Rating: 
Summary: A Tale to Make You Think
Review: Mr Martel pens a book that makes you think with out attempting to preach or suggest a correct view. Very entertaining novel. Terrific main character. If you are wondering if you should read this book...yeah, you should.
Rating:
Summary: a simply amazing book
Review: A plot outline of Life of Pi would make it sound as if there could be no way that the novel could be serious or contemplative. After all, the primary plot of the book concerns a teen-ager's voyage across the Pacific Ocean in a lifeboat with a 450 lb Bengal Tiger. Nevertheless, Life of Pi is so well-written that the novel almost feels documentary. Yann Martel takes great pains in the first section of the book to provide the reader with the information necessary to believe that the main character would understand a great deal about animal behavior. Consequently, when Pi is stranded on the lifeboat with the various animals, his reactions to them and consequent actions because of them, do not come out of left field, but seen it knowledgeable, informed, and plausible. The character of Pi himself is one of the great creations of modern fiction. Here is a boy who is capable of grasping not only the knowledge of the animal behavior imparted to him by his zookeeper father, but also is capable of profound meditation on the on the universe, the existence of God, and the joy to be derived from participation in the various religions that existed in his tiny corner of India. It is certainly possible to read this novel as a great adventure yarn without having to deal with the more metaphysical issues that the book raises. Yes the issues remain to be explored by any reader who pays attention. I agree with the reviewer who stated that the chapter dealing with "the better story" is the key chapter of the book. The Japanese investigator is left to decide between two explanations of the boy's survival: one which requires faith and one which required only a grasp of the mundane. Martel's novel, in and of itself, is one which demonstrates that sometimes inexplicable miracles can occur, whether they be religious experiences or a wonderful first novel The novel truly makes one believe in the "better " story about the young man and the tiger.
Rating:
Summary: Rich, funny, thought provoking, warm, human and beautiful
Review: I found myself in tears while reading the author's note itself. I'd like to add my gratitude to not only the Canadian Council
of Arts for supporting the author but similar efforts everywhere
in the world. They enrich our world incomparably. I have my own
memories of late summer afternoons in establishments similar
to the India Coffee House described by Mr. Martel, that dot the
Indian urban landscape, attempting to birth my own stories. Yes, Mr. Martel, your theme is good, as are your sentences.
Your plot is grand, simple, and gripping. You have color,
contrast, and telling detail. And I can assure you that it
doesn't all add up to nothing in this book, at least. A fondness for and familiarity with tigers and India isn't
remotely necessary to appreciate this novel, but does add a
richer layer of warmth and humor to the reading experience. I enjoyed every page of this extraordinary universe,
including its creation, destruction and re-creation.
The most dangerous animal in the zoo faces us in the mirror,
indeed. You have my gratitude, Mr. Martel, for succeeding in slaying
crude reality at the altar of our imaginations.
Rating: 
Summary: where is this story going?
Review: At first, it was great. The characters are so real it seems like a memoir. That's what's great about this novel, not the wackiness and originality of it(that makes it unforgettable), but the fresh skill with which Martel creates. Then again, if you love wackiness and originality, grab this book.. But don't be disappointed that it all gets stranger, and stranger, and characters do the same; the thing is though, they stay that way, for better or for worse, in your mind.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't understand how this book received rave reviews
Review: I only finished this novel because I thought it would get better. Clearly I was wrong. I found the religious aspect of the book to be quite boring and to drag on excessively. I also wondered if they would ever get off the lifeboat. I think the fact that you know from the beginning that the book is a happy ending causes the book to fail as a "page-turner." The book left me with such an uninterested feeling. I couldn't wait to finish it just so I could stop dragging it around with me. I would not recommend this book nor would I suggest that it should win any more awards. I gained little if anything from it.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally well written!
Review: Life of Pi was one of the best books I've ever read. It is exceptionally well written. The necessary background was smart and amusing. The story itself is full of fascinating information about survival. The only parts that I did not like were some of the gory, realistic descriptions.
Multiple layers of meaning mixed fantasy with reality.
I predict that Life of Pi will become a classic. This book is ideal for college literature classes as well as folks who just like to sit down and have a "good read."
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous story!
Review: This story was one of the most interesting and compelling that I've read in a long time. The storyteller, Pi, pokes fun at himself and the situation even though it would be tragic for anyone, let alone a 16 year old to deal with. When finished, I found myself wondering if there were any truth at all to the story...it was amazing. After a bit of a slow start, I loved the imagery, even though at times it was grotesque. I found Pi's faith in God and himself and life touching and thought-provoking. I am recommending it to everyone I know.
Rating:
Summary: Life of Pi... Life in continuity
Review: This book worked on two levels for me. One, the basic narrative drive of the story pulled me ferociously to turn each page as if I needed to read the next one. Like a drug. The story was so compelling I couldn't put it down. You have to be a very good writer to sustain any reader's attention over what is essentially little narrative elements. The charm of the novel is that it manages to be both epic and intimate at the same time. But to go back to my initial point, the second level was a metaphorical one. I found myself strangely responding to the novel's more parable-like qualities. In the best sense, the novel creates its own distinct world and makes you question the choices the characters make at every turn. I apologize for the big questions: Isn't life a big ocean of uncertainty? Aren't we, spiritually, alone in an indifferent universe? Aren't we presented with the choice to believe, survive or lose hope? And what I found interesting from the author's introduction was that, like Cervantes did DON QUIXOTE, the author sets up a sense of disbelief, which he pays off at the end in the last part of the book (where Pi is interviewed by the two Japanese employees). Are we to believe Pi's story at face value? Or perhaps is his own retelling of his story in "dry facts" closer to the truth? Each reader must make a choice or chose not to make one. In either case, the novel invites another reading. And when you finish your second reading, you're invited for yet another one and so on, infinately. It gives you a sense of continuity, of kinship. It's not a dull continium, but rather a very pleasant view of life. Experience this novel. You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: a Precious Jewel of a book
Review: This book was such a pleasure to read; every metaphor was so spot on, that the ideas rolled around in my brain, lighting up the neurons until the next metaphor came and, like a new wave falling on a crowded beach, overtook the previous.
Rating:
Summary: A great read and deep spiritual journey...
Review: Martel brings Pi to life in an imaginative and intimate way. He writes about contemporary issues in an organic and fascinating style. His insights into our sharing the world with other creatures, and the universal core concepts of world religions are presented intellectually and then demonstrated through storytelling. I am a teacher who has relied on the tradition of Jesus teaching through parables to create interest in my best students--telling in a way that they draw their own conclusions. The lack of closure keeps this story in the foreground of the mind long after the last page is read. Martel links Parts 1 and 2 together in Chapter 74. When he acknowledges that all his religious rituals have given him comfort, and yet it is so hard to stay open, to let go, to trust deeply, and to freely love, I felt he was speaking to the reader about what was required to "get" this novel. His sense of humor saves the book from being tedious and self-righteous. It's a gem!
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