m4rtt4's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
interesting dive into the means of traveling in the 1800s, the plot was witty and original as well. Obviously it is also written from a very colonialist perspective point of view — the descriptions of white Americans were pretty funny, though, and accurate despite being over 150 years old!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
Moderate: Violence and Xenophobia
Minor: Drug use and Slavery
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
howdoyouwords'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Drug use, and Racism
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: 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 marriageheadachesince03'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: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, Animal death, Racism, Sexism, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Genocide, and Kidnapping
liviamello's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
I just found out that this was one of my grandfather's favourite books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Drug use, and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
livelaughomo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Racism
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: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Drug use
innastholiel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Xenophobia
Minor: Drug use, Animal death, and Violence
alexmill's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Drug use, Kidnapping, Violence, and Xenophobia