matthew_david's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The adventure of this race against time is fun, but readers should be aware of heavy racism and stereotypes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Classism
erinmandel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
What a fun story! It was easy to like the eccentric characters, and I really rooted for Mr Fogg. I think in our day and age, he might’ve been labeled neurodivergent.
The prose was fairly simple, which made it easy to read. Sometimes, it felt like Verne was listing off facts from an encyclopedia, which could get boring. I was especially delighted by his description of a mango (strangest mango I’ve ever heard of) and his insistence that somehow betting was more civilized and respected than gambling.
Obviously, considering the time period, there was racism and white supremacy in this novel, but that was to be expected. While it’s of course horrible to paint Native Americans and some Indian tribes as murderous cannibals, I must confess I found the picture Verne paints of Americans (rash, corrupt, violent daredevils) hilarious. I was suprised he at least seemed to respect the beauty of other countries, and that he added a female character, who not only seemed to have a little influence and more lines than you’d expect, but also was Indian herself (though, only acceptable because of he European education, so yeah, white supremacy).
This book made me laugh on multiple occasions, though sometimes it might’ve not been the writer’s intention but my modern knowledge making some “facts” very funny to read.
It also made me appreciate how much more accessible the world has gotten, and how much we’ve learned from that (and destroyed).
All in all, I believe this truly deserves the title of classic, and what I have learned is: if you’re rich, male and white, anything is possible.
The prose was fairly simple, which made it easy to read. Sometimes, it felt like Verne was listing off facts from an encyclopedia, which could get boring. I was especially delighted by his description of a mango (strangest mango I’ve ever heard of) and his insistence that somehow betting was more civilized and respected than gambling.
Obviously, considering the time period, there was racism and white supremacy in this novel, but that was to be expected. While it’s of course horrible to paint Native Americans and some Indian tribes as murderous cannibals, I must confess I found the picture Verne paints of Americans (rash, corrupt, violent daredevils) hilarious. I was suprised he at least seemed to respect the beauty of other countries, and that he added a female character, who not only seemed to have a little influence and more lines than you’d expect, but also was Indian herself (though, only acceptable because of he European education, so yeah, white supremacy).
This book made me laugh on multiple occasions, though sometimes it might’ve not been the writer’s intention but my modern knowledge making some “facts” very funny to read.
It also made me appreciate how much more accessible the world has gotten, and how much we’ve learned from that (and destroyed).
All in all, I believe this truly deserves the title of classic, and what I have learned is: if you’re rich, male and white, anything is possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, Classism, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Misogyny
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
davbat's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Exceedingly bisexual but a bit racist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Slavery, Xenophobia, Racism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Murder, Religious bigotry, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Antisemitism
Remember when it was written, lots of racism from that.Spoiler
a character who becomes important is introduced as the victim of a misogynistic human sacrifice following forced marriagerosegoes3's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
This would have been 5 stars for me, but the celebration of British Imperialism, racisim, and orientalism were a no for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug abuse and Blood
ok7a's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Murder, Classism, and Gun violence
readerette's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It's a good story, really, but the colonialist language of the narrator and behaviors of the characters, and the shallowness of the characters, don't redeem it enough for me.
It also feels like a fable, in a way: keep your cool and things will work out. Not a bad thing, but a little trite.
It also feels like a fable, in a way: keep your cool and things will work out. Not a bad thing, but a little trite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Classism, and Drug use
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