Book Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Oh, wow! This is a must read book!

Yes, it’s one of those books that you persist with begrudgingly, wondering where it is going, only to feel bad because the end is so beautiful and perfect. And, yes, it could have been one hundred pages shorter and still had the same impact. But it is spectacular, a genuine contribution to literature.

This book was relatively easy to read for a literary piece although some sections did seem to go on and on. I wasn’t sure about the algae island section and think it could have been part of the 100 pages that could have been edited out.

But the questions that the ending raises – questions for each individual reader to consider and decide for themselves only – were so poignant that I still can’t decide what my answers to them are. The questions keep popping up in my mind over and over. How many books can we say that about?

I wouldn’t call this book life-changing but it is certainly perspective-changing and well worth pushing through if you are struggling to continue in the middle section.

4 stars

*First published on Goodreads 24 December 2012