MARCH 2013: Life of Pi: Part Three to END (Chapters 96-100) - Contains Spoilers

[Kara]

Congratulations on finishing the book! You're now one book closer to your 2013 goal.

Don't forget to post your review here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

[Jack]

Hi all,


What do you think of the ending?

The first part of the novel starts twenty years after Pi's ordeal at sea and ends with the words "This story has a happy ending." Do you agree?

What genre do you associate "Life of Pi" with?

[Kaitlin]

Jack wrote: "Hi all,


What do you think of the ending?

The first part of the novel starts twenty years after Pi's ordeal at sea and ends with the words "This story has a happy ending." Do you agree?

What ge..."

No, I don't think it's a happy ending. It's pretty depressing, actually.

To me it's literary fiction.

What'd you think of it, Jack?

[Jack]

I thought the ending was depressing too. It was a bit shocking if I'm honest. It made me feel like the whole story was pointless. I did to like it.

[Kara]

I don't know how to explain it, but I liked the ending. It's a story about survival, and he survived. That's about as happy of an ending as we could have asked for.

I did also think it was shocking--I like it when books can shock me.

[Caroline]

I loved the ending. While I was reading I wasn't sure I was really liking the book, but the ending changed everything and is the reason why I gave it four stars instead of three. I love that you don't know what was true and what wasn't and how the end ties in really well with the religious theme: do you believe the better story that sounds impossible or do you believe only in what's logical?

[Lee-Anna]

I really enjoyed this book. I tried to link up with you all earlier on, but alas time and then and bad internet connection got in the way. I have to say when I started the book that I was drawn to the zoological aspects of it, but was wondering about when there would be tigers and boats and the like. I enjoyed the look at the Indian culture and the insights into religion. As the story progressed, I was drawn in more. I totally missed the first reference to Richard Parker and I really liked how a sense of voyeristic suspense was created by the interviewer discussing his observations of Pi and the tidbits offered up about his experiences. At one point though, I really didn't think I was going to make it. The graphic nature of the demise of the other animals on the boat really got to me. I had to take a break after the hyena died. I was truly in love with how the book flitted from descriptions of violence, ugliness and death to great natural beauty of the oceans. By the end, I was almost 100% sure that the story had actually happened. Kind of sad that it hadn't. I think there's a part of me that wished it had - boy and tiger managed to survive together. As for the ending, I liked how the author put in a measure of doubt about Pi's verasity. I choose to believe in Richard Parker and I'm glad he didn't look back when they finally reached land. It was more realistic to me. As for a happy ending? I'm not sure if happy is the word. Successful maybe accomplished, but not happy. I think the book's themes of determination and self reliance are refreshing considering the variety of challenges facing the "real world." Overall a great, great read.