Around the World in Eighty Days

As with all classics, the style of writing can sometimes take a bit to get used too. I found my first foray into Jules Verne a very factual adventure, which is something I'm not used to, since most of what I read is very fantastical in nature and there is quite a bit less of a lay down of the facts, or they are smoothly incorporated into the story. Jules Verne enjoys giving facts on just about everything. From how fast a ship or train travels to its weight and dimensions. Every place we visit on the journey is described in a very almost travel book style, with facts on history and culture. He's more of a tell not show writer. Today's writing is very discouraged from doing that unless you're writing a non-fiction book, therefore it took a while to actual get into the ‘story' and characters between all the ‘facts'. I can see this being off putting for some, as it can be a bit of a slog to get through at first, until you realize that it's kind of part of the charm of the story. Phileas Fogg is a very factual and punctual man and how he sees the world is through that lense. Passepartout, his servant, is actual the heart of the story and the one I was most keen to follow. He is the ‘feeler' and the most moved by the experiences he has on the journey. Once I got past the initial reaction to the writing style, I quite enjoyed the journey and especially the culmination of it all in the end. Certainly a classic well worth giving a go, especially if you like a good adventure, you really can't go wrong!