Exceedingly bisexual but a bit racist. 

I just found out that this was one of my grandfather's favourite books.

It’s interesting how even though I’ve never read Jules Verne until now, his stories seem well known to me. I can see what an impact he made on the science fiction and adventure genres. Though this book is the definition of “dated,” it was still a fun read, especially with Jim Dale narrating! He really is the best. He puts so much life and individuality into his characters! This recording also had little bits of music themed to the current location (sitars in India, ragtime piano in San Francisco, etc.), which was slightly hokey and also cute. But of course, as white British dudes travel the world, there’s a whole bunch of racism casually thrown about. I know, I know, “it was a different time,” but it doesn’t make any less offensive and infuriating when, for example, they’re so relieved to make it to America, having gotten past the barbaric, uncivilized lands of China, India, and Japan.

Upon re-reading it recently, I have come to the realization that little 11 year old me had no idea what she was reading. I should probably re-read everything I read before the age of 15, but anyways...

This book reminded me of why I fell in love with English classics in the first place. The world-building, the pace, the dialogue, it all captivates me and asks me to hold on tight for the ride. While it is truly an exquisite book that will always have a place in my heart, it is not without glaring flaws. 

Period-typical misogyny and racism is abundant. As an Indian, I was very much offended about the way Indian culture of those times has been written. While some things hold truth (no shoes in the temple and the Sati pratha come to mind), in some cases Jules Verne is totally talking out of his butt, and clearly has founded his ideas on India of those times on unreliable sources. The language used in describing people not of British descent is offensive, and the colonized countries they pass through have been described as 'benefitting culturally and economically from British rule', at par with the thoughts of those times. 

The pacing starts out fast, loses it in the middle, but regains it around the end. If you have watched the movie before reading this book, beware those two are totally different.

It's a good story, really, but the colonialist language of the narrator and behaviors of the characters, and the shallowness of the characters, don't redeem it enough for me. 

It also feels like a fable, in a way: keep your cool and things will work out. Not a bad thing, but a little trite.