Life of Pi

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Summary: My bookclub suggestion
Review: I thought this book would make an interesting discussion -- after a couple of glasses of wine. I was right. The bookclub discussion was filled with "what ifs!"

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Summary: An Amazing Story of Survival and Human Understanding
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. I absolutely could not put it down until I knew how Pi's story ended. This is an amazing book. About religion, devotion, perspective, faith, and life. Life is what you make it. The twist at the end of the story is both breath-taking and thought-provoking. Do not missed the opportunity to experience this book.

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Summary: pi will be your favorite friend this summer
Review: you cannot put this book down. seriously. I know people from 12 to 80 who adore it. It is a welcome reality check. Thank you Yann Martell for this engrossing gem.

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Summary: To "Believe in God"
Review: Life of Pi is a powerful and touching novel about a "story that will make you believe in God," in which the son of a zookeeper whose family is immigrating to Canada. They sell off all the zoo animals they can, pack up the rest, and board an old Japanese cargo ship bound for North America. Unfortunately, en route, their ship sinks with a "monstrous metallic burp", leaving only Pi, a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a tiger named Richard Parker left alive on a single life boat. Nature quickly takes its course, leaving just Pi and the tiger left to battle for survival. In order to survive, Pi must sustain his own needs while still avoiding certain death by tiger.

To this end he finds himself hoarding fresh water, fishing daily, and capturing live sea turtles with which he sates his own hunger and that of his unlikely companion. With his intimate knowledge of animals and animal psychology, he sets out to "train" Richard Parker" that he himself is the alpha male, and thus has rights to his own territory. While this procures only a very precarious safety for Pi, it is enough to save him from his companion, as long as his companion is provided for.

Oddly enough, rather than hating the tiger that plagues him constantly, Pi finds that Richard Parker becomes his greatest ally, for of all the dangers facing Pi, the most dangerous is his own mind. Without the will to survive and the drive to do what needs to be done, he would have perished. Richard Parker provided exactly the motivation that Pi needed. It was his presence that forced Pi into action and kept him keen and alert enough to fight for survival for nearly nine months at sea.

This story in itself is highly entertaining. The writing style alone is exquisite and absolutely hilarious. What really makes this novel great, however, is the story under the story. This novel is not about a boy who survives impossible odds; it is about the power of faith and the human spirit. No matter what happens, Pi never loses his innocence. He never loses his faith in God, and he never loses his wonder at the world around him.

Faith is something that our world sorely lacks these days. There are few people of true faith. Author Yann Martel said that the difference between belief and faith is that "With faith you let go. You trust. Whereas with belief you cling." Many of us have belief in a religion, a way of life, certain morals, or other similar and inflexible human codes of law. But what we lack is the ability to completely give ourselves over a faith in the unknown. We can't let go. What is amazing about this story is that this lone boy turned nearly savage by his experiences still retains more faith than most of us have in a lifetime. He accepts his fate with what seems like impossible resolve. Any lesser person would have simple jumped in the sea and drowned themselves to end the suffering. One wonders what it takes to obtain such faith, let alone to keep it through such an ordeal. In many ways, this story really does "make you believe in God."

