Helpful Score: 35
This book is genius.
The beginning is a bit dry--about the first 80 pages were hard for me to get through (I wanted the TIGER! Bring on the TIGER!) but once the story got moving it was a beautiful, fascinating book. One of the best endings of all time, IMO. And you can go back and read the beginning once you've finished the book, and have a much better appreciation for it.
I highly recommend this book; it well deserved the Booker Prize.
The beginning is a bit dry--about the first 80 pages were hard for me to get through (I wanted the TIGER! Bring on the TIGER!) but once the story got moving it was a beautiful, fascinating book. One of the best endings of all time, IMO. And you can go back and read the beginning once you've finished the book, and have a much better appreciation for it.
I highly recommend this book; it well deserved the Booker Prize.
Helpful Score: 31
This is a fascinating book. There is so much fact in it that I kept checking that it was actually fiction.
Within the book is a treatise on the benefits of zoos and how, if they are created and maintained properly they are the best possible environment for the animals involved.
There is a discussion on comparative religions â Muslim, Hindu and Christianity. The main character gets involved and practices all three. He describes how they all benefit him in different ways.
Then there is the main part of the book â how to survive in a lifeboat at sea for seven months â especially if you are sharing the boat with a Bengal tiger. So there's a short treatise on how to train a tiger â how to let him know you are the alpha male and therefore he is not to dominate (aka eat) you.
Much of the book is matter of fact, and it is all beautifully written.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Within the book is a treatise on the benefits of zoos and how, if they are created and maintained properly they are the best possible environment for the animals involved.
There is a discussion on comparative religions â Muslim, Hindu and Christianity. The main character gets involved and practices all three. He describes how they all benefit him in different ways.
Then there is the main part of the book â how to survive in a lifeboat at sea for seven months â especially if you are sharing the boat with a Bengal tiger. So there's a short treatise on how to train a tiger â how to let him know you are the alpha male and therefore he is not to dominate (aka eat) you.
Much of the book is matter of fact, and it is all beautifully written.
I HIGHLY recommend it.
Helpful Score: 27
I did not finish the book, I think the writing is excellent and the story compelling but for all animal lovers,reading the details of zoo animals being eaten alivel and Zebra's flesh being torn off as the Zebra lay in misery still alive. If I had know the book had this vivid discriptions of animals being butchered and tortured I would not have ordered it. Maybe after the Zebra incident the book's detail on animal torture ends I don't know becasue I couldn't risk having to read more about these beautiful animals being slaughtered. If you are the kind of person who gets squimish when animals are brutally sacrificed for the sake of the story don't read this. I only wish someone had told me that.
Helpful Score: 21
You have to start out reading this book with no expectations. It is completely unrealistic of course in the beginning, but when that is behind you, it is a surprisingly good story of survival and the close bond between man and creatures. And the end leaves you thinking for quite some time.
Helpful Score: 17
Absolutely amazing. The best book I read in 2004 hands down. About a boy ,Pi Patel, who unfortunately finds himself stuck on a float with some interesting zoo animals, and his survival among these beasts. It left me thinking long after I was finished reading. It is so much more than meets the eye. This is one of my keepers. Rated 5/5
Helpful Score: 17
This book was simply amazing. Lots of people said I should read it, and while I was halfway through I was still thinking, "There's got to be something I'm missing here."
There was.
Just keep reading...you won't be disappointed!
There was.
Just keep reading...you won't be disappointed!
Helpful Score: 11
Personally, I felt the book started very slow, but was, overall a tremendous find. I read it for book club and it yielded a fantastic discussion. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 10
A very unusual story. I am still unsure whether I like it or not. Deep in some places and in others graphic description of desperate survival measures such as cannibalism. Well written and humorous at times, but if you like action packed novels, you will find it too slow. Pi Patel is an interesting and highly intelligent character.
Helpful Score: 9
Wow. I just finished this book and I can already tell it's one that I'll never forget. Yes, it can be slow reading at times due to its introspective nature. However, I think it's a powerful and enriching story.
Helpful Score: 7
This is a great read and one that I highly recommend. Through most of the book, I couldn't put it down although there were some parts that dragged for me. The ending, in my opinion, is what makes this novel truly great. I think everybody should read this book and make sure you finish it! Regardless of whether you like the book or not, keep reading. The end turns a entertaining piece of fiction into a breathtaking and haunting literary masterpiece.
Helpful Score: 6
Fantastic! Much better than the movie. If you have not already seen the movie I suggest you read the book first! The book explains so much more of what's really inside the mind of Pi through his ordeal. I loved this book. I wish we had more writers like this! I couldn't put it down! I brought it with me on vacation and I read most of it on our 10 hour drive to Florida...:) I finally had to put it down when it got dark outside. I finished it the next day....at poolside.....:)
Helpful Score: 5
This book was absolutely amazing! How the story begins and the summary at the back of the book are completely different. What Pi goes through makes you envision the story. It's almost like Yann Martel experienced these events. Simply wonderful!
