From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

Life of Pi

Yann Martel,

Alexander Marshall (Narrator)

Start date: May 13, 2012

Finish date: May 30, 2012

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: May is Rachel's Birthday Month and she picked this one. Also, it won the Man Booker Prize.…more
[close] May is Rachel's Birthday Month and she picked this one. Also, it won the Man Booker Prize.

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What Members Thought

Jul 28, 2012 ELP rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. SPOILER ALERT . . .I've had this book for a while, and (shame on me), I didn't start to read it until I found out that the movie would be coming out soon. The movie trailer makes it seem like Pi has a magical experience with, basically, a pet tiger. This isn't what I got from the read at all. First of all, I liked the beginning of the book, pre-castaway, much better, much more interesting. I was intregued that this kid wa going to all of these religious groups without his parents knowing, and he SPOILER ALERT . . .I've had this book for a while, and (shame on me), I didn't start to read it until I found out that the movie would be coming out soon. The movie trailer makes it seem like Pi has a magical experience with, basically, a pet tiger. This isn't what I got from the read at all. First of all, I liked the beginning of the book, pre-castaway, much better, much more interesting. I was intregued that this kid wa going to all of these religious groups without his parents knowing, and he still managed morning swimming practice. Neither his deep religious beliefs, nor his swimming experience (expertise, really --- esp after years of regular training) came in handy. Neither did the huge lesson he and his brother Ravi received re the danger of big cats. He never became a goat. It would have been better tied-together had Part One and Part Two had stronger ties.
In essence, I felt like I was reading 2 separate books; once he left India, there was an abrupt shift. Also, since everything is delivered in flashback, there is no tension. You know rightaway that Pi and Richard Parker survive the ordeal. Unlike the movie trailer, he and Richard Parker never had a close relationship; the just tolerated each other. I would have appreciated the development of a caring relationship.
There were also some strange elements, which made me believe that being in a rowboat with a tiger was normal-ish. I feel like the section with the other random castaway was just weird. It reminded me of THE ROAD, where he randomly ran into the house of cannibals. It felt forced. In fact, I initially thought that Pi was just hallucinating the man. I didn't realize for pages that the other man was actually there. The man-eating island was OK, but also felt forced, like the writer thought that his tale needed more action. And I thought that the narrative was doing just fine without those 2 sections. Or those sections should have been extended.
The section with the hyena, zebra, and Orange Juice should have been extended. That bit happened too fast. Those animals weren't humanized enough, especially the hyena. It was too evil; there was no sense or balance there.
In any case, I'm glad that I read the book, and I'll recommend it to people. I was, though, expecting more on an OLD MAN AND THE SEA experience, and I didn't get it. ...more

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