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Summary: Stories
Review: Stories; today so much of the modernized world thinks of them as amusements for children, but the importance of stories should not be overlooked. The history of the world was not handed down to us in the form of compact history books that so many young people drudgingly study from today. Rather, history came to us through stories told by generations that were eventually written down. In the Middle East, the early Biblical accounts were passed on by word of mouth. In Africa, the griots spun tales of ancestors and ancient days past. In North America, immigrants told tales of their homelands. These stories kept history alive and fresh for each nation, people, and tribe. Moreover, stories contain a power and capacity for influence that supercedes all other means of communication. The point is, stories do have affect on the present day, and have a much larger influence than most people realize.
The profound past and continued influence of stories today are perhaps the reason Yann Martel chose to write his novel, the Life of Pi, in a narrative form. Through this format he is able to weave together the varying aspects of Pi's life in a stream of conscience that is deeply engaging. The storyline bounces from past experiences and memories at the family zoo to the present situation of the animals on the boat. Pi drifts from talk about religion and family to talk about survival and food as the story progresses, suggesting a fundamental change in his attitude and personality. The narrative format allows the reader to feel as though they are really there, in the lifeboat, with Pi and Richard Parker. It is almost as thought the reader temporarily gets to live inside of Pi's head as he is experiencing this ordeal. Granted, the circumstances of the reader are much more physically comfortable, but it is a definite testimony to the power of Martel's literature that he is able to so realistically and convincingly recreate the experience in story form. Not only does this novel draw the reader into Pi's life and thought processes, it also evokes a change in the reader as well. The reader must grapple with the difficult mental circumstances of survival and still be able to appreciate the humor and amusement of Pi's unique sense of humor. The light-heartedness in style might lead some to dismiss these witty comments as mere good-humor, but there is something truly profound in these succinct phrases. Phrases such as "we commonly say in the trade that the most dangerous animal in the zoo is Man"(29) and "to choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation" (28) are sprinkled throughout the book. These glib phrases are funny at first glance and profound with a second look. Moreover, these expressions stick in the mind, where the deeper meaning percolates into a pearl of wisdom with time. This is another crucial factor in the Martel's decision to write in a story format; not only do certain sayings and images stick in the mind better, they portray a deeper meaning and intent than a mere re-telling of facts could ever express.
The Life of Pi is one story that all adults ought to read. First, for the child-like enjoyment of reading an pleasurable book once again. And secondly, read the story for it's deeper meaning and profound content: ponder which interpretation is correct, why the animal story is so much better, and what the symbolism of the animals really is. Readers will be amazed at the power of this story to entertain and challenge them to new levels of imagination and intellectual contemplation. Stories, after all, are more than just bed-time amusements for children; they record history and they record life. In this case, the life of a boy named Pi.

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Summary: a boy, a tiger, a boat, and life
Review: Just thinking about Life of Pi makes me want to jump head first into this novel all over again. I could not put this book down from the first sentence to the very last. Life of Pi was an incredible book and I recommend it to any one who is looking for a good read filled with delightful insights, subtle humor, and brilliant imagination.

Pi Patel lives with his family in Pondicherry, India, where his father is a zookeeper. After his father becomes frustrated with the Indian government, the family decides to move to Canada to start their life over. But after their ship sinks in a "monstrous metallic burp," Pi finds himself stuck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in a lifeboat with an orangutan, hyena, tiger, and a crippled zebra. His story is one of survival that can be applied to more than just the story.

One thing I loved most about this novel was the beautiful way in which it was written. Yann Martel weaves seemingly unrelated things together (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, tigers, dorados, orange whistles, algae, and the mysteries of life, to name a few) to make one incredible story. He truly has a gift for story telling and I am so glad I have read his story.

Yet this novel has more to it than just great writing. An aspect that I found interesting was that Pi practiced three religions: his native Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. Even while those around him, including the leaders of his religions, were pressing him to choose one religion over another, Pi did not because he loved God and loved all three of his religions. Life of Pi made a profound statement for a multi-religious world: all religions are full of love and not one is better than another is.

Life of Pi challenges its readers to think about the better stories in life. After I had finished the novel, I was not able to forget about it. I have turned it over and over in my head and I am still not through with it. This book is a think piece and more than just an excellent read.

I immersed myself in this wonderful novel. Every detail, every insight made me want to keep reading, keep sinking deeper and deeper into Yann Martel's world. Sleep and homework were just afterthoughts as I soared through this book. Every time I picked it up, my world fell away and I too was stuck in the middle of the sea with nothing but a lifeboat and a tiger. I cannot find the words to best describe this beautiful novel. Anything I say will not do it justice, for it is a novel of its own kind, a novel of religion, philosophy, zoology, and survival. How then can I write a review of it without taking away some of its mystic and awe? I have no idea, dear reader, all I can do is advise you to take an unlikely adventure with a boy and a tiger and the Pacific Ocean.

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Summary: survival on the high seas
Review: A ship sinks and this young guy named Pi has to survive somehow on a big raft with a few zoo animals, most notably, a big tiger! This is enough to test anyone's full capacity of strength and endurance. This story scenario also provides a good opening for all kinds of philosophical speculation and introspective discussion about spiritual faith, etc. All the while, the tiger has eaten all the animals one by one and Pi has to do some fishing to keep both himself and the hungry tiger fed if he doesn't wanna be its next meal!

What I love about this book is that it's not afraid to make you think, it's not afraid to tackle ideas while at the same time it's written in a flowing style and there's such a fantastic story here! Reminds you of Hemingway's novella about the old man and the whale. This is a simple, perhaps too drawn out, but enchanting tale. The only criticism I would have is that some descriptions are too detailed, too long-winded, too drawn out. This is not a fast-paced read, so you need to read with patience, but I think you'll be amply rewarded if you find some free relaxing time and really give it a chance.

