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72nd out of 766 books
—
1,210 voters
Full circle
Michael Palin has certainly been busy since his days with Monty Python's Flying Circus. In Full Circle, Palin and a film crew go on a year-long adventure visiting 18 countries along the Pacific Rim. The film was eventually made into a 10-part PBS series, to which this book serves as a companion. Not for nothing is this part of the world called the "Ring of Fire"; volcanoes...more
Paperback
Published
1997
by BBC
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Nov 14, 2010
Sam
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
armchair travellers
Recommended to Sam by:
watching the TV series
Yes, another Michael Palin book review (you may be happy to know that I have only two more of his books in my possession)! This is another one of his travel odysseys, this time completing a circle around the countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. From Alaska to Russia, China, Vietnam, Australia, Chile, Mexico and the USA (to name a few), Michael and his team become involved in daily life. This is different to the Around the World in Eighty Days concept, as aeroplanes may be used in transport, bu...more
I remember watching the TV-program "Full Circle" back when it aired in Denmark. Michael Palin was my favourite Monty Python, and I loved his quirky humour as it expressed itself in his travel vlog as well.
This book is his written journal of some of his experiences during his travels. It covers about 300 days in just over 6 hours, so he doesn't have time for more than a very superficial description of his journey, but it's still enough to appreciate the vastness of his undertaking, and the amazin...more
This book is his written journal of some of his experiences during his travels. It covers about 300 days in just over 6 hours, so he doesn't have time for more than a very superficial description of his journey, but it's still enough to appreciate the vastness of his undertaking, and the amazin...more
I'm predisposed to like Michael Palin, so it's not surprising that I enjoyed this book, which traces Palin and his film crew as they traveled around the Pacific Rim in over 200 days in 1996. Palin is a descriptive writer, and his wit shines through often, making the journey in photographs and words an enjoyable one. This is no cutting edge, off-the-grid gonzo journey, so if you're looking for that, look elsewhere. If you're a sucker for travelogues, especially ones covering great distances, then...more
Without realizing it, I read this just following Peter Jenkins' A Walk West...I think my library's trying to tell me something...Alas, at this point in life I try to be content as an armchair traveler, and this is a wonderful way to fly! I recently re-watched Palin's BBC series, and 15 years on, it's interesting to see what's changed and what remains the same. Asia will always hold a place in my heart; sometimes as a heart-murmur, but a treasured place indeed.
I found this a bit harder to get into than most of Mr. Palin's other travel diaries (the ones that I've read at least). His frustration and desire to end his arduous journey show very clearly in his writing. That being said, he describes some incredible sights and places. He shows, once again, that he is willing to go to any length in the name of adventure. His ability to put a positive spin on situations that would leave me raging never ceases to amaze. The more of his books that I read, the mo...more
An epic read for an epic journey.
Palin is just a master at these journal/accounts and cannot help but amuse, inspire and document the marvels of the world in a way that everyone can relate too. Filled with wonderful trips, landmarks, experiences of life in countries around the Pacific Rim, it brings home the variety of culture in the world.
At times you could sense elements of frustration and tiredness with the journey but as one that has experienced a year-long trip of my own can completely rela...more
Palin is just a master at these journal/accounts and cannot help but amuse, inspire and document the marvels of the world in a way that everyone can relate too. Filled with wonderful trips, landmarks, experiences of life in countries around the Pacific Rim, it brings home the variety of culture in the world.
At times you could sense elements of frustration and tiredness with the journey but as one that has experienced a year-long trip of my own can completely rela...more
It gets four stars from me - though I guess, I would have given it 4.5.
Palin circles the Pacific and I got the impression that he enjoyed the trip until New Zealand a lot more than the rest. Maybe thats due to the family emergency mentioned - so that his perception of the trip changed - or it was really what he saw and experienced.
There is an incredible warmth and enjoyment on the western shores of the Pacific - all through Asia you can feel it and enjoy it as well. South America and North Ameri...more
Palin circles the Pacific and I got the impression that he enjoyed the trip until New Zealand a lot more than the rest. Maybe thats due to the family emergency mentioned - so that his perception of the trip changed - or it was really what he saw and experienced.
There is an incredible warmth and enjoyment on the western shores of the Pacific - all through Asia you can feel it and enjoy it as well. South America and North Ameri...more
3rd palin novel I've read, and I'm getting bored of his style. Concentrates a lot on meeting some local and telling their story, doesn't offer enough of an opinion on a place as a whole. Don't feel like I know that much more about any place he visited. You can tell that his journeys are made more for tv than for the written word. Read Bryson instead.
I listened to the audiobook with Michael Palin himself as the narrator. He gives vivid accounts of the crew's over 200 day-journey along the Pacific Rim. I laughed many times while listening. Palin is a highly professional entertainer with a great variation in accents, dialects and perspectives.
Though it's more than a decade old already, I thoroughly enjoyed this journey around the Pacific Rim. Palin's verbosity is much better served in this forum ;) An excellent, heartwarming trek. Stunning photography. Now I want to watch the series.
The account of his trip around the Pacific - written in his interestingly rye (?) style. Interesting as it included places I have heard about from other members of the family - makes me want to travel even more.
Deligthful account of an incredible journey. Does the trick of a good travel book: makes you itch to go and experience it yourself.
Fairly pedestrian read - nowhere in the class of Bill Bryson for example.
Another great book and TV series from Michael Palin.
Loved it! Great piece of travel writing.
Enjoyable read I felt at times as though I was on the journey!
It's ok, nowt special & was a real struggle to finish it. Better to watch the TV shows I think as ive learnt very little or got any real insite into places that he's visited.
Mar 29, 2012
Robert
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
michael-palin
Third of Michael Palin's travel logs , this time at the title suggests he goes full circle around the rim of the Pacific ocean, taking in such countries as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, New Zealand, Mexico to name a few.
As ever the audio version is superb with Michael really making your feel like your on the journey with him.
Highly recommended.
10 month journey , takes place between 1996 and 1997.
As ever the audio version is superb with Michael really making your feel like your on the journey with him.
Highly recommended.
10 month journey , takes place between 1996 and 1997.
Good old Palin, you can't go wrong! I particularly enjoyed his accounts of Japan and South America.
I liked this book, but somehow it's not my favourite Palin travel book. However, the encounters with all kinds of people are great reading material.
Read this a number of years ago as my introduction to travel writing. Pailin's narration made me feel like I was actually watching his show. Made me want to up sticks, pack a bag and trek to new horizons.
Oct 01, 2009
Catherine Mustread
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Catherine by:
Suible
Shelves:
non-fiction,
humor
My fourth Michael Palin and perhaps my favorite as Palin circles the Pacific Rim, hitting almost every country except those in Central America. What's with that? Great photography.
This book is fascinating, anyone who loves to travel will appreciate this book which is written in diary form by the ex Montypython man, Michael Palin. His sense of humour makes one laugh out loud as he circumnavigates the Pacific Rim - full of funny anecdotes
really enjoyed this book. was the third that i read, and really, was just as good as the first two. i have to say though, that as much as i love the books, i don't really care for the tv show as much. odd.
Travels with Michael Palin. This one he goes around the Pacific Rim. I really enjoy reading about all his adventures. Makes me want to go traveling!
May 21, 2013
Alok Mehta
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
David
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Hira
marked it as to-read
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Michael Edward Palin, CBE, is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries.
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the...more
More about Michael Palin...
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the...more
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