David Zhang’s Reviews > The Innocents Abroad, Or, the New Pilgrims' Progress > Status Update

Twain's visit to Italy is going smoothly. He visited cities such as Genoa and Pisa, and is now in Milan. Book is getting boring because it is basically a travel journal. In retrospect I'm not sure why I chose this book to read. I only read it now to help me sleep by getting myself bored.

Twain's excursion to France has come to an end. Some of his expectations were fulfilled, and some were not. Twain's dream of getting a shave from a French barber was achieved, but not in the most ideal way. So far in this book, I have not come across any themes. I am fairly certain at least the majority of the book is autobiographical, so it may just simply be a collection of memoirs.

Twain is now in Paris, France. More trivial events happen along his cruise, such as repeatedly stopping in from a silk stores that persuade him and his companions to buy silk. Twain also witnesses a military parade featuring Napolean III.

Mark Twain's cruise has made it through Portugal and Spain, and is in Morocco now. He has had some pretty hilarious experiences in Portugal and Spain, such as witnessing a man panic over spending thousands of foreign currency in a luxurious dinner when 1 thousand of the foreign currency is equivalent to 1 USD. This book has far exceeded my expectations as to what I thought it would be.

Currently in this book, Mark Twain is discussing the day-to-day activities on the cruise. So far, Twain's experience on the boat has been fairly straightforward, and the people on the boat have been entertaining themselves in a variety of ways. These activities include playing music and games and getting seasick.

I realized the beginning pages of the book were just a description of the journey that was about to be taken. The actual writing of the book is much more interesting and enjoyable. It appears the book is about Twain's own experience travelling on a cruise. I look forward to reading more of this book.