with a moral. -You enjoy exploring subtle symbolism. -You like to read and ponder as you go.

Do NOT read this book if: -You can't be bothered learning a few foreign words. -You like to read with "put your brain on hold". Those who are unwilling to carefuly reflect on what happens in this book will be very disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Unutterably moving
Review: This book tops my list of the greatest novels of the twentieth century. Forster's prose flows in a manner we have come to associate with the likes of Nabokov. It is perfumed throughout with infinitely subtles shades of emotion and character, and in addition to the compelling plot, Forster's story spirals effortlessly into the realm of the metaphysical, pondering the huge gulf that separates Eastern and Western thought, and casts doubt on whether the human race will ever be capable of unity.

Those who complain about "A Passage to India" moving too slowly, being to long or not providing enough excitement are simply missing the point. In a world of poorly crafted, hackneyed books where nothing is left for the reader to puzzle out, Forster's most cathartic, deeply moving novel sings from the heart in a direct, unhurried and uncomplicated manner. He arrives at the conclusion that only through love is it possible to attain God, or nirvana, or whatever you wish to call it, because in the end language, race and religion no longer matter. A spiritual journey from which the sensitive reader is unlikely to return soon.

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking, but slow moving
Review: A Passage to India is a very clever, intelligent book that brilliantly describes the racial tensions between Anglos and Indians. The troubles Mr Fielding (an anglo) undergoes in making friends with the indians are very real. It is very moving to read of these problems, as they represent the many racial/economic bridges between people which, sadly, don't seem to close up. I can identify with Miss Quested's feelings of not knowing the real India.(I've never been to india, but i've read many books about it) So, while this book is very thought provoking and describes many situations that are easy to identify with, it is often extremely slow reading. I confess to skimming through many parts of the book, and I could not keep my mind focused throughout the whole thing. There are exciting points, such as the events following the mystery of what really happened in the Marabar Caves, but the plot is too extended and the book would have been much better if it were more compressed.

Rating:
Summary: Beauty Comes In All Forms
Review: Deserving praise near and far, A Passage to India takes you to a world that isn't as far as you might think.

Forster is able to create a beautiful novel about the perseverity of friends, the truth of colonization, and a stark look into the realm of Orientalism. Forster emerges from the book as open-minded and progressive as anyone could have been in the 1920s.

In some ways similiar, yet vastly different, Forser explores the truth of India in many of the same ways as Africa was "opened" up to English readers in Heart of Darkness. However, A Passage to India is much deeper than I can express.

If you want a look into a beautiful novel about friendships and relationships (loving and intimate). Then buy this book because I promise it will touch your heart and remind you of the sanctity of the human spirit.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Twist then a Weak Ending
Review: Forster's classic is yet another one of those books I probably would not have read save for its selection by my bookgroup. For a good half of the book I was fully expecting a nicely written standard story of colonial injustice. Thankfully, the story turns a different way and is thus saved from what at the time might have been controversial, but now is merely banal commentary. Forster's writing is decent, and he did a really good job of conveying the psychologically confusing aura of the place. However, the ending is very weak and oddly done compared to the rest of the book. I'm glad I read it, but I don't foresee reading much else by Forster.