Spoiler Thread: Life of Pi

[[deleted user]]

This is the discussion thread for the January monthly read, Life of Pi. Please use this thread for a freer discussion where possible spoilers may be posted without fear.

[[deleted user]]

In the open thread the floating island and its significance was discussed.

For me it was just a symbol of Pi's life aboard the lifeboat. He was surviving on the boat but by the end we discovered at what cost. The death of the young seaman, the removal of his leg for bait, the chef's cannibalising of the him and Pi's of the cook. If the animals represented the people aboard the lifeboat, then the floating island represented the lifeboat.

The boat kept him alive for a time, but he would die soon enough if he remained there. The same for the island. He could eat and drink while there, but all it would take would be to fall from a tree and he would end up like the owner of the tooth.

[Susan]

Wow! I didn't think of it like that. Good insight. In your response you said "the fall of the tree" and it made me think of the Garden of Eden where a tree and a fall of grace was involved. Like the island where he could eat and drink, the Garden was like that too until there was a fall. Did you intend that, Declan, because it fits?

[[deleted user]]

I actually meant it in a very literal sense, but the with the religious tones from the start of the novel It does fit nicely. That never even occurred to me, Susan. Nice insight. Maybe it's more religious than I gave it credit for?

[Susan]

You were the one who led me to that thought. I hadn't thought it before. I am not great at books that are symbolic. I'm more of a black and white person. The best thing about this book is how much it made me think. At it's barest level, it is an incredible survival book. It makes you think what you would do to survive. It's very personal to me. I have a trachea tube which is a permanent reminder of my successful fight with throat cancer. People try to feel sorry for me and are surprised when I say that I am grateful for it. I would have died without it. It's all in the perspective, isn't it?

[[deleted user]]

Vert true. A positive outlook makes all the difference.

Have you mentioned the tube before, Susan? I remember duscussing your successful fight before but I can't remember that. I can't imagine what it must be like.

[Susan]

I might not have. It makes talking a little bit of a problem but I manage. My kids will say, "Stop yelling."
I say, "You've got to be kidding." They laugh and say,
"We know you'd be yelling if you could." I prefer to think I talk like Lauren Bacall. Wishful thinking.

[[deleted user]]

It's nice that you're all far enough past it to have a sense of humour about it. You strike as a tough woman and this only proves it to me.

[Richard]

Declan's speaking of the potential for falling out of the tree reminds me that... we're all passengers on a lifeboat, and none of us are going to get out of it Scot-free. I think I enjoyed the redemption/resurrection of Richard Parker in the first story as the much better tale.

[I-like-to-read]

Finally got round to reading this, only up to page 50 but love the way he explains how to pronounce his name, and the mispronunciations.

[[deleted user]]

It really showed his resourcefulness, I found.

Most kids get stuck with nicknames, but I found the way that Pi shed his very plausible. It was quite uplifting.

[Richard]

Funny, too!

[[deleted user]]

It was. I'm a little annoyed with myself that I didn't think of 'Pissing Patel' before I read it.

[I-like-to-read]

I finished this book last night, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I did try to read this book a few years ago and only got up to page 50, so I’m glad I gave it another try.

And hands up anyone who filled a sink with water and threw in a banana Ha!!!

[[deleted user]]

I just googled it. But I have to admit, I still want to throw a bunch into the Liffey.

[I-like-to-read]

Brilliant :-)