"I looked on, I thought, I reflected, I admired, in a state of stupefaction not altogether unmingled with fear!" 
 I enjoyed this book quite a bit! I felt this was a good novel, but I gave it some more bonus points on account of Verne being the 'Grandfather' of science fiction and on account of the meticulous attention to detail with which this book was written. Everything I've read so far by Jules Verne has been that way. Although many of his scientific ideas, including the very premises for his books, have been disproved, he accurately portrayed the best of the current science of his day, and exemplifies the excitement of that generation! I love how this book transported me into what felt adventurous and exceptional in during the 1860s, and I loved how educational it was. 
 I did feel the first part of the book before they actually went under that it dragged a bit, and there were times when Axel's whining got a little annoying, but all in all it was a real pleasure. As long as you've got enough of an imagination to set aside your 21st century scientific understanding of the world as we know it for a few short 240 pages, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of an adventure, an education, and fun! :-) 
 Also, check out all of these inventions that have come about because of Jules Verne's ideas in his novels! 
 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ne... 
 Some other favorite quotes: 
 "Is the Master out of his mind?' she asked me. 
 I nodded. 
 'And he's taking you with him?' 
 I nodded again. 
 'Where?' she asked. 
 I pointed towards the centre of the earth. 
 'Into the cellar?' exclaimed the old servant. 
 'No,' I said, 'farther down than that." 
 -- Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth 
 "This lucid explanation of the phenomena we had witnessed appeared to me quite satisfactory. However great and mighty the marvels of nature may seem to us, they are always to be explained by physical reasons. Everything is subordinate to some great law of nature." 
 -- Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth