Book 6: Round the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I decided to re-read this because of the BBC's current adaptation (starring David Tennant). It was good to read it again, though I'd forgotten some of the more racist aspects of the book that wouldn't get into a modern version.
During the chapters where Phileas Fogg and Passpertout travel through India, there are a lot of criticisms of the Hindu religion, including the suttee practice that they save the princess Aouda from.
This aside, I enjoyed reading the book again; I found it easy to get through, although at times there did not seem to be a large amount of spoken dialogue. The book is more focused on describing the places the characters visit, in vivid detail, and the modes of transport used.
Also, anyone who has read the book will know about one iconic image of Phileas Fogg that is based on a myth; during the book, he never uses a hot air balloon to travel. Despite this, every television and film adaptation shows him doing exactly this.
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