I guess India, but really I didn't much care. While I enjoyed the overall story that Forster presented, I was disappointed with the manner in which the story was told. I was disinterested for the majority of the tale, something I don't remember being when reading other Forster novels. I think this disinterest stemmed from my lack of empathy for the characters in the story. I did not care for the characters and therefore really had no interest in what was happening to them.
I am disappointed that I was unable to connect with this story. I enjoy Forster's style and really wanted to love this book. I had heard many good things about it and the film version was nominated for a best picture Oscar and had won many awards. I have not seen the film, but it is on my Netflix list for this summer.
Please do not misunderstand, there were aspects of this story that I loved, but they had more to do with Forster's style than the substance of the novel. I loved the descriptions he presented throughout the book and at times I felt as though I were watching scenes unfold in my mind's eye, but this only happened during the narrative, not during dialog. Forster's ability to describe a scene is remarkable and I was easily able to picture the caves, the processions, the college, the polo fields, the club, and the various bungalow's we visit throughout this story. I can especially picture the flies at Aziz's bungalow and their constant annoyance.
One quote from the story is worth mentioning and in fact is something I think we should all remember as we travel through life. These words are spoken by the character Mr. Das (the man who presided over Dr. Aziz's trial) to Aziz, after the charges against him are dropped. It is with these words that I will close my commentary on A Passage to India... "excuse my mistakes, realize my limitations."
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