Full Circle - Michael Palin

Title: Full Circle
Author: Michael Palin
Genre: Non-fiction, travel
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook, ~6hrs. Read by Michael Palin
Date read: June, 2011

Michael Palin in "Full Circle" brings us his most ambitious expedition to date. Traveling for almost a year through the 18 countries which border the Pacific Ocean, he encounters some of the most politically volatile and physically demanding places on Earth. Palin scales mountains, plunges down gorges, crosses glaciers and dodges icebergs as he ventures around the perimeter of the world's largest ocean in this spectacular journey of contrasts, drama and beauty.

Not for nothing is this part of the world called the "Ring of Fire"; volcanoes punctuate the landscape, and Palin even climbs one still smoking from a recent eruption. But the difficult landscape is only one challenge in this at times hair-raising, at times hilarious, always fascinating journey around the world's largest ocean.

I remember watching the TV-program "Full Circle" back when it aired in Denmark. Michael Palin was my favourite Monty Python, and I loved his quirky humour as it expressed itself in his travel vlog as well.

This book is his written journal of some of his experiences during his travels. It covers about 300 days in just over 6 hours, so he doesn't have time for more than a very superficial description of his journey, but it's still enough to appreciate the vastness of his undertaking, and the amazing difference in the cultures he travels through as he navigates his way around the Pacific Ocean.

Not a book that will blow you off your feet, but quietly very enjoyable.