David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"

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Summary: In a word, captivating
Review: "Life of Pi" is quite possibly one of the best novels that I have ever read in my life. It is funny, touching, intriguing, it provokes many thoughts about many subjects, and is, in a word, captivating.
"Life of Pi" addresses a touchy issue - religion - in a way that makes one wonder about the same things Pi ponders and struggles with. One truly begins to question the way society functions and why it is not possible to simply love God, which is Pi's desire, but he wants to do so through different religions. The novel raises questions like these and has a serious side, but throughout the entire book Yann Martel always keeps a comical side and makes even the simplest description of a person or place extremely entertaining. From the stories about Pi's early childhood years to anecdotes about his family, to Richard Parker, Martel's humor is priceless.
"Life of Pi" is very well written, but there are things that do at times get in the way of it being a so called easy read. The sections in italic words are often a little bit confusing because it is jumping to another time and place, but eventually it is not such a problem.
One of the most interesting things about "Life of Pi" is the zoological references that Martel works into the book. Chances are the average reader will not be a zoo keeper, and so all of this information will be strikingly new and unknown to them. The idea of a zoo and its many facets and characteristics are portrayed in a way that addresses human society. You have to think about why zoos are good and bad, how they work, and the fact that the human is the most dangerous animal in the zoo. The minute details that Martel gives about certain animals and their habits immediately made me want to go to the zoo and just observe the animals to watch for these things that are described!
The story of Pi's adventure is somewhat unbelievable and far fetched. With faith, however, I think that it is feasible - and that is what this book is about, faith. As Martel said in an interview, "Fanatics do not have faith - they have belief. With faith you let go. You trust. Whereas with belief you cling." With faith, this novel becomes much more meaningful. It allows you to absorb the thoughts and emotion that Pi experiences. At the end of the book, when he presents two stories about what had happened to him, it is difficult to decide which of the two outcomes is true, and/or which of the two you prefer. But it is maybe this unknowing that increases faith, because when things are unclear, it is the faith that you have in whatever guides you that brings them to light.
"Life of Pi" is an equally wonderful read for pleasure or for intellectual challenge. I would recommend it to everyone as a must-read, and say with confidence that anyone who reads it will be fascinated and touched.

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Summary: We're All in the Same Boat!
Review: Rarely does a book break the boundaries of past fictional conventions to communicate a fresh story about spirituality in an unforgettable way. Life of Pi is such a book.

Those with great faith often receive enormous trials to test their faith. That's exactly what happens to Piscine Molitor Patel (who later shortens his name to "Pi" to make it easier to remember and to avoid jokes). As a lad, he finds himself inextricably drawn into practicing the Christian, Hindu and Moslem religions at the same time in his native India. While his practices annoy his religious advisors and puzzle his parents, Pi finds himself content in his continuing appreciation of God. Life is always interesting for him, too, as he helps out with the family zoo. From observing the animals, he finds out a lot about how animals relate to one another and to people.

Annoyance with the Indian government leads his father to decide to emigrate to Canada. He sells the animals and boards a ship with his family to transport them to North America.

At sea, the ship quickly sinks . . . with one human and four animal survivors from the zoo crowded together in a single lifeboat. The largest survivor is Richard Parker, a full grown Bengal tiger who takes up half the boat. There's also a hyena, a female orang-utan named Orange Juice, and a zebra with a broken leg. What will happen next?

The remainder of the story is a fable-like adventure that reminded me of a cross between Robinson Crusoe and all of the books about survival at sea in a lifeboat that I have ever read . . . except with the twist of how animals and a human can survive together.

The book's beginning and end of the book are especially delicious for their hinting about the true nature of the story and what has happened to Pi. In the end, you will find yourself wondering . . . did that story really happen to Pi . . . or did another thing happen? You'll find yourself pondering that question often.

Ultimately, the book asks the question, "What is our responsibility to God . . . to one another . . . and to ourselves? I suspect that this book will raise new answers and questions for you.

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Summary: Mmmm...mmmm...good. Pi is yummy.
Review: My Grandmother made an excellent peach pie in her day. But it doesn't compare to Yann Martel's "Pi". It is comfort food for your mind. I also recommend The Little Guide To Happiness.