Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Was this the inspiration for the Amazing Race? If there'd been reality tv in the 1870s, (or reality newpaper accounts), I suppose this would have been the 19th century version of BoilerHusband's favorite reality TV show. However, I never thought I'd say that reality TV has more depth than does this story.
The story was entertaining enough, and relying on my own mental map of the world to follow the story was certainly challenging. Jim Dale, not surprisingly, excellently narrated the story, keeping it moving and doing the best voices. The "twist" at the end was a bit of a cheap trick, but overall, it was worth listening to.
I couldn't however, help thinking that Verne had a very narrow view of other cultures of the world. The descriptions of the Indians and Verne's minimization of the disrepect shown by Paspartieux in entering one of their temples wouldn't pass muster today. The attack by the Native Americans on the train as Fogg crosses the U.S.--well of course, that's what you'd expect of those savages, right? Ultimately, to be taking such a fantastic trip around the world, Fogg takes in amazingly little of the culture or the sights even when time permits, according to the story. At least in the Amazing Race, the contestants are forced to partake of the culture by eating the food, engaging in local occupations, learning local dances, and participatin in other activities that make the race truly "amazing."
Maybe again, I've fallen victim to viewing a classic book through modern eyes, but while the story is good on a basic level, it's lacking on another.
No comments:
Post a Comment