Helpful Score: 5
I LOVE this book! It's really a great book for all ages--good for children since it's a fun adventure and great for adults since you can really delve into the deeper meaning of the story. Life of Pi is one of my favorites. I recommended it to so many friends.
Helpful Score: 3
Several friends and I have decided (based on reading this book particularly) to start up a book discussion group on "books we were supposed to love but we really only like, and not even that much." We want to dissect our experiences with so many of the books that have won awards and got all sorts of critical acclaim and our friends rave about but we just think are so-so.
There are a few shining moments in Pi - I like his religious discussions particularly - but I found it on the whole tedious, and the time aboard the lifeboat a particularly painful slow slog. I repeatedly had to check that I had turned to the correct next page when I finished a page, because there was so little continuity and so much rambling that didn't do anything but make me feel I was stuck on a lifeboat too. I didn't think that the second telling of the story was "life changing", although it was amusing and added dimensions to the first, and it didn't make up for the long time it took me to get there.
If you are bored but you get as far as Pi's boating experiences with Richard Parker, you might as well finish the book just to know what the author is leading up to (skimming in the middle is fine, but do read from chapter 90 to the end), but if you get bored before they sail on the Tsimtsum, don't worry about going on.
There are a few shining moments in Pi - I like his religious discussions particularly - but I found it on the whole tedious, and the time aboard the lifeboat a particularly painful slow slog. I repeatedly had to check that I had turned to the correct next page when I finished a page, because there was so little continuity and so much rambling that didn't do anything but make me feel I was stuck on a lifeboat too. I didn't think that the second telling of the story was "life changing", although it was amusing and added dimensions to the first, and it didn't make up for the long time it took me to get there.
If you are bored but you get as far as Pi's boating experiences with Richard Parker, you might as well finish the book just to know what the author is leading up to (skimming in the middle is fine, but do read from chapter 90 to the end), but if you get bored before they sail on the Tsimtsum, don't worry about going on.
Helpful Score: 3
Life of Pi is the kind of book that leaves you thinking about it days after you have finished it. I loved it!! Right away, I could see that this book is spiritual, symbolic and very very human. The author has really made what should be an outrageous plot plausible and a "this could really happen," story. I am going to find more Yann Martel works.
Helpful Score: 3
This is in my top three favorite books of all time. We chose it for our book club, and we are still talking about it a year later.
The author gives such a loving and fresh look at humankind and a view of the Divine. There are moments in which the agony of Pi (the powerful young protagonist) is so keenly felt that I found myself sitting the book down and contemplating the experience as if it were my own.
This is a beautiful novel. The only portion of the book in which I had trouble identifying with was the visit to the island. Along with my book club friends, I did not understand what the author was trying to convey.
Still, if I only could take three books with me, Life of Pi would be one of them.
The author gives such a loving and fresh look at humankind and a view of the Divine. There are moments in which the agony of Pi (the powerful young protagonist) is so keenly felt that I found myself sitting the book down and contemplating the experience as if it were my own.
This is a beautiful novel. The only portion of the book in which I had trouble identifying with was the visit to the island. Along with my book club friends, I did not understand what the author was trying to convey.
Still, if I only could take three books with me, Life of Pi would be one of them.
Helpful Score: 3
A little slow-moving. Worth reading, but really only once...
Helpful Score: 3
This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. Very powerful symbolism and subtle metaphors that make you truly explore your own belief system. On top of all that, it is really well written...a real page turner! A great read!
Helpful Score: 3
My Mom gave me this book and told me how great it was but I thought it was terrible. Horribly depressing!
Helpful Score: 3
This is a very interesting, thoughtful book, without being terribly preachy. The main character, Pi, takes you though thoughts about the relevance of zoos, religion, how to survive at sea, and some fundamental similarities between very disparate animal species, among other topics.
The beginning of the book can get a bit bogged down, but it sets up the author's factual-based writing style for the rest of the book and gives a thorough background into Pi.
The killing of the animals may seem grotesque to some (and if you can't get through that part, there's an "Ewwww" moment later on that I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like). But like the rest of the book, it is told in a factual (even somewhat funny) way. It's not Disney. In the real world, animals eat other animals, and they aren't kind about it.
I wouldn't read this story to a child, but many adults would really enjoy it.
Edit, Sept. 2012: The amazing director Ang Lee is going to release this as a movie late this year! I'm excited to see it, but considering how so much of the story is internal, I'm not sure how well it will translate to the big screen.
The beginning of the book can get a bit bogged down, but it sets up the author's factual-based writing style for the rest of the book and gives a thorough background into Pi.
The killing of the animals may seem grotesque to some (and if you can't get through that part, there's an "Ewwww" moment later on that I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like). But like the rest of the book, it is told in a factual (even somewhat funny) way. It's not Disney. In the real world, animals eat other animals, and they aren't kind about it.
I wouldn't read this story to a child, but many adults would really enjoy it.
Edit, Sept. 2012: The amazing director Ang Lee is going to release this as a movie late this year! I'm excited to see it, but considering how so much of the story is internal, I'm not sure how well it will translate to the big screen.
