Classics Bookclub Preview: Around the World in 80 Days

Next week is our monthly Classics Bookclub. This month we’re reading Around the World in 80 Days and I will be attempting to lead us in some sort of valuable, well-thought out conversation about the book. I’ve even agreed to do a podcast on it. Don’t judge me for anything. (Ha.)

Through our (other) carnival, What’s On Your Nightstand, I noticed that a lot of you have been reading (or are planning to) Around the World in 80 Days! I was excited to see that and I hope that you will have the chance to carry through and read with us. I’m ploughing through the book myself and am about half way finished. I’ve only read one other book by Jules Verne (The Mysterious Island) and loved it! I’m having fun with this one also. Verne writes good adventure stories. If you are a mother of sons, I would particularly recommend that you read some Verne books. Being the mother of a boy, I’ve noticed that there are far more books written for girls these days than boys. This means that I have to go back to the classics when it comes to my son and I want to be familiar with a good supply of “boy books” for when my son is older and looking for something to engage his wit and imagination. (Here is another mother who feels the same way when it comes to Boys and Books.)

So this brings us to our discussion of Around the World in 80 Days. As you read along and prepare your post to share, you might consider the following questions. Please note that these questions are just examples of things you can talk about in your post. You are welcome to talk about any part of the book that fascinated and delighted you, or perhaps parts of the book that you didn’t care for. We want to hear your thoughts and your opinions on what it was that you liked/didn’t like about the story, Verne and/or his writing style. Feel free! But just in case you need them, here are some thoughts for discussion:

What is one of the themes in Around the World in 80 Days?

What is the basic conflict in this book?

Was there a particular culture in the book that you particularly connected with or identified with (or found rather fascinating)?

Who was your favorite character / what was your favorite relationship in the book and why?

What makes you feel as if this book is a worthy read for people in today’s society why? In other words, what makes this book relevant to today’s readers?

Hopefully these are a few things that can help get you started. I’d love to hear your answers to these questions but feel free to ask and answer your own! I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Come back here and link up midnight Eastern, Tuesday, April 7th.

Classics Bookclub Schedule:

April 7 — Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
May 5 — The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
June 2 — Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
July 7 — Any work by Louisa May Alcott
August 4 — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
September 1 — Any work by Mark Twain

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.