Life of Pi in 100 books to read before you die

Jul 11, 2011 Nicole rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-list-books, 2011

I should have known how this was going to go when I read the blurb on the front cover: "A story to make you believe in the soul-sustaining power of fiction." (LA Times Book Review)

First, I could have done without the entire first 36 chapters and the final five. The first tries to set up the back story of Pi and establish him as a character we should be invested in. It's also supposed to be humorous, I think. Personally, I found it rather tedious and didn't establish Pi as anything but a boy who ...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Declan rated it it was amazing

One of the best books I have EVER read! I feel as though I have learned an amalgamation of throw away, yet at the same time pivotal and exceedingly impressive knowledge! Not just about faith, religion, resourcefulness, zoology and botany, but as abundant as it sounds...Life! A truly stunning novel and one I feel one will have to read again to fully aprectiate it now having read the potential plot of the story, given to the reader at the end, like a much needed and thankful resource when ones min One of the best books I have EVER read! I feel as though I have learned an amalgamation of throw away, yet at the same time pivotal and exceedingly impressive knowledge! Not just about faith, religion, resourcefulness, zoology and botany, but as abundant as it sounds...Life! A truly stunning novel and one I feel one will have to read again to fully aprectiate it now having read the potential plot of the story, given to the reader at the end, like a much needed and thankful resource when ones mind is awash like Pi was at sea, in the Pacific, with an abundance of divergent questions being asked with each flick of the well thumbed pages. Hence, there is a great sense of closure at the end of the novel, with such an excellent potential twist! It's just breath takingly simple yet smart. Yann Martel's writing style is beautiful and the trials and tribulations of Pi (3.14) are heart wrenching and thought provoking in emotive, sombre beats of sensitivity and sympathy towards his unremitting bravery, intelligence and utter wit concerning his totally dire situation for the reader to fret and mull about and subsequently enjoy! Granted when Pi was re-checking his lifeboat knots and talking about the weather over and over in the middle of the novel, it was getting slightly tedious, but that is perhaps being too critical as the ending is comical, clever and heralds such a superb angle with a tornado esk twist that just whisks the readers mind away in complete awe, bringing much thoughts and issues to be raised for fruitful discussion. At the end of the tale Mr. Okamoto says in his report, 'as an aside the story is of a sole survivor, Mr. Piscine Molitor Patel, and Indian citizen, and is an astounding story of courage and endurance in the face of extraordinary difficult and tragic circumstances. His story is unparalleled in the history of shipwrecks. Very few castaways can claim to have survived as long at sea as Mr.Patel, and none in the company of an adult Benegal tiger'. Pi and Richards roaring companionship whilst some may say is quite minimal, I believe is unrivalled with. They are truly interdependent of one another and thus without each other the plot couldn't spark and intensify into the sheer size of the inferno is blazes to and then extinguishes with such a blissful magnitude as it does. Congratulations Martel, you should be proud. If it somehow isn't unequivocally clear, I love this tale and I cannot recommend it enough. Enjoy! ...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Helen rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-list

Proof of God? More like post traumatic stress.

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Dec 07, 2012 Ann rated it it was ok

An interesting storyline, but this book was way too wordy. The main character's introspection was tedious rather than enlightening. A disappointing read. ...more

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