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momobedier's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A really fun book, and especially the way the plot twists and turns. Despite some obvious orientalism and generalizations, a lot of Verne's misconceptions are harmless and can help to paint a picture of the Western idea of these places. That said, it makes you question more than once if he knew enough about the world to write some of this book. But that didn't stop him!
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs and Racism
falleneaves's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I personally take Verne novels as very silly stories about 19th century science and progress, absurdly patriotic about the British Empire and with very dubious scientific reasoning. This is no exception, since any and all happenings here are wildly unrealistic, though no less entertaining and are portrayed with the utmost seriousness.
It's the writing that really makes this book enjoyable and less so the plot or the characters.
It's the writing that really makes this book enjoyable and less so the plot or the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Colonisation
witchnova's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Classism
dexkit10's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death and Racial slurs
blubbflubbl's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
jag_549's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
ninamanon'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: Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Misogyny and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
davbat's review against another edition
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: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Antisemitism
Remember when it was written, lots of racism from that.headachesince03's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Cannibalism, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
laurenleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It’s interesting how even though I’ve never read Jules Verne until now, his stories seem well known to me. I can see what an impact he made on the science fiction and adventure genres. Though this book is the definition of “dated,” it was still a fun read, especially with Jim Dale narrating! He really is the best. He puts so much life and individuality into his characters! This recording also had little bits of music themed to the current location (sitars in India, ragtime piano in San Francisco, etc.), which was slightly hokey and also cute. But of course, as white British dudes travel the world, there’s a whole bunch of racism casually thrown about. I know, I know, “it was a different time,” but it doesn’t make any less offensive and infuriating when, for example, they’re so relieved to make it to America, having gotten past the barbaric, uncivilized lands of China, India, and Japan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism