Journal Entry 1 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Sunday, December 16, 2007

Yet another multiple copy . . . on its way to tqd. 

Journal Entry 2 by livrecache at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (12/18/2007 UTC) at By post in Melbourne, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Sydney ever so quickly . . . 

Journal Entry 3 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, December 19, 2007

And quickly it arrived in Sydney!! I was quite startled, what with it being in the middle of Xmas and all.

Thanks very much livrecache, I do look forward to reading this one. 

Journal Entry 4 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 12, 2010

Just a quick note, as I'm releasing this one at meetup (bookdrinks!) tomorrow night. I enjoyed this fun romp across the world, it was quite charming. Most charming was Jules Verne's happy acceptance of other cultures (with the notable exception of suttee, but can one blame him there?; and some poking of fun at Americans, but I'm sure they'll recover).

I've seen the Steven Coogan/Jackie Chan adaptation, which I thought was rather puerile. I'm glad the book was much less childish.

I can't believe it's taken me so long to read this, I loved 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a child! Why have I read no other books by Verne?? 

Journal Entry 5 by tqd at Australian Heritage Hotel, Cumberland St in The Rocks, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 12, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (7/12/2010 UTC) at Australian Heritage Hotel, Cumberland St in The Rocks, New South Wales Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Dropping off at bookdrinks.

Happy hunting/reading! 

Journal Entry 6 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

No takers at bookdrinks last night, so have brought it home to see if I can get a bookray organised, since it is one of the 1001 books you must read before you die (no pressure)... 

Journal Entry 7 by tqd at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Can't find the edit button for my previous (short) review, so here's the full one:


I was a sad fan of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a child, so I'm never quite sure why I didn't ever read any other Jules Verne novels. But now, finally, many years (decades!) after my childhood, I've read another Jules Verne novel!

I have seen the Steve Coogan/Jackie Chan movie adaptation a few years back, and much as I do like Steve Coogan & Jackie Chan, it wasn't much of a movie. Luckily the book is much more fun.

The terribly English Phileas Fogg undertakes a risky bet to travel around the world in 80 days. If he fails, he will be ruined. With his French valet, Passepartout (who was looking forward to a nice quiet life looking after a nice quite English gentleman of regular habits), he travels around the world. Regardless of the risk of losing his fortune, he also detours (and loses precious time) on more than one occasion to be a perfect English gentleman and rescue people in distress.

The key to the book is the delightful character of Phileas Fogg. While at first he comes across as remarkably dull and rigid (one can see why Hollywood wanted to turn him into a mad inventor instead), he is a man of his word and of honor, and a wonderful travelling companion. Passepartout is a lovely counterpart, with his bizarre previous employment experience and his energy.

But most enjoyable was the lack of condescension towards or dislike of the many people he met as he travelled. Well, maybe the followers of Kali in India were unpleasant, but on the whole it was a charming view of the world.

Overall, a good fun romp (don't make them like they used to).

UPDATE 29 Aug 2010: This is now in the Oz VBB, waiting for another reader to choose it...

UPDATE 14 January 2011: No takers in the Oz VBB, so I think this one might be up for wild release now... 

Journal Entry 8 by tqd at Crown Hotel, Elizabeth St in Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Released 11 mos ago (6/14/2011 UTC) at Crown Hotel, Elizabeth St in Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Releasing at bookdrinks tonight.

Happy hunting/reading! 

Journal Entry 9 by Pixette at Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Picked up as an orphan at the end of the Sydney meetup. Will re-release elsewhere 

Journal Entry 10 by Pixette at Quattro Passi in Darlinghurst, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Released 11 mos ago (6/15/2011 UTC) at Quattro Passi in Darlinghurst, New South Wales Australia

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To be released on the bookshelf