SPOILER ALERT!
Alright, so I liked the book. Honestly, I thought it was alright. Not a page-turner or something I couldn't put down, it was easy for me to put down, but still entertaining enough to keep reading.
So, they travel around the world (not in a hot air balloon, I guess movies combine it with another one of Jules Verne's books). But they run into several disturbances, distractions and complications.
What I liked most about the book was actually the end- and here is where the spoiler alert comes in. He travels all around the world to prove a point. He thinks you can travel around the world in 80 days, including complications, some 'friends' make a wager and so you may think he is doing it for the money. But the money he uses on his trip, in the end, evens out with what he wins.
Throughout the trip they save an Indian princess though and Mr. Fogg falls in love with her. When I say fall in love, there is no romance, Mr. Fogg always appears emotionless and the focus of the book is the trip, not any love story. So you know he is fond of the girl, and more when he finally marries her, but there is no romance (for any looking for a book with romance in it). Anyways, so the only thing he gains is a wife.
Within the last pages Passepartout says, ""...we might have made the tour of the world in only seventy-eight days." "No doubt, "returned Mr. Fogg, "by not crossing India. But if I had not crossed India, I should not have saved Aouda; she would not have been my wife, and-""
Then, my favorite part of the book, "What had he really gained by all this trouble? What had he brought back from this long and weary journey? Nothing, say you? Perhaps so; nothing but a charming woman, who, strange as it may appear, made him the happiest of men! Truly, would you not for less than that make the tour around the world?"
I liked this part, because it made me look back on the book. I liked it more with this ending. What would make touring the world worth it to you? For me, I would be fine with just the adventure of it all. I don't need the romance, I don't need a wager to push me, nothing like that. I would spend my money on a tour of the world for mere enjoyment.
Another thought to ponder: What are we willing to do to find happiness? Not the Mr. Fogg knew that that was what he would find by making this journey, but what are we willing to do to find happiness?
Then back to Passepartout's comment about possibly making the tour in only 78 days- they could've done it had they not crossed India- but then they never would have met Aouda. This makes me think about when I met my husband. There was one time when he told me, when we were dating, is finding true love supposed to be easy and convenient? For some it is, but just because something is convenient doesn't mean it's right. Sometimes the work we have to put in, makes something more valuable to you. For me, I was dating people in my own town, and trying to expand my options by signing up for an online site. I felt like it was the easiest way for me to meet more people. At first I was only willing to meet up with people in my same state, or my home state, or two others. I figured, when I was home I could go out with any options there, and the two other states were where my grandparents were- so I could go there to visit them and have a date, and then a state I have to drive through to get from where I was living to my family's home. It was all about convenience for me. At first. I was charged a month I hadn't planned on doing and expanded my matches to anywhere in the world. I figured, 'if it's meant to be, one of us will be able to travel to see the other, or move, or make it work...'. What's convenient is not always what is best, as is shown by my life and this book. The easiest route is not always the best, or happiest route. Oftentimes it is our trips through 'India' that may take just a little bit longer, that make our lives worthwhile.
Where would you stop on a tour of the world? How much is happiness worth to you? How many detours or longer routes have you taken in your life that ended up blessing your life?
