Rating: 
Summary: Ultimately Depressing...
Review: I read 95% of this with a healthy bit of sceptism. The author started out describing his problems, in the first person. Then jumped to Pi's problems, in the first person. This began to play like so many "my so-called life" stories.
I couldn't quite figure out where he was going with Pi's "religion of the day" thing. I thought I was getting somewhere when I came upon the "castaway on a lifeboat" story line with the bengalese tiger twist. The strange co-relationship between Richard Parker and Pi seemed to echo the theme of disparate religions residing in one person, a metaphor for societies struggles to accomodate rampant differentiation I guess. But the real moral of the story came out in not so subtle fashion when Pi said " As it is with God". It rang of Karl Marx and "Religion is the opiate of the masses ".
Can it be that God, in all its manifestations, is just a coping mechanism for a world to grim to contemplate??? How ultimately depressing...
Rating: 
Summary: The best . . . the best
Review: With its themes involving survival, life's choices, and religion, LIFE OF PI is nothing if not food for thought. Brilliantly couched in a writing style that appears to be part fable, part truth, part fiction, this wonderfully different little book is pure enjoyment and insight. Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: Charming Tale of Survival
Review: This novel was an excellent read, a unique tale, and a masterfully crafted piece of prose. The introduction was compelling and ignited the reader's interest. The challenge, that it is a story that will make you believe in God, was intriguing but ultimately did not succeed. Judging the book from this criterion, it is a failure. As a tale, though, it is an overwhelming success. The main character, Pi, and his various friends and family members are filled with innocence and majesty and cut so sharp that they stand out in sharp contrast to their background. As a lover of survival stories, I was sure to like this one, fanciful though it is. Martel writes well about endurance and survival in an impossible situation. Pi's intelligence and perseverance in the face of such challenges causes one's heart to leap with joy and hope. As for the book's introductory challenge, I found the story a poor metaphor for the human condition, which it is, I suppose, meant to be. Furthermore, the plotshift towards the end, though thought-provoking, was much less interesting than the tale. If that is why it is supposed to lead one to a belief in God, I find it lacking and pessimistic. If belief in God is ultimately a pleasant illusion over and against a ghastly reality, then first of all, it is not a choice but a delusion that the unconscious foists upon the conscious mind and second, a failure of the individual's creativity to draw meaning and hope from the real, unadulterated human condition. It is, truly, a psychopathic break from reality into fantasy. For instance, if Pi wants to believe his story versus what may have 'really happened,' then he may do so but I seriously doubt that he will ever truly believe the story. His mind will always know what genuinely occurred and this will fill him with horror. He can tell others the pleasant story but he himself cannot suppress the truth of what happened. While this strategy is the basis for constructing good stories, life itself should not be fictionalized. In the end, Life of Pi did not cause me to believe in God or to respect those who believe in Him/Her out of a disgust with the reality of this world.
Rating:
Summary: True Classic
Review: What a wonderful book! The non-existent scenery of the ocean is well balanced by the actions and thoughts of the creatures on the raft. Thought-provoking, and required reading for all. A bit of a surprise ending!
Rating: 
Summary: appaled
Review: I'm totally confused as to how so many people could think that this book was worth while reading. I read this book in a book club. I was warned before I started reading that it starts out slow but seems to pick up. Well that certainly wasn't evident. The book started out slow, picked up slightly, and then just slowed right back down again. I found that I was not alone with my opinion when others that read the book said that they found it horrid and hard to finish. Even the leader of the book club did not finish it, I still don't know if he has, and this was 4 months ago! The philisophical aspects of this book are not nearly as powerful as the power to put the reader to sleep.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing allegory
Review: While Life of Pi is a tad slow going at first and a trifle abrupt at the ending, the uniquely engrossing tale in the middle more than makes up for these aforementioned deficiencies. While I had my doubts going in and it did take me a good 75 pages to truly get into the book, I must say that once I did it made for a most inimitable ride -- one you'll not soon forget -- whether you love it or hate it. While the story of a boy and a tiger sailing across the Pacific in a lifeboat may seem implausible, if not downright silly, to many from the outset (myself included), the whole premise of this unbelievable scenario is expressly central to the theme of the book. In a society where religion is increasingly derided and looked down upon by many, it takes a 16 year-old Indian boy and the incredibly original bengal tiger Richard Parker to teach us the power of faith and reaffirm the existence of God - as well as the wonder of animals and zoos. If in doubt, give it a shot - Richard Parker and co. will not disappoint. "The presence of God is the finest of rewards." - Pi
Rating:
Summary: Recent picks
Review: Our book club is nothing if not an eclectic bunch, reading everything from self-help books to little known fiction. That's why I was so surprised when the last three books we read were all not only bestsellers, but well-written (the two do not necessarily go hand-in-hand). Of these three, LIFE OF PI was our favorite. The other two, BIRTH OF VENUS and McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD were also excellent, though totally different from "PI," and we loved all of them, but Martel's book took us all by surprise. Fascinating in its conception and form, this seemingly simple tale is rather complex underneath. With views on religion and survival, this novel will provide more than enough food for thought. Also recommended: Bark of the Dogwood and Birth of Venus
Rating:
Summary: Great bookclub book!
Review: Our bookclub cannot stop talking about this book! By far this book has been the most interesting we have dicussed. My highest recommendations for this one!
Rating:
Summary: So Thought Provoking!
Review: I just finished this magnificent book and I simply cannot stop thinking about it. The author's ability to convey Pi's depth of suffering is masterful. I felt as if I was on the boat with him! The story left me emotionally drained yet thoroughly satisfied. The descriptions of the animals, their behaviors and interactions with Pi were detailed and horrific. The gruesome parts were upsetting and haunting, but I believe, critical to the story. So much symbolism. Patel's ending make the reader an active part of this story by forcing us to draw upon our personal beliefs and faith to render our own conclusion. Thank you and BRAVO!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a masterful novel. Martel's witty writing captures the reader's attention after the first chapter. Pi's journey across the ocean opens everyone eyes to the struggles man can endure and overcome. Pi's journey and struggles make you believe in a higher power. Pi over came all of his hardship's thru faith. I would recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy an in lighting read.
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