The Gnome King reviewed Around the World in 80 Days by Michael Palin
Review of 'Around the World in 80 Days' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
First things first, it was a great idea to attempt re-creating Fogg's journey around the world in 80 days, how will modern travel and the latest in crazy bureaucracy delay or improve the time taken? Palin says at the beginning if he went by plane he could be home in 36hrs, if he went by boat he could be back in 63 days, but what was the point in only seeing clouds or sea? It turns out he might as well have just done that for all he got to see. Everything is timetabled, as soon as he gets off one train/boat he has to rush to get to the next one, it is not until he gets to China that he says enough and starts trying to sightsee a bit, each day sightseeing though results in 5 days panicking to catch up with Fogg. The lowest point was Singapore, …
First things first, it was a great idea to attempt re-creating Fogg's journey around the world in 80 days, how will modern travel and the latest in crazy bureaucracy delay or improve the time taken? Palin says at the beginning if he went by plane he could be home in 36hrs, if he went by boat he could be back in 63 days, but what was the point in only seeing clouds or sea? It turns out he might as well have just done that for all he got to see. Everything is timetabled, as soon as he gets off one train/boat he has to rush to get to the next one, it is not until he gets to China that he says enough and starts trying to sightsee a bit, each day sightseeing though results in 5 days panicking to catch up with Fogg. The lowest point was Singapore, boat lands, get in a van, drive across dock, get on a boat, goodbye Singapore.
I've read a few travel books now and travel writers have a certain passion for the journey, they lovingly describe everything they see or do. Palin feels like some old English Gentlemen from the 1920's travelling across the British Empire, the only time he seems to come alive is when talking about food and the crazy things he ate in China. He still brings his humour to the writing but it only got a couple of chuckles.
This is one of his earlier travel books, so I'm hoping next time he won't be so rushed and his enjoyment will show more in the writing.
For the Armchair challenge I'm putting this down as Saudi Arabia.
