BOOK REVIEW (Journey to the Centre of the Earth)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the genre of science-fiction. He is best known for his novels JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1864), TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1870), AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS (1873), and THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (1875) Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before navigable aircraft and practical submarines were invented, and before any means of space travel had been devised. He is the third most translated author of all time.

GENRE: Science Fiction & Adventure Fiction

PAGE COUNT: 240 Pages (in my edition)

MY MOST FAVOURITE LINE FROM THE BOOK: “As long as the heartbeats, as long as your body and soul keep together, I cannot admit that any creature endowed with a will has need to despair of life”

MAIN CHARACTERS: I thought this book was brilliant and superbly well written by Verne in 1864. Science was a young subject at that time and Verne used to make up a scientific fact to use in his book. Also, it wasn’t known that what was inside EARTH? But many of his mind-made facts became legit scientific facts in the future. Due to this, many scientists from that time used to read Verne’s books to get help in their researches.

It follows 6 main characters:-
1) Professor Lidenbrock: a scientific genius who does not know when to quit even when the odds are less than 1% of success.

2) Lidenbrock’s Nephew, Axel: Our narrator — written in a similar way to Conon Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes or Leroux’s — Joseph Routabille stories. The insider following and reporting on the bizarre genius of the main character. He is also highly intelligent but worries a bit too much. He is the more human/ emotional character with his death-defying adventure.

3) Hans: Our trusty hunter, servant, side-kick who is quiet, composed, and saves every-ones life about 3 times.

4) Arne Saknussem: An alchemist and scholar from the 16th century, Saknussemm possessed the old Icelandic book before Lidenbrock owned it; he wrote on parchment in a secret code that was meant to be deciphered. Saknussemm went to the center of the Earth and recorded instructions on how to reach it. He was persecuted for heresy and his works were burned in 1573.

5) Grauben: Lidenbrock’s ward and Axel’s Fiance who promised Axel for marriage if he will go and return with his uncle from the center of the earth.

6) Martha: Professor Lidenbrock’s cook.

SUMMARY:

I analyzed this book as having 3 divisions in the way the story was created and therefore progressed.

To begin with — decoding a bizarre cipher, establishing the plot, and the build-up to the mission ending up in Iceland.

Secondly, a quite sombre, despondent, and slow segment about our gang penetrating the Earth via volcano and happenings in the seedy under-passages in the world’s crust. One scene truly stood out for me here which raised the tempo. Axel finds himself lost from his crew with no rations, no light — really no hope. This scene was harrowing and claustrophobic as a reader we obviously put ourselves in that nightmare scenario. That was gripping.

Finally, about the last 40% is all full of over-enthusiastic energy and vigor and it is great. The superbly paced narrative at this point including scenes of seeing fighting prehistoric monsters, being lost at sea in unbelievable and intense electric storms, and if that all wasn’t fun enough — to conclude they get rip-roaringly catapulted out of a volcano!! The book has some great set pieces.

For some people, I can see it is not an easy read. It is very science-based and used so much specialist language that it could put people off. I have said previously that this wasn’t an issue to me as I believe the effort you put into a book rewards the overall outcome. I am not a scientist but if I want to be in this world I will have to adapt, enjoy and sometimes even learn the relevant terminology to get into the characters’ minds.

REVIEW:

I find this book a very interesting read. We get to know a lot about geology, mineralogy, and other sciences. Also, it is captivating and does not allow the reader to easily leave it.

The two things I learned from this book are:
1) Nothing is impossible:

Jules Verne has told us through this epic story that nothing is possible. Otto Lidenbrock, who just found a piece of paper in an old manuscript about a person who went to the center of the earth and has elaborated a way on how to do so. Lidenbrock believed in that piece of paper, Although it could have been a myth. Also, he knew that it could be a one-way trip. But he started and even with no food and water, in the end, he succeeded in going to the center of the earth and coming out.

2) Calmness is the key:

Hans Bjelke, who was appointed as a guide to Lidenbrock and Axel was the calmest person I have ever seen. Even after seeing Pre-Historic Monsters with 30ft of height, he would not scream whereas Axel nearly died. He solved every grave problem with ease and calmness. Due to him only, Lidenbrock and Axel succeeded to get out of the center.

WHAT I FOUND MOST INTERESTING IN THE BOOK?

The most interesting thing that I found in the book is that Lidenbrock and Axel first saw a dead body of a pre-historic human by which they came to know that life existed in the center of the earth. And afterward, both saw a pre-historic man alive. He was 12ft tall and had a long and big stick in his hand. He was waiting for an animal to come so he can hunt him down. Axel and Lidenbrock wanted to meet him but due to fear of him killing them they changed their mind.

WHAT IS FOUND MOST DISAPPOINTING IN THE BOOK?

When Axel and Lidenbrock saw a prehistoric human they refused to meet him due to fear of death. I found this most disappointing. Verne should have shown what would happen if a modern human meets a prehistoric one. How would he communicate and tell him that he was from the future? How would a prehistoric human react to this? I think it should have been told because it would be so interesting.

RATING: 5/5