Greetings! How are all you lovers all things Classic doing today? Yes, I’m still a novice and my blog icon still fall under current princesses, but watch this face – one day I will be a Classic. Until then, I’ll just join my Mommy in her pursuit of The Classics Club Challenge. I think it’s more of an adventure than an actual challenge and as it goes with many adventures – it’s all about the journey and not the destination. That journey takes planning and careful consideration of what route to start off on.
That’s exactly why we were ever so excited when the The Classics Club Spin #25 landed on number 14. Our number 14 on this spin, was Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne. I don’t think this story needs much of an introduction and it was one of those choices that everyone knows. Even the kids at school (they love Jules Verne).
One night in the reform club, Phileas Fogg bets his companions that he can travel across the globe in just eighty days. Breaking the well-established routine of his daily life, he immediately sets off for Dover with his astonished valet Passepartout. Passing through exotic lands and dangerous locations, they seize whatever transportation is at hand—whether train or elephant—overcoming set-backs and always racing against the clock.
We listened to this version on Librivox and had to change our narrators twice. The first one would have been a very good person to know in the Zombi Apocalypse as his voice will make sure that all “sleeping” dogs stay sleeping and you one can merrily, but deadly quite, travel across the globe. The second one was much better and it was actually such a fun story and we loved the ending! My Mommy also tends to lose days here and there and that’s why she’s cutting this cut-off date very finely in deed.
The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by 30th January, 2021.
But just like Phileas Fogg – we’ve made it! The only question that remains now is: Do we also get a prize?
Our main reading challenge for 2021, is a spin-off on
Around the World in Eighty Days and we call it
Around the World in Eighty Books. While listening to this story early in January, my Mommy was contemplating going the same route as Phileas and Passepartout.
I’ve been reading with my Mommy now for the past 15 months and I tell you, this woman does not know how to stick to a plan. So no, although the Around the World in Eighty maps will definitely lead to amazing books, that level of commitment is completely out of my Mommy’s reach.
We did however start our journey around the world in eighty books, and so far we only got stuck in Africa a bit and at the moment we are confined to Regency England. If you should be interested, here’s where we’ve been to so far:
Africa
England
Ireland
New Zealand
I still have faith that we will be able to complete 80 books, but will those 80 books be in 80 different destinations? We’ll have to wait and see.
What was your Classics Club spin #25 book? Did you have as much fun as we did?
Lots of Love,
Love this theme.
Next time I have trouble sleeping, I'll ask the name of your first narrator, he should do the trick, lol ! I've read this book as a child, like many other Jules Verne novels, and I remember watching the series with a young and handsome Pierce Brosnan once ^^ Reading around the world is a very good idea, enjoy 😉
I have never seen any adaptation for this. But seeing a young Pierce Brosman might just inspire me to go and have a look.
There are quite a few narrators on Librivox who will cure the trouble sleeping problem. Just browse a bit. But there are a few excellent ones too!
This sounds like a good read across the world! Liked your map too. 🙂 But seriously, the best was the part about Librivox: "The first one would have been a very good person to know in the Zombi Apocalypse as his voice will make sure that all "sleeping" dogs stay sleeping…" Goodness, I died laughing. I've tried Librivox before, so I can empathize!
~ Lexlingua
Hi Lex! Glad I could make you laugh! Yes, Librivox does have a few sleep-inducing narrators for sure. But there are a few gems as well. Elizabeth Klett is quite good with the Jane Austen books.
I'm so excited that you are reading books from around the world. Today, I had a passenger from Saudi and I felt so energized after talking to him and especially about his travels and My own. He install solar systems into homes(whatever that means)
Hi there! Oh I actually know what a solar system is. We have a solar geyser and batteries and inverters. This is Africa and electricity is very unpredictable.
I can imagine how intriguing your job must be. You should actually write all the places down of the people you drive around and try to read books from those countries. Now that can be interesting!
Thanks for stopping by!
Great to hear finished and had so much fun with your Spin result of Around the World in 80 Days – I loved it when I read it, too! ? I also finished and reviewed my Spin book before the deadline. My result was the harrowing Victorian classic, Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell, so not much fun to be had here but it was very gripping!
Thanks Jessica! The aim is to please here. My aunt used to love Elizabeth Gaskell and I have a few here on the shelf that comes from her, but I still need to read any. Good to you!! Lots of respect from my side. But the Classics Club is nothing if not a challenge and that's why we love it!
I didn't do the classic spin but what a perfect book for you to get! Somehow I've never read Jules Verne but I do want to pick up this book and audio sounds like the best way to do it (though I'll skip the zombie apocalypse narrator!).
Hi Katherine! You should have a look at graphic novels and that Classic Collection as well. It's very nice for Jules Verne. But the audio recording was good. Just go for version 2 and not version 1. Unless you are already in the Zombie Apocalypse.
Around The World In 80 Books sounds amazing and challenging. I don’t think I could do it. When I was a kid, I loved the book Around The World In 80 Days. I read it many, many times. I’ve always liked adventure stories.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Hi AJ! It's astounding how popular Jules Verne are to this day. I have a couple of his books in the library and they are always in high demand. Great adventure stories.
I think we'll be able to make 80 books, but 80 settings will have to remain to be seen….