Around the World in Eighty Days in Crazy Challenge Connection

Dec 05, 2021 fleurette rated it really liked it

Shelves: adventure-action, classic

Of all the Verne books I have read, this is the one I like the most. For several reasons.

First of all, in this book there was the smallest number of boring passages in which the author explains a scientific question in too much detail. When I was reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea I found it terribly exhausting at times. There were also some fragments like this in this book, but luckily there weren't many of them, and the book's focus was mostly on the plot.

Speaking of which, the plot Of all the Verne books I have read, this is the one I like the most. For several reasons.

First of all, in this book there was the smallest number of boring passages in which the author explains a scientific question in too much detail. When I was reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea I found it terribly exhausting at times. There were also some fragments like this in this book, but luckily there weren't many of them, and the book's focus was mostly on the plot.

Speaking of which, the plot is surprisingly well-thought out and interesting. Mr. Fogg's goal is clear to us from the beginning, and the stakes are so high that we truly cheer him on in his venture. I was really caught up in this race against time and followed it with bated breath. But can we stop for a moment and appreciate the whole idea of this story, going around the globe in 80 days? This story is so well known that we don't think about what imagination it took to come up with such an idea. Verne was always able to think of something truly spectacular.

The characters are interesting but not annoying. Of course, they are a bit exaggerated, as is the case in such stories, but overall they are funny and likeable. Even the antagonist is a nice guy after all. I guess what surprised me the most was Aouda, I didn't know there would be a female character in this novel. Also note that for those times she was presented as quite a strong, independent and resourceful lady.

I also wonder if my book has been re-edited and some parts have been removed from it, or if I have not noticed it, but I believe there were relatively few controversial statements in this book that stemmed from the time it was written. Of course, some parts about India or First Nations would not be found in modern books, as we are slowly finally learning to respect other cultures. But it wasn't as much as I expected in this book. Unfortunately, I am not able to say whether it is not a matter of re-editing my copy.

The ending sentences of this story surprised me a bit. I even wonder if this story was ultimately aimed more at women than men, due to the strongly romantic overtone of the statement. But it seems to me to fit in with the overall style of the period in which this book was written.

This story has aged surprisingly well. Probably the best of the Verne books I've read so far. The action is fast-paced, the characters are interesting, and the adventures of Mr. Fogg and his companions evoke emotions even today. ...more

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Jul 12, 2021 Bucket rated it liked it

Shelves: culture, travel, adventure, 1001-read-all-editions, classic, reviewed, technology

This is a problematic book, of course -- and moreso than many classics. There is zero cultural or racial competency, many problematic scenes, and the only female character in the book is virtually silent the entire time and there only to fall in love with the hero.

But the trip around the world is fun and creative, and the writing moves along at an exciting clip, with details about transportation technology and routes that were brand new when this was written in the 1870s. Worth a read.

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Jan 28, 2014 Rusty rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic

Some books are downright enjoyable. This classic is one of them. Join Phileas Fogg and his wonderfully entertaining servant, Passepartout, on their trip around the world. Their adventures are unbelievable, exciting and almost magical. And, the man who tracks them believing that Fogg is a bank robber, becomes caught up in the fast paced trip to win a bet - that is until they reach the shores of England. Can Fogg win his bet or does it even matter when he looks into the eyes of the beautiful woman ...more

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