tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post9066076551311344519..comments2024-02-27T13:22:06.787-05:00Comments on Literature Frenzy!: A Passage to India by E.M. ForsterJason Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-58272649861679569312015-04-07T14:17:51.223-04:002015-04-07T14:17:51.223-04:00Hello Sharon, thank you for stopping by. One-dimen...Hello Sharon, thank you for stopping by. One-dimensional and characters, yes! I don't necessarily think it is important for great novels to always boast sympathetic characters but at least make them interesting. Not only the characters but every other aspect of this novel was just dull to me. <br /><br />Interesting tidbit about Forster never actually going over to India. It might help to explain the lack of verisimilitude along with the English imperialistic tone of the novel. Some authors are able deal with the complex issues of race in a profound way by showing both sides of the coin so to speak (Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Richard Wright) but others like Forster come across as too narrow-minded in their views. <br /><br />I sure do like Orwell (Animal Farm along with many of his essays are fantastic) and might have to check out Burmese Days. Thanks for the recommendation.<br /><br />You have a great blog and consider me a new follower. :)Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-80434076597956778292015-04-07T14:05:43.139-04:002015-04-07T14:05:43.139-04:00Sorry, I missed your comments on this one Joseph. ...Sorry, I missed your comments on this one Joseph. This novel just rubbed me the wrong way and just wasn't for me. "The emporer's new clothes" is a great idiom to describe my experience with a lot of classics as well. Wuthering Heights is another one that comes to mind.<br /><br />I'll be sure to check out your review, thanks. Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-87336224114561553032015-04-06T00:04:30.026-04:002015-04-06T00:04:30.026-04:00I have recently discover E.M. Forester so was inte...I have recently discover E.M. Forester so was interested to read your review. I agree with much of what you said. Although I didn't like his way of making everyone so one dimensionally unlikeable. He also didn't believe that anyone could ever really care of love another. Everyone's relationship's fall flat as a result. My own review is: http://sharonhenning.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-passage-to-india-by-em-forster.html<br />Incidentally, critics site the fact the Forster had never even been to India so his account is based on hearsay. A more accurate depiction is by George Orwell in Burmese Days (which I also reviewed). However, I have to agree with you that both novels are a bit dated. That kind of blatant in your face racism isn't really allowed to exist anymore.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-46771016509315533072014-12-20T10:43:22.473-05:002014-12-20T10:43:22.473-05:00Hi Jason, I just finished A Passage to India, and ...Hi Jason, I just finished A Passage to India, and I always try to compare a couple reviews. I didn't love it, but clearly didn't dislike it as much as you. I can relate to that though. There are other novels that everyone loves...that I just don't see it. Sometimes (not always) I think it's just the emporer's new clothes. Anyway...a good honest review. Cheers.<br />My own review: http://100greatestnovelsofalltimequest.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-passage-to-india-by-em-forster-37.htmlJosephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00466108789532345790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-33164547093445717922013-07-27T17:05:16.026-04:002013-07-27T17:05:16.026-04:00He's just not an author that I seem to be on t...He's just not an author that I seem to be on the same wavelength with and his literary aesthetics just irk me. Perhaps "priggish" is a bit harsh but I can't help but feel that his tone is often self-righteous; his writing bloated and yes, incessantly dull. I honestly didn't find his use of rhythm or cadence of language to be the least bit memorable as you describe.<br /><br />Now that you mention it, I would probably enjoy his short-stories a lot more than his novel which tend to be overlong. I could handle him in small doses. <br /><br />Thanks for commenting Horatio. It is always good to consider opposing viewpoints. Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383119466961870537.post-3955786886953576742013-07-27T04:31:00.857-04:002013-07-27T04:31:00.857-04:00"Priggish and dull"? Hmmmm... Yes, there..."Priggish and dull"? Hmmmm... Yes, there are different opinions, and rightly so. But honestly, in a novel, I would expect "many nonsensical digressions". Forster is one of the great masters of rhythm in fiction. He's written about it in his _Aspects of the Novel_. And in _A Passage to India_ you have the music, the chanting, the sound of the railtrack and the echo in the caves as well as the echo of the crowd during in the law court... plus, of course, the rhythm of symbols (like the bee/wasp). Well, anyway, if you want to read a text that is faster, directly to the point, without any detours (by the way, I think Novelis came up with the "Verwirrungsrecht des Autors"--a beautiful thing), I would recommend you to read Forster's short stories (e.g. "The Celestial Omnibus", "The Classical Annex", "Little Imber"). To people who miss a certain freshness in Forster, the standard recommendation is to read the novel _The Longest Journey_. This is also the novel, that Forster himself liked the most, that was getting closest to what he wanted to achieve... So, reconsider giving Forster another chance. :-)Horatioramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06163142408610570752noreply@blogger.com