A book written by an author with your same initials

A book written by an author with your same initials

Title: Around the World in 80 Days
Author: Jules Verne
Publication date: 1872

Some of the reading challenges I approach knowing what book I'll read but others require some pondering maybe even some research. Such was the case with this challenge. One of my favorite discoveries (yay research!) was this site which aggregates authors. Debbie, I don't know who you are but I know you're a genius. Thanks to Debbie, I found my JV in Jules Verne.

This book is a perfect example of how one title can fit multiple challenges. In addition to the challenge I selected, this book would also fit a book "originally written in another language," "more than 100 years old" or "with a number in the title." How fun!

To say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Around the World in 80 Days would be an understatement. I found myself eager to read it. I also found it written in a style that made me wonder if it was originally written for serialization as the chapters (or every two chapters) seem to have their own story arc as they collectively moved the lead character from continent to continent.

Verne's language is descriptive (much credit to what had to be a phenomenal translator) and, despite being written in the 1800s, stands up well in 2015.

[Passepartout], without a word, made a rush for him, grasped him by the throat and, much to the amusement of a group of Americans, who immediately began to bet on him, administered to the detective a perfect volley of blows, which proved the great superiority of French over English pugilistic skill.

Now how's that for a sentence?

Four stars

Next challenge: A book with nonhuman characters