Through the Looking Glass Book Reviews: Around the World in Eighty Days

Welcome!

Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Friday, February 11, 2022

The new television series of Around the World in Eighty Days

This February the BBC and Masterpiece released a new television series that is loosely based on the story in Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. The story has been changed a fair bit, but I have to say that it is very entertaining, and is beautifully made. I am enjoying the series a great deal, accepting that this is an adaptation of Jules Verne's tale. If you are a purist and only watch films that are faithful to the books that inspired them, then this series will probably not suit you.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

A BBC Radio Theatre Production of Around the World in Eighty Days

When I was growing up my parents used to listen to the BBC World Service throughout the day. They were journalists and at that time the BBC provided the most up to date news from around the world. I grew heartily sick of the introduction music for the news programs, and heartily sick of listening to the news every five minutes, or so it seemed to me. Being the child of not one but two journalists had its disadvantages.

In addition to the news, the BBC had many other programs, and one of the things I enjoyed the most were their radio theater productions. These programs were more than just audiobooks; the story was told using multiple voice actors, background sounds, and music. I listened to many stories this way, including A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Wind in the Willows, and Around the World in Eighty Days. You can still find these recordings online, and today I bring you the excellent BBC production of Around the World in Eighty Days. Please click on the image above to get to the recording. You can listen to the program on any device that can access YouTube. Enjoy!