Reviews

Around the World in Eighty Days & Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne

readingwithnore's review against another edition

2.75

Liked the first story but the second was weirdly racist, even for a book published in the 1800’s. 

xinia's review

4.0

Incredible Book. Really keeps the readers fascinated till the end.

lindseysparks's review

2.0

I just read Around the World in 80 Days. It was okay, but I was surprised that the travels aren't described very well and the characters fell flat, although I liked Passeportout, the writing was clunky and some of the story just seemed absurd. I read the Wordsworth edition, which don't seem to usually have the best translations, so I did a little research and learned that most of Verne's works are poorly translated into English. They are usually abridged, whole passages are just summarized, dialogue is changed and the insults and commentary about the British removed. English readers view Verne as a writer of children's stories, while European readers view him as an avant garde absurdist. Maybe someday there will be better English translations and I'll give Verne another try.

fransjevo's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

larkiie's review

4.0

Kind of hard to give this a rating. The first half is Around the world, second half is Five Weeks.

I loved around the world, it was interesting and fun.
Of course Jules Verne was from a different time, and you really feel that at times.
...Especieally in Five weeks, were words like "nigger" and "negro" often makes an appearance. And just because of that I had a hard time to truly enjoy Five Weeks.
Around the world I would probably rate 5 stars, and Five weeks only 3.

The political issues aside, Jules Verne's imagination is unbelieveable. Great read.

sof00's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

regitzexenia's review against another edition

4.0

Around The World in Eighty Days: 4.5/5 stars.

Five Weeks in a Balloon: 3.5/5 stars.

kingfan30's review against another edition

3.0

I didn't think I had read either of these, however Around the World in 80 days seemed incredibly familiar to the extent I knew the ending, although some of it was not at all familiar. I enjoyed the story on the whole, although I felt it was lacking in helping you picture the places they passed through.

Five Weeks in a Ballon was also a good read, the only thing that got on my nerves was the fact tat where they were in the country was told as co-ordinate which mean very little to me. There were times where the story dropped off and became dull, but there were also parts that were completely gripping.

traceymc's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation and Xenophobia

Minor: Racial slurs

jojobobo38'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? It's complicated

3.5