Play Book Tag discussion

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne - 4* - My Review

Earlier this year, I had read Michael Palin’s memoir of the same name, so I decided to revisit the original, which I first read long ago. It is an adventure story of a journey, written in Victorian times by a French author. It opens in England, with Phileas Fogg making a bet with his fellow Reform Club members that he can traverse the world in eighty days. They think it is a preposterous claim, so they expect to easily collect on the wager. To add to the drama, a police detective is tracking Fogg, believing him to be an international thief.

Both Fogg and his sidekick Passepartout are memorable characters. They experience one adventure after another. It is a book of its time so the reader may expect to find colonialist views. There are several variances from facts, especially in the journey across America, but I do not think it is intended to be entirely realistic. There is no travel by hot air balloon nor any other flying contraptions, which were added to the film version. It is farcical, humorous in places, and entertaining.

PBT November BWF Extra A and tagged "steampunk" x62

PBT Comment: I first read this book years ago, but this is my first time writing a review.

To complete your Around the World reading this year, you should try the graphic novel for middle grades Around the World: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan. It's a 3 part biography of 3 late 19th century authors who wrote about going around the world in a fixed period of time: Jules Verne, Nellie Bly (who set out to do it in less than 80 days), and the first man to cycle around the world - he did it on a unicycle.

Theresa wrote: "To complete your Around the World reading this year, you should try the graphic novel for middle grades Around the World: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan. It's a 3 pa..."

I was not aware - very cool!

There was a drama of this done on PBS a couple years ago (not sure if it was from ITV, BBC, etc.) But the only thing it had in common with the book was that the characters travel around the world. The person chasing Fogg was a woman reporter (and of course they get together), the character of Passepartout was very different, and they went to different places than in the book. Of course, the original had Victorian takes on race and gender that don't really work today, and plenty of stereotypes, including the Americans.

This was one of the Big Golden Books my brother had. I don't know if that's the actual name. They were about 8"x11", with soft covers. They were written at a level of upper elementary or middle school. There were color illustrations on every page. We had The Three Musketeers, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Treasure Island. Of course the stories were edited for kids (I only found out later what a womanizer d'Artagnan was). But I have loved those books the rest of my life and read all the originals.

There was an adaptation made - as a miniseries - starring Pierce Brosnan as Fogg that is really excellent. It sticks closely to the original movie adaptation script, the one with David Niven.

For those that have only seen the movie, there is no balloon travel in the book!