A Passage to India, E M Forster, Harcourt Inc, 1924, 362 pp
This was the second most challenging book for me in October. It is a classic. I have only ever heard the highest praises for E M Forster and I discovered for myself that he was a wonderful writer. My trouble with it stemmed from the characters. Not that there are too many but each one had a first name, a last name and many of them also had an office title such as Civil Surgeon, the Collector, etc.
Had I not been entranced right away by Forster's melodious language, I might have noticed sooner that he used these names and titles interchangeably as he went along with his story. In the back of my mind I felt there were triple the number of characters than there actually were as Mr Aziz became the underling of the Civil Surgeon, Cyril became the headmaster, etc.
Finally I came to my senses and sought out a character list online. As I studied this, suddenly the whole story came into focus. I admit I felt a bit tricked or perhaps taken advantage of by Mr Forster. I think though that novels from earlier times coddled readers less than our carefully "edited for the masses" bestsellers of today. Another reading lesson learned.
A Passage to India is truly a wonderful story about the clash of cultures, the insensitive ways of colonialism, prejudice, racial tension, religious conflicts, etc. It even contains a mystery centered around a perceived assault by an Indian native on a young British woman. #MeToo in 1920s British ruled India. Who knew? Not me, until one of my reading groups sent me there.
This is one of my all time favorite books. I loved it for all the reasons that you mentioned. I also loved it for the metaphysical stuff. Marabar Caves were such a brilliant literary creation.
ReplyDeleteI remember the names being a bit confusing too. We have such an advantage using the Internet. I also use it like you did to help me with challenging books.
The metaphysical stuff was so good. I felt like he was having a private conversation with me.
DeleteI must give Mr Foster another chance. I tried to read some of his stuff in my 20's but it didn't stick. I certainly loved some of the movie adaptations especially 'A Room With a View'.
ReplyDeleteI have requested the movie of Passage to India from my library. I think I saw A Room With a View but I don't remember it. I will come back to Forster some day.
DeleteThis sounds like it would be too much for me. I'd probably be so confused with the characters that I wouldn't like this story. Bravo to you for looking up a character list and finishing.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Reading is my superpower but sometimes I still need help! Then I need a nice welcoming read next.
Deletewe were assigned this in some class in the past, but, surprisingly, i liked it anyway... i should reread (he said, hopelessly...) it... didn't remember about the characters, tho...
ReplyDeleteMaybe you aren't confused by lots of characters. My husband never is. I HAVE to know who everyone is!
DeleteI am much like you and have to know who is who, otherwise nothing makes sense!
DeleteSistas in reading!
DeleteI read this many years ago and remember being entranced by the language. Nice to hear that you had that same reaction.
ReplyDeleteI did, along with the interesting and insightful things he had to say with that language.
DeleteThis is one classic I've always meant to read, but haven't yet. Thanks for the nudge!
ReplyDeleteI had too and it was my reading group that nudged me.
DeleteI haven't read anything by E. M. Forester before... As an adult, I find myself very slowly making my way through classic novels written by Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Anne Bronte, Bram Stoker, Emmuska Orczy, L.M. Montgomery, and so on that catch my interest. I'm hoping to read something by E. M. Forester in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think it is good to read classics when we are all grown up and reading them because we are curious, instead of reading them because teachers made us read them before we were ready. Carry on!
DeleteI was put off the Classics in my youth for a whole host of reasons. I'm trying to make up for it now. Not only have I discovered that they are (by and large) not 'difficult' reads they're actually really enjoyable.
DeleteI loved this novel by E.M. Forsterprobably even more than Howard's End. I also love Russian books where every character usually has several names, so I usually start making a list once I notice that. I really don't remember whether I did it with this novel but I also don't remember being confused. Probably because of my reading of the Russians.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm not surprised you didn't know about India, history likes to sweep that under the carpet. Mind you, they are still proud that Queen Victoria was Empress of India but their rule lasted into the late 1940s with independence declared in 1950.
That's what I love about reading novels like this, there is so much to learn.
I did not say I didn't know about India, did I? Was it my joke about #MeToo that gave that impression?
DeleteYes, indeed. "#MeToo in 1920s British ruled India. Who knew? Not me, until one of my reading groups sent me there." I thought you meant you didn't know. So, who didn't know? Someone in your group?
Delete"Who knew" is an American idiom so perhaps misleading for you. Sorry. Def: An expression to be used in a sarcastic manner to denote something that is considered to be obvious. Does that make more sense now?
DeleteI've seen the 1984 David Lean movie with Judy Davis .... ohh those caves! Clash of cultures & colonialism stand out to me in this one. I'll need to make a list of the names should I read it, which I'd like to.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to the movie! You can find the character list on Wikipedia!
DeleteJudy, I have this on my Classics Club list and after loving Howards End, I am really looking forward to reading it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to finding out how you liked it!
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