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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Despite the changing of the years--and the advancement in technology--Jules Verne's tale of Phileas Fogg and company's adventures around the globe was still a fun and enjoyable story to read, though some of his descriptions and observations of the various cultures and religions around the world, written from an 1870s Europeans perspective, may be considered offensive and unacceptable by today's standards. But, in my opinion, we worry too much about what's politically correct nowadays, to the point where it sometimes interferes with things, than we should.
It was obvious that Verne was a man curious about the world around him, and it showed in this story, even if some of what he wrote was based more from his imagination than from actual facts--facts that in his day, Verne would not have been aware of--and was written more for the spectacle than the substance. But that's part of the point, I think. Verne didn't write AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS to be an informative treatise on the many cultures, religions, customs, and nations around the world, but to tell a fun story where the protagonists attempt a feat, which in their day, was considered impossible. And even if the characters lacked some depth, they still managed to surprise you from time to time.
All in all, it was a good and fun read, capturing the spirit of adventure and curiosity that many lack in today's modern world.
It was obvious that Verne was a man curious about the world around him, and it showed in this story, even if some of what he wrote was based more from his imagination than from actual facts--facts that in his day, Verne would not have been aware of--and was written more for the spectacle than the substance. But that's part of the point, I think. Verne didn't write AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS to be an informative treatise on the many cultures, religions, customs, and nations around the world, but to tell a fun story where the protagonists attempt a feat, which in their day, was considered impossible. And even if the characters lacked some depth, they still managed to surprise you from time to time.
All in all, it was a good and fun read, capturing the spirit of adventure and curiosity that many lack in today's modern world.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While this book shows it age, it’s not bad.
There are some things where I was like…. This wouldn’t fly today, but realistically it wasn’t blatantly offensive regarding other cultures and races.
I expected a lot more adventure and nonsensical stuff. Mostly, it was just some bad luck and money solving problems.
Still, not a bad read.
There are some things where I was like…. This wouldn’t fly today, but realistically it wasn’t blatantly offensive regarding other cultures and races.
I expected a lot more adventure and nonsensical stuff. Mostly, it was just some bad luck and money solving problems.
Still, not a bad read.
Fun story with just enough suspense to get me to the end happily. I thought the way Phileas Fogg described each stop was weird though, with only the detail you could get from a magazine. I never had the sense of him actually being in the place. The one exception, oddly, was Salt Lake City, Utah where he seemed to be completely taken by the idea of the Mormons and their own story. I enjoyed the adventure.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fantastic idea and story for a book. But the characters are rather one dimensional and are not developed. So much more could have been done with them. The description of the places visited is perfunctory; at times little more than lists of place names.
So I have mixed feelings: 5 stars for an amazing story idea. But 2 stars for the quality of the writing. The latter is important and I weight it more than the former so overall 3 stars
So I have mixed feelings: 5 stars for an amazing story idea. But 2 stars for the quality of the writing. The latter is important and I weight it more than the former so overall 3 stars