Around the World in Eighty Days

My first Verne novel! I can't believe it took me this long to read one of Verne's amazing adventure novels. I'm happy I started with this one, as I think it was a good introduction to this author.

The story was light-hearted and fun throughout, with a cast of characters all quirky and endearing in their own ways. Mr. Fogg, the hero of this tale, was an interesting character with peculiar ways, but his cold, calculated way of thinking was nicely contrasted by his servant, Passepartout. The Frenchman was warm and friendly to compensate for his master, which made them a great fit for one another. The two made a wonderful pair as they worked together to traverse the whole world on a wager.

The narrative itself was interesting too, and the adventures (and misadventures) Fogg and his friends encountered were exciting and at times nerve-wracking. Though you expect Fogg to win his wager, the numerous obstacles he had along the way served to create moments of doubt as to his success.

All in all, I'm very pleased with this story, and I look forward to reading more Verne in the future. The rich descriptions of the places Fogg visited were a pleasure to read, and really gave off the feeling of travelling alongside him to all these wonderful places. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised to see how Verne treated foreign lands and peoples with great respect and admiration. Each culture was shown to be fascinating and worthy of discovering (this is a feat rarely accomplished in novels of the 19th century).

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel and dreams of going on an adventure of their own.