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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
This is not the first approach to the book, which I consider a comfort read. I have listened to this in audiobook, and I have to say the reader was so good he added something to the book and made me enjoy it even more :)
Note: this was a Librivox audiobook read by Mark F. Smith
Note: this was a Librivox audiobook read by Mark F. Smith
Given how much I didn't particularly enjoy [a:Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas|15251910|Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (which was likely entirely to do with the translation), I'm tickled by how fun I found Around the World. Furthermore, I actually listened to the audiobook. Shocking!
This book is funny. It's absurd in parts, with a Monty Python feel in sections, with Passepartout being the unwitting main character.
The swiftness of the story surprised me, as did how little Fogg has to do on the page. He just keeps moving one step in front of the other, with a stoicism I didn't expect. I wonder if this was Verne's opinion of the stiff upper lip Englishmen, or if he wanted the French servant to be lauded more?
This book is funny. It's absurd in parts, with a Monty Python feel in sections, with Passepartout being the unwitting main character.
The swiftness of the story surprised me, as did how little Fogg has to do on the page. He just keeps moving one step in front of the other, with a stoicism I didn't expect. I wonder if this was Verne's opinion of the stiff upper lip Englishmen, or if he wanted the French servant to be lauded more?
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was great. And it managed to get to the point without describing every single living organism in minute detail, which I appreciated (I'm looking at you 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The cover of my book has a plane and a balloon on it so I guess I was expecting slightly more exciting modes of transport (though I guess an elephant is pretty exciting) but the ease of reading made up for it. It was a much lighter read than I was expecting.
Phileas Fogg was an okay character, a bit bland, but everyone else made up for his lack of characteristics. Jules Verne seems to love the idea of servants being completely devoted to their masters but I still liked Passepartout as a character. Of course, I didn't like him as much as I liked his movie counterpart in the Steve Coogan adaptation but, hey, that's Jackie Chan so book Passepartout never really had a chance.
A very enjoyable read overall.
The cover of my book has a plane and a balloon on it so I guess I was expecting slightly more exciting modes of transport (though I guess an elephant is pretty exciting) but the ease of reading made up for it. It was a much lighter read than I was expecting.
Phileas Fogg was an okay character, a bit bland, but everyone else made up for his lack of characteristics. Jules Verne seems to love the idea of servants being completely devoted to their masters but I still liked Passepartout as a character. Of course, I didn't like him as much as I liked his movie counterpart in the Steve Coogan adaptation but, hey, that's Jackie Chan so book Passepartout never really had a chance.
A very enjoyable read overall.
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:
Yes
I enjoyed this book. Although it views the world from an 1800's colonial perspective full of stereotypical characters, it does give a glimpse of the world at that time. It was slower paced and descriptive.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love Passeportout ,he's hilarious and brave and make the entire novel entertaining and interesting. I like Aoda and I like when she finally married Fogg, which surprised me but it is a nice ending. I also live how cool Mr Fogg is. I aspire to be as cool as him He definitely got out of most of his troubles only by money though. The ending was a bit shocking, I was so confused why the Reform Club was waiting for Fogg when the wager supposedly was lost. Then when I found out why (it's because they miscalculated because they cross another side of the world, to be short. the full scientific explanation was in the book. I like how unpredictable it is.
adventurous
informative
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:
Complicated
I have been trying to get into a Jules Verne book for ages. This was not easy to do because of various extensive descriptions that slowed the pace, but it was nevertheless one of his most dynamic books in my eyes. I still had to skim through some parts, though.
I felt that this story had different goals: some parts seemed satirical, others were basically constituting a travel journal. The characters developed in various ways throughout the journey, but I could not avoid thinking that they were rather problematic and not totally likeable. Some comparisons and discussions about different cultures weren't great either.
All in all, I liked the plot twist, but the romantic side of the story did not make much sense to me. Some details related to the journey caught my attention, but the lengthy descriptions and the character behaviours didn't help me with getting immersed in the story.
I felt that this story had different goals: some parts seemed satirical, others were basically constituting a travel journal. The characters developed in various ways throughout the journey, but I could not avoid thinking that they were rather problematic and not totally likeable. Some comparisons and discussions about different cultures weren't great either.
All in all, I liked the plot twist, but the romantic side of the story did not make much sense to me. Some details related to the journey caught my attention, but the lengthy descriptions and the character behaviours didn't help me with getting immersed in the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism