Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Such a sad note of ending. I noticed the dam earlier in chapter 7, when having a look on Google Earth. But, after reading of his views of Kazan and the Iron Gates, and then delving into the Thoughts at a Cafe table, I was surprised to find that it was all truly submerged. So much history!

The storks had returned to our account once again. I thought the first part of chapter7 a bit dry, but by the time he caught up with the shepherds, I was really enjoying his nature tour. I don't recall him doubting history before. That was probably a product of him gaining a broader geographical perspective over the course of his travels. Twice there at the end he found inconsistencies in the historical accounts. Interesting.

I couldn't help but laugh about his sad goodby to the castles, where he'd been treated so royally. I noticed from the footnotes that his mother had given him back all of his letters, and he'd somehow lost them later. I enjoyed the poetry and the Romanian proverb as well.

I enjoy watching the Perseids every year. There is such a clear view here at night. But, they won't peak until early next month, which is the best time for viewing here.

He seemed to enjoy Gibbons a great deal. The quote about the Hounds was interesting. I haven't got to that point in Gibbons yet, but I think he is finding more enjoyment from Gibbon than I am.

I've really enjoyed this book. I think he has an interesting way of choosing his stopping points. I'm sure the last book will be as good as these two have been.

Like you I have finished. The last few pages seemed a let down as perhaps he was too.
I get that the storks were something of a running theme, but I also noticed a lot about eagles. Between the two eagles awaken me more than storks.

I will post my review soon, perhaps long enough from now that ppl may not see how much better your review is to what mine is likely to be.

Getting away from the castle folk, who admit to living as much on inherited privileged as actual wealth. (not meaning that to be as critical as it sounds.) i enjoyed him being more aware of and in contact with the general population. From the hooka smoking Arab who seemed to adopt him to the Jewish foresters, we finally get some of the way into the minority. Even a scent of future strife after to may centuries of diviison and fighting.


I was thinking that a fully illustrated version of the trilogy might be nice, but then
the point of these books are word pictures.

Vicky I feel lucky to have had your insights. Thanks for sharing


any other farewells from fellow armchair travelers?

I just finished. In chapter 8 I enjoyed the description of the wind,'s effect on the river banks.

I appreciate his flexibility. He had planned to go to the Iron Gates. but the surveyors convinced him to see Kazan first and it was worth it. He stayed on the boat longer because he was having such a good conversation with the doctor.

I thought the Turks on the island would be a preview of book 3, but these people have clung to the old ways.

About the appendix, he definitely bemoans progress.

I felt cheated by the Goethe quote in German in the last sentence. My German is not that good and even when I translated it, who are the robbers and the knights and the ghosts?

please let me know when you plan to read book 3, so I can read book 1 if I haven't already.

Carla wrote: "I just finished. In chapter 8 I enjoyed the description of the wind,'s effect on the river banks.

I appreciate his flexibility. He had planned to go to the Iron Gates. but the surveyors convinced ..."

And thank you Carla. I like the buddy reads as they seem more free from and less directed.
FWIW West had reservations about the Turks in this part of Europe, but she was more aware of the Germans and the coming war.

Phrodrick wrote: "Like you I have finished. The last few pages seemed a let down as perhaps he was too.
I get that the storks were something of a running theme, but I also noticed a lot about eagles. Between the tw..."

I have to agree with you about the minorities. I had a bit of a feeling that he didn't take as well to lower classes and minorities as he did the upper classes. Her seemed distrustful of gypsies in almost every situation. And, he thought of the Jews as weird.

But, then... I think he saw everyone in those last two chapters as weird. He was far from home and amid strange people... seems to be his take. But, for a time period when people on the whole saw less of different cultures, that was a pretty good response. He was at least open to striking up a conversation.

In some of the other books I've read recently, storks are spoken of as hope. Specifically in Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl. And storks are more rare in my corner of the globe. I actually saw a heron in the woods recently. But, that was a rare sight.

Thanks for the kind words, and I've enjoyed reading your comments as well.

Carla wrote: "I just finished. In chapter 8 I enjoyed the description of the wind,'s effect on the river banks.

I appreciate his flexibility. He had planned to go to the Iron Gates. but the surveyors convinced ..."

Carla... it (the quote) is very open to interpretation, but I took him to be referring to the 'story' of Europe being erased (by the dam, progress, etc.) All of the fairy tales, the chivalric romances, and history of the Iron Gates, etc. are lying beneath the water. The shorelines have been erased.

The effect of all that in his mind is that his history is gone. His chivalric tales are gone. The ghost tales of Saki that he loved reading are erased because the geographical presence has been wiped out.

In his mind, this leaves Europe without a history.

Yeah, I was glad he jumped at the chance to see Kazan, too. He definitely enjoyed trying everything at least once.

Thanks for all your insight. I'm looking forward to book 3 as well.

I just finished A Time of Gifts, so I am ready for Book 3 when the rest of you are.