Rating: 
Summary: ABSOLUTELY MAGICAL
Review: Let us first get the negatives out of the way: (1) Yes, you may find that the book is not about "anything much." If you are the sort of person who wishes to tie a novel to a chair and force a definitive plot out of it, then you'll be disappointed. (2) Martel usually gets into a refrain about theological banalities, and for me, they were a bit difficult to trudge through without skimming. Good news is, you won't miss much even if you skim past such sections (only a few of them.) (3) The book admittedly drags a little at the end. That said, I have to confess that this brilliant long-story debut from Martel is a tour-de-force in contemporary fiction. Apart from his extraordinary command of language -- imagine a full-fledged novel without any discernible plot that still manages to grab you by the scruff of your neck for 300 odd pages -- the situations that his narrative veers around are both original and whacky, so you can expect frequent traces of restrained but intelligent humor, and almost a persistent undercurrent of themes that evoke ruminations. But the thing that shines above all are its lovable characters, who are suffused with such neotenous wonder that reading about them is a fresh experience, a sparkling look at our habitual assumptions about religion, about zoos and the wilderness, about the ambiguous bounds of freedom, or even about -- gulp! -- God. Almost anyone with a heart and a flair for thought can savour this novel. Do yourself a favor and get a piece of this Pi. Or share it with someone you love, it'd make for a very thoughtful gift..
Rating: 
Summary: A Super-Alpha book
Review: Critics, as well as all my friends, agree: The Life of Pi is a fabulous book. I twas recommended to me by everyone. Coaches, teachers, and the crazy librarian at the Argonne Library. Thus, I stole it from my sister's book shelf and was taken into the lifeboat and met Richard Parker for myself. I learned with Pi how to teach others the Super-alpha training that comes from inner strength.
The Life of Pi is about Piscine, or Pi, Patel. He's a Hindu, a Muslim, and a Christian, all wrapped up in one package. His father owns a zoo, and he was raised being around animals his entire life. Pi associates life, as well as faith, with the animals. When his family decides to move to Canada he embarks on a journey across the Pacific with his family and some various zoo animals such as a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra, and Richard Parker; a Bengal tiger. When the boat he's on sinks, he has to learn to survive on a lifeboat with the tiger, or else he will be dinner.
There were plenty of lessons to be learned from this book. On page 5 there is the line "When you've suffered a great deal in life, each additional pain is both unbearable and trifling". This book also taught me about faith. Pi said on page 69, "I just want to love God". Throughout this book, throughout all the hardships that Piscine endured, he never lost his faith in Jesus, Mary, Muhammed, whomever. Not only did this book stretch the imagination, but I'm sure it inspired readers to strive for the kind of faith that Pi had; one that could surpass a 450-pound tiger. It was funny at times, sad, but overall enjoyable.
I now have joined the hundreds of people who rave about this book to anyone who would listen. While I don't read fiction very often, this book was actually based on a real story, so the overall effect wasn't that horrid. I learned to look out for my own Richard Parker in life, as well as to treat that Richard Parker like I'm a super-alpha animal , ready for anything.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully inspiring
Review: This is by far one of the most unusual books ever to come out. The story of Pi can best be summed up by his statement, "It is pointless to say that this or that night was the worst of my life. I have so many bad nights to choose from that I've made none the champion." This after having been shipwrecked with a menagerie of animals while taking a freighter to Canada. And as if that premise weren't enough, Martel has given us the added bonus of having Pi try on various religions for size. The effect is mesmerizing and brilliant and opens the door for a wonderful commentary on not everything from life, love, survival, and faith, to basic human instinct and need. Part fable, part fiction, part truth (at least in one character's mind) this brilliant work is at once beautiful and horrifying in its execution. That Martel is able to take us so completely into the world of Pi is remarkable and a wonder. If you have to read one book, this is the one to pick. Also recommended: Bark of the Dogwood
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Tiffany Goldberg,Reviewer
great book, fantastic ....some fantasy,some reality....much understanding within itself. Alot of wonderful detail. The author did a wonderful job writing this Other recommended reads (Non-Fiction)Nightmares Echo, A Child Called It,Running With Scissors and (Fiction) Three Junes
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: When I first heard about Life of Pi, I thought the plot (all I knew was it was about a kid stranded on a lifeboat) sounded boring. My mom read it & reccomended it to me, then my brother did the same, so I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I read it!! It is about so much more than I thought it was. This novel left me thinking about it for days after finishing, and I would love to reread it some day. I think I would pick up on even more the second time around. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes to think about the books they read, or to anyone who loves good fiction.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate Fiction
Review: As a student of many religions (but a person of a single faith), I was fascinated by the character Pi from the start. This book is a beautifully written, thought provoking book about faith, about survival, about the transition from childhood to adulthood, about the strength of the soul and it's ability to tame (though not completely conquer because that is impossible) the most beastly parts of ourselves, and so many other things. I finished reading this book days ago, and I still find myself thinking about it frequently, finding new meanings in it,etc.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless classic
Review: When a book of this caliber comes along you owe it to your friends to let them know. I've already purchased ten copies to distribute. I think that says alot about my opinion of this storyteller and the plot. As yet, no complaints from reciprocants, only bravissimos.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Like "Treasure Island"
Review: In comparing modern books to the classics of yesteryear, I am convinced "Life of Pi" will not only be considered a modern classic for this decade, it will come to be regarded as this decade's "Treasure Island." I do not mean to insinuate that it is a modern adaptation of "Treasure Island". Most assuredly "Life of Pi" is its own story. The themes that make "Treasure Island" a timeless classic though are the same ones that now are the appeal of "Life of Pi" - a boy on his own, at sea, learning right and wrong, learning survival, learning how to be a man. As freely as it may be said that "My Fractured Life" is our decade's "Catcher in the Rye" and "Secret Life of Bees" is our time's "Color Purple", I am certain that "Life of Pi" will come to be recognized as one of our modern classics, with the same classic appeal of "Treasure Island".
Rating:
Summary: Life of SurPIval!!
Review: Excellent story. Wonderful depiction of survival. Imagination helps us through many trials. This will be a book I pick up more than once throughout my life.
Rating: 
Summary: i like the cover not the book
Review: the book was boring! it teaches kids about stuff that they don't need to know! this book is smelly! EWWWW!
life of bi by mann fartel is a book that i will never read again! this book has taken it's toll on me i said goodbye too many times before its pages are ripping in front of me i have no choice cuz i wont read this book anymore!
THIS BOOK IS BAD AND THIS REVIEW IS HELPFUL!
Love, The voice inside your head :-(
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