LIFE WITH PI
Yann Martel

Synopsis: Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks-and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can Pi and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they do?

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January 21, 2008

"I know what you want. You want a story that won't surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won't make you see higher or further or differently. You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality." - Part Three, Ch. 95

Review: Life of Pi is such a unique and original novel that you must read it with an open mind, before delving into it. The story may seem ridiculous to believe, but Yann Martel's terrific storytelling makes this adventure story completely enjoyable.

The book has a strong start, but once you hit Part Two that recounts Pi's survival at sea, the story drags at a certain point and does not pick up until the last few chapters of that part. (Which is why I knocked of points on the rating, because I felt like I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked.) It is during this time that you may feel tempted to give it up, but if you stick it out to the end you will not regret it. The end of the story has a philosophical twist (which you will have to read to find out because I will never tell). It came as a shock and completely blew me away. It wasn't until I got to Part Three that I appreciated the true genius of this work.

The adventure story in itself, is incredibly creative and delightful. But once you read the ending, it becomes so much more than your typical novel. The story comes off quite simple, but slowly builds into complexity. Since Life of Pi is open to interpretation, this is the type of book that must be read again to be enjoyed at a whole other level. I definitely will have to give it another go one of these days.

NAVIGATION

CHALLENGES

BIBLIOPHILE