Around the World in 80 Days - Week 4 (Chap 32 - 37)

[Gem , Moderator]

This week we complete our circumnavigation of the globe following the adventures of Mr. Fogg, Passepartout, and Detective Fix, as well as our book.

Throughout the book Mr. Fogg has been unflappable, never allowing a setback to cause him angst. Aside from throwing money around to solve the problems he has faced, he has pretty much played by the rules... done nothing illegal or immoral to advance his journey. This week, however, we see Mr. Fogg lead a mutiny. This seemed, to me, to be completely out of character for him and took me by surprise. Were you surprised by this, especially given his prior behavior?

Detective Fix finally gets his man by arresting Mr. Fogg. Did you see that coming? Or did you expect this to unfold another way?

After Mr. Fogg is arrested, we see Passepartout lamenting bitterly about his decision to keep Fix's identity from Mr. Fogg. What would you have done in Passepartout's place regarding who Fix was?

The end of the book poses an interesting question:

"...The eccentric gentleman had throughout displayed all his marvellous qualities of coolness and exactitude. but what then? What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey?

Nothing, say you? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men!

Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?"

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

I did notice that Fogg made little effort to find a place to leave Aouda in safe hands. I think that she was in love with him much sooner than he was.
I had seen the movie, so I knew how exciting the ending would be. I am glad that Fogg finally came out of his shell.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I thought the surprise about the International Date Line was clever. It's natural that Fogg wouldn't have thought of it because this kind of travel had been so little experienced. Someone who had travelled by sail around the world would have taken so many months, even years, that one day would have made no difference. His devotion to regularity led him to keep his watch on London time. (Although I think he actually would have been a day off ever since arriving in the US, and might have noticed that)

[Gem , Moderator]

I love this book. I think it will be one of those that I read repeatedly.

[Lori, Moderator]

Rosemarie wrote: "I did notice that Fogg made little effort to find a place to leave Aouda in safe hands. I think that she was in love with him much sooner than he was.
I had seen the movie, so I knew how exciting t..."

I loved that Aouda was the one who proposed to him! It couldn't have been common in those days. I figured they'd end up together, but couldn't figure out how Fogg would manage it, given his nature.

[Gem , Moderator]

Lori wrote: "I loved that Aouda was the one who proposed to him! It couldn't have been common in those days. I figured they'd end up together, but couldn't figure out how Fogg would manage it, given his nature. "

I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're absolutely right.

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

I can't see Fogg proposing. It would be way out of his comfort zone.

[Deborah, Moderator]

I just finished last last evening. A very fun read. I figured something was up when he had supposedly missed the deadline but there were several more chapters.tedateline was brilliant. I saw the movie as a child, and kept waiting for the balloon lol.

[Gem , Moderator]

Deborah wrote: "I just finished last last evening. A very fun read. I figured something was up when he had supposedly missed the deadline but there were several more chapters.tedateline was brilliant. I saw the mo..."
I too feel this is great fun to read. I did love the movie (the 56 version with David Niven, Catinflas, Shirley MacLaine, and Robert Newton... I can't bring myself to watch the 2004 Disney version with Jackie Chan.)

[Deborah, Moderator]

❀✿ Gem ✿❀ wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I just finished last last evening. A very fun read. I figured something was up when he had supposedly missed the deadline but there were several more chapters.tedateline was brillia..."

Never saw the newer version. Only the older

[Rosemarie, Moderator]

There was a TV mini-series with Pierce Brosnan from the 80s or 90s, but I don't remember whether it was true to the plot of the book.
When I was reading the book, after having watched the David Niven numerous times, I noticed that Verne did not have any events taking place in Europe, unlike the movie.