So this is the first time I’ve read a Jules Verne novel. I imagine I will read a few more before I am done. Techinically, I listened to this one yesterday while mowing, so it’s more like Around the Yard in 80 Minutes…well, 200 minutes.
This is not the first time I’ve read this story though. I’ve seen both main movie versions and I’ve read through the Great Illustrated Classics version of it so I could scam both Book It and Accelerated Reader.
Here’s some stray obversations:
Phileas Fogg shares a lot of character traits with Sherlock Holmes — British stiff upper lip kind of Rationalism and devout belief in calculations and science. He takes the “bet” that basically he himself makes, creates the stakes for, and demands every one take him up on. His clubmates barely care at all and are kind of bullied into it. He also could have just waited 12 hours and got started later.
The manservant leaves the gas on and has to pay for it.
There’s no hot air balloons. Gotta go to Wizard of Oz for that.
They mostly ride on trains for the whole of the book.
Law enforcement was even more of a corrupt scam in the 1870s than today. You look like a bank robber! I shall follow you to India and try to subvert international law to stop you!
There’s a lot of talk about train lines in this very short book.
There’s plenty and near constant Orientalism, casual racism, and unreflective discussions of Colonialism.
It’s still a pretty fun book.
(Photo: https://www.amazon.com/Around-World-Days-Jules-Verne/dp/1503215156/ref=sr_1_4?crid=HH6P0416HFLY&keywords=around+the+world+in+80+days&qid=1558880036&s=books&sprefix=around+the%2Cstripbooks%2C145&sr=1-4)
