Forster's novels are meticulously crafted and designed. This novel examines the relationship between the British occupiers of India and the Indian natives. I confess that I don't know much about the period; some of the vocabulary of Indian words is unknown to me and I didn't feel like carrying a dictionary around to read the book. I suppose I should have, but it really ruins the enjoyment for me to have to look up foreign words. I had a similar problem with "Lolita" and it's French phrases.
As usual in Forster novels, there are some dramatic twists that, in retrospect, don't seem as unexpected or dramatic as they did on first read. "Howard's End" was the same. Also, any real action takes place off stage. Mr's Moore dies off stage. Fielding gets married off stage. The supposed assault and escape of Adela happens off stage. What is his aversion to actually narrating action? Instead we have reflection dominating the novel.
And the meticulous design is just a little suspect. I feel, as I am reading the novel, as if I am being manipulated. I know that ever scene, every description, ever decision by the author, has been calculated to steer me in a certain direction. The wires are a little too obvious, like watching an old science fiction movie and seeing the thread holding up the spaceship.
Still, you have to read this, and his "Aspects of the Novel." There is much to be learned and emulated here.
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