My name is John and I'm 48, I had heard a lot about Jules Verne but had not read this wonderful book until it was assigned to my 10-year old to read it. I picked it up one night and just coul not close it. I read it in two nights. It's a wonderful book with real charcters and real places, makes everything believable. I'm sorry I waited so long to read this "everybody-should-read" book. I enjoyed how he names the discovered places: the Lindenbrock Sea, Hansbach River, Graüben Lake, Saknussemm Volcano, and Axel Island.