Tuesday, April 26, 2022

"A Passage to India," by E.M. Forster

 I'm quitting this book on pg 86, of 268-pg "Borders Classics" version of this touted novel, written 1924. I think perhaps that this is an OCR-scanned version (?), because of sentences like this: 

P.86 - "Forgive my mistakes," said Rafi, to consolidate himself. 

Consolidate? It should be "to console himself." 

There are many other examples. 

Mainly though, I'm bored. I don't like pushing thru a book just because it's a "classic." I really liked Forster's "A Room with a View," and so, I expected more. In reading some Goodreads reviews on this book, I find I'm not alone in boredom. Plus, evidently, the big courtroom drama is resolved with 100 pages of... After-The-Drama. Folks feel bad. The accused, the accuser, onlookers, etc. Folks feeling bad does not fill 100 pages!

This book reveals a strong anti-colonialism message from when Britain colonized India. 

Colonialism is bad. We know this, oui? I don't need an almost 300 pg book, nearly devoid of drama, to understand this.

Plot: Adela Questad and Mrs. Moore travel from Britain to India, Miss Questad may possibly marry Mrs. Moore's son, who is magistrate of dinky lil town. The 2 women don't understand the blatant disdain exhibited by their compatriots. Misunderstandings are rife. We see Indian citizens treated poorly. 

That's all folks.

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