Life of Pi

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Read but Doesn't Deliver on Promise
Review: I read Life of Pi with high expectations and was very happy as the book began to flow along it seemed to slow down. Early on it promises that "this story will make you believe in God". I was not personally expecting this outcome for myself but by the end of the book I never really see where that promise is addressed or even hinted at as a result. Martel is a gifted writer but I think he tries to do too much with this novel. He does offer interesting reflections on overcoming one's fear and life as fiction. I would recommend reading this book within a book group as discussion may help some readers sort through his work.

Rating:
Summary: Very thoughtful book . . .
Review: I really liked this book as I kept reading, as it made me think a great deal about how one looks at the world. This book is not for those looking for an escape like a historical novel - it's more of a thought starter or discussion starter for reflection on life.

Rating:
Summary: This one is worth owning!
Review: Yann Martel's wonderful Life of Pi is one of those books that will find its way into your permanent collection. This beautifully written book is a meditation of life and faith and survival, and it is not a book that you will soon forget. Great storytelling here (without artificially imposed plot twists) and magnificent writing. I can't recommend this book any more highly.
Also recommended: [e-mail] by Tom Grimes, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez.

Rating:
Summary: A Poor Man's "Moby Dick"....
Review: As one previous reviewer wrote, "WAY,WAY OVERRATED". This somewhat meandering story didn't engage me, and like many readers, I found no compelling ending to Pi's journey. The emperor has no clothes....

Rating:
Summary: A mix of religion and animals make this book fun!
Review: When I first received Life of Pi, I thought that it might be a little boring. Boy was I wrong! This book has a lot to offer.
The character's are interesting and the settings are exotic. You enjoy Pi's journey and find yourself hoping he makes it to shore safely!

I suggest this book for teens and above due to the sometimes graphic things that happen to animals and people alike.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: Funny, it seems that most reviewers, as well as, the author himself misunderstand this book (or could it be me, then?). This is a celebration of life in the most atheistic way: life being created by the linguistic universe we interpret it in, a social phenomenon, essentially. Here stories are our lives, religions are our stories, very much in line with Wittgenstein's second period.

And furthermore, this text steps over the sweat-smelling meticulous architecture of the post-modern novel, the meta-structure itself being played with throughout. The first post-post-modern book, I have read.

Brilliant and delight!

Rating:
Summary: A Transcendental Number
Review: A book that is deeper in it's currents that the surface appears.

Pi - A transcendental number, approximately 3.14159.

Transcendental Number - an irrational number that is not algebraic.

Irrational Number - Any real number that cannot be expressed as a ratio between two integers.

Irrational - not consistent with or using reason; "irrational fears"; "irrational animals".

Transcendental - of or characteristic of a system of philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual about the empirical and material.

All of these may be said of Pi Patel, the boy who believes in 3.14159... religions, and one God.

Rating:
Summary: A whale of good tale.
Review: _________
Fluff or not? Not
_________

Currently this sits atop my 'best-read-ever' list. A work of art, Martel weaves his tale of survival, spiritual quest, and interdependance with a grace and mystery I've seldom enjoyed. Yes, there were pages where its possible to get a little bored but I don't believe there's much that doesn't add to the plot. Through calamity, despair, fright, and panic we follow Pi's almost mystical survival, strange friendship and other-worldly discovery to the grand finale. You thought you knew the story but I certainly was surprised. You will be as well.

+: shipwreck, animals, death, survival, God, man-eating islands, and a grand-daddy of a twist - all laid out with great finesse. Who could wish for more?
-: a little bit of down time - between being shipwrecked and landing in Mexico. 227 days on a boat with a tiger - it's bound to get a little slow once in a while.

Rating:
Summary: Sorry, not a great read
Review: This was an OK book. I was suckered into buying it because Amazon thought if I liked Bel Canto, I'd like this book. This was no Bel Canto, by a LONG shot. I did like parts (the zoo minutiae especially) but found myself skipping over page after page about 2/3 through. It became a grudge match. What on earth did all the religious stuff (to which I am not averse)have to do with the rest of the book?

Rating:
Summary: Tedious at times but rewarding
Review: For the most part I enjoy Martel's writing, especially the tidbits of clarity about life. But I did get a bit bored at times, not completely engaged. So did my tiger. But we persevered and for that we are glad. Didn't make either of us believe in God any more nor less, however.