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sheldon1979's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Micheal Palin tries to recreate Philleas Fogg's Around the world in 80 days written by Jules Verne and even if the original book was fiction most of the boats and trains were based on real life sailings and journeys.
Michael's journey shows how improved the world is in over 100 years later if one wanted to go around the world then they could do so very quickly without effort. Trying to follow in Fogg's footsteps shows that connections for the next journey are the same.
I know that this book was created as a part of the TV series but its still a good read and unlike Fogg and Palin you could easily lose part of a day reading this book.
Michael's journey shows how improved the world is in over 100 years later if one wanted to go around the world then they could do so very quickly without effort. Trying to follow in Fogg's footsteps shows that connections for the next journey are the same.
I know that this book was created as a part of the TV series but its still a good read and unlike Fogg and Palin you could easily lose part of a day reading this book.
nathanjhunt's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
This was my 14th book finished in 2024.
I've watched the series before, but it was such a long time ago that I couldn't really remember what happened. I read "Full Circle" last year, but I felt this book engaged me a little more, for a reason I don't know.
This has gone from modern to dated, and now 35 years later, to an interesting snapshot of travel life in the late 80s - a world before my time.
Not an awful lot happens (as such) in the book, but Palin is a very engaging and enjoyable writer. I'll definitely read the others in the set.
I've watched the series before, but it was such a long time ago that I couldn't really remember what happened. I read "Full Circle" last year, but I felt this book engaged me a little more, for a reason I don't know.
This has gone from modern to dated, and now 35 years later, to an interesting snapshot of travel life in the late 80s - a world before my time.
Not an awful lot happens (as such) in the book, but Palin is a very engaging and enjoyable writer. I'll definitely read the others in the set.
andrew_j_r's review against another edition
This is a very funny book. Having read this one and Pole to Pole out of synch (this is the first book based on his travel TV shows) this one is much better - the impending deadline and constant comparison of where his is compared to where Phileas Fogg was (until close to the end he was days behind the fictional traveller) mean that there is an air of tension.
There are a couple of other things that I like about this book. The first is the section detailing his journey by car across Saudi Arabia. They were not allowed to record that part of the journey (necessitated by missing a boat) so the TV show shows them setting off and the next episode shows them leaving Saudi. It was nice to read what happened in the middle.
Where this works better than the TV show is that his observations of boat life are rather funny, whereas moments if the TV show are frustrating, for example he literally jumps off one ship at Singapore and sees nothing but customs as he is late for his next ship, which is waiting for him. The only part of the book that does not live up to expectations is the part on the dhow - the TV episode is magical, the book makes the whole thing seem somewhat more routine. Which makes the extra chapter at the end, based on his return to Dubai and his hunt for the crew of the dhow twenty years after the initial journey, less impact than it should have been.
But it is a great read, and a superb accompaniment to the DVD of the TV show.
There are a couple of other things that I like about this book. The first is the section detailing his journey by car across Saudi Arabia. They were not allowed to record that part of the journey (necessitated by missing a boat) so the TV show shows them setting off and the next episode shows them leaving Saudi. It was nice to read what happened in the middle.
Where this works better than the TV show is that his observations of boat life are rather funny, whereas moments if the TV show are frustrating, for example he literally jumps off one ship at Singapore and sees nothing but customs as he is late for his next ship, which is waiting for him. The only part of the book that does not live up to expectations is the part on the dhow - the TV episode is magical, the book makes the whole thing seem somewhat more routine. Which makes the extra chapter at the end, based on his return to Dubai and his hunt for the crew of the dhow twenty years after the initial journey, less impact than it should have been.
But it is a great read, and a superb accompaniment to the DVD of the TV show.
samstillreading's review
4.0
No, the above is not a typo- this book really is by Michael Palin of Monty Python fame. It is the book to accompany the BBC series of the late 1980s- is it possible for one man (and his film crew) to go around the world in eighty days or less without leaving the ground?
I’m not going to tell you the answer. For that, you’ll need to read the book and/or watch the series.
Michael Palin writes possibly the best travel books around. He has the ability to take you there to Bombay, Hong Kong or the Rockies in just a few words and capture the essence of the place. It’s not just because I’ve seen the series (I watched the series about twelve months) ago- his writing really is that good.
There’s another unexpected novel aspect to his journey- mobile phones and internet didn’t exist. There are references to Telexes, satellite phones…how they managed to communicate through it all was amazing. I suspect there is also not as much call nowadays for trips on cargo ships!
What I also liked about this book was that it’s not sugarcoated- Palin tells you when he’s feeling rotten, missing home and when he’s truly delighted. I highly recommend this book if you’re an armchair traveller or you just want to see what the world was like twenty years ago.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I’m not going to tell you the answer. For that, you’ll need to read the book and/or watch the series.
Michael Palin writes possibly the best travel books around. He has the ability to take you there to Bombay, Hong Kong or the Rockies in just a few words and capture the essence of the place. It’s not just because I’ve seen the series (I watched the series about twelve months) ago- his writing really is that good.
There’s another unexpected novel aspect to his journey- mobile phones and internet didn’t exist. There are references to Telexes, satellite phones…how they managed to communicate through it all was amazing. I suspect there is also not as much call nowadays for trips on cargo ships!
What I also liked about this book was that it’s not sugarcoated- Palin tells you when he’s feeling rotten, missing home and when he’s truly delighted. I highly recommend this book if you’re an armchair traveller or you just want to see what the world was like twenty years ago.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
asnook29's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
ryan_oneil's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Palin did a great job of contrasting travel now versus travel in Jules Verne's time (he races Verne's Phineas Fogg around the world).
It was also an interesting look at the world of 1988, the year Palin took the trip.
I enjoyed his commentary on the places he visited. He obviously doesn't get a lot of time in any one location but he does take in what he can when he can.
It was also an interesting look at the world of 1988, the year Palin took the trip.
I enjoyed his commentary on the places he visited. He obviously doesn't get a lot of time in any one location but he does take in what he can when he can.
charsiew21's review
3.0
I must confess to never having watched a Michael Palin travel documentary the whole way through, save for snippets while channel surfing. So reading this book was a pleasing surprise. Palin's light, amusing style goes down very easy indeed. Given that the journey in question was a bit of a marathon, it seems that the biggest challenge in writing this novel would have been achieving the right pacing, such that the reader doesn't feel that there are obvious episodes of speeding up and slowing down. This Palin managed admirably.
ehays84's review
5.0
Michael Palin has always been my favorite Python, but I haven't had much time to get into his travel stuff yet. Finding this on audiobook narrated by him was a real treat.
Not only was it a fun and funny way to experience traveling around the world, but it was kind of like going back in time to 1988. That's probably the first year I have any memories of, so excellent timing for me. Honestly, I doubt if much would change in terms of transport available if they tried this journey today.
Travel writing is often my escapism during the school year, and this was a perfect example of that.
Not only was it a fun and funny way to experience traveling around the world, but it was kind of like going back in time to 1988. That's probably the first year I have any memories of, so excellent timing for me. Honestly, I doubt if much would change in terms of transport available if they tried this journey today.
Travel writing is often my escapism during the school year, and this was a perfect example of that.