Helpful Score: 3
I loved this book. After reading a lot of negative and positive opinions I decided to find out what the fuss is all about. I'm glad i did because it is a book I will always remember. I loved reading about Pi's struggle on the lifeboat. It reminded me of Robinson Crusoe a little.
Helpful Score: 2
One of the most original and interesting and exciting and absolutely NEAT books I've ever read. One of my lifetime top ten. If you have no sense of adventure and no imagination whatsoever, don't read this book. If you simply cannot suspend being grounded totally in practical reality, don't read this book. On the other hand, if you want to take an amazing journey, do read Life of Pi. It asks... What is real? Hmmm.
Helpful Score: 2
"Life of Pi" is the story of Piscine Patel. Pi and his family are moving from India to Canada. However, on the way there, the boat they are traveling on sinks. Pi finds himself stranded in a lifeboat with an unusual mix of company.
I had a really hard time getting into "Life of Pi". After a week I was only a little over 50 pages in. So, to me, "Life of Pi" had a pretty slow start. In fact, I almost put it aside with no intention of finishing it. I had heard great things about it, so I pushed through. There were aspects of the story of course that I found fascinating, but it wasn't until I was half way through that I really got into the story and knew I would finish.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book. But, it was an effort for me to get there. I do recommend that you read "Life of Pi". I do think though that "Life of Pi" is geared more towards the young male readers than to 20 something female readers.
When you read "Life of Pi", you'll certainly learn a thing or two about survival.
I had a really hard time getting into "Life of Pi". After a week I was only a little over 50 pages in. So, to me, "Life of Pi" had a pretty slow start. In fact, I almost put it aside with no intention of finishing it. I had heard great things about it, so I pushed through. There were aspects of the story of course that I found fascinating, but it wasn't until I was half way through that I really got into the story and knew I would finish.
I really enjoyed the second half of the book. But, it was an effort for me to get there. I do recommend that you read "Life of Pi". I do think though that "Life of Pi" is geared more towards the young male readers than to 20 something female readers.
When you read "Life of Pi", you'll certainly learn a thing or two about survival.
Helpful Score: 2
Simply one of the best books I've ever read. Maybe a metaphor...but tremendously engaging and philosophical at the same time. High fives all around.
Helpful Score: 2
I liked this one. Stranded on a life raft with a tiger, how does one survive? This book is one version of how that might happen. I rushed home everyday from work to listen to more of this on audio. I got no housework done. The ending is very good, I nearly cried. I don't want to say too much and give anything away. I am certain this book will make my top 10 of the year. Beg, borrow or swap but read this book.
Helpful Score: 2
Entertaining, moving, and thought-provoking. Really a "do not miss" book, despite its reputation for being a plagiarized work (I don't remember whether this news item was ever refuted).
Helpful Score: 2
I found this book completely fascinating, which was particularly gratifying because while I consider myself spiritual, I am not, in any way, a religious person. In fact I find most organized religions rather repellent, but theology from a historical perspective or non-preaching fictionalized standpoint, can be really fascinating, and this certainly fills the bill.
I found myself captivated by Pi and his companion, Richard Parker. His tale of survival, whether embellished or not, was gratifying and uplifting, and not so much *inspiring* to me as it was reassuring. We find the ability to accomplish things we never thought possible when we are faced with the most dire of circumstances, even if that means training a tiger in the middle of the open sea.
I remain captivated and sated by this story, so much so, that I have a large print of the image shown above, on the book, on my bedroom wall, as even the images of the aquatic life swimming under Pi is somehow comforting to me.
I am so very eager to see the film.
I found myself captivated by Pi and his companion, Richard Parker. His tale of survival, whether embellished or not, was gratifying and uplifting, and not so much *inspiring* to me as it was reassuring. We find the ability to accomplish things we never thought possible when we are faced with the most dire of circumstances, even if that means training a tiger in the middle of the open sea.
I remain captivated and sated by this story, so much so, that I have a large print of the image shown above, on the book, on my bedroom wall, as even the images of the aquatic life swimming under Pi is somehow comforting to me.
I am so very eager to see the film.
Helpful Score: 2
Life of Pi is not always a comfortable read, but it is thought provoking and marvelously written. The adventure story is a page-turner, but the reason this book stays with me is the exploration of religious and philosophical ideas. The second time I read it was even more satisfying than the first.
Terrifying and disturbing at times, as well as joyful and life-affirming, this isn't a book to be read when you are looking for a light read. It is, however, a beautiful journey and worth the discomfort.
Terrifying and disturbing at times, as well as joyful and life-affirming, this isn't a book to be read when you are looking for a light read. It is, however, a beautiful journey and worth the discomfort.
Helpful Score: 2
A quick read nicely told. Whimsical premise and lots of fun, tho a little sad.
Helpful Score: 2
The first time I tried to read this book, I HATED it. I only made it about 50 pages before putting it back on my bookshelf. About a year later, I picked it up again and was able to read it all the way through and found it much more enjoyable. Overall, very well written and holds the readers attention well. This is not a mindless read and does require time to focus on what you are reading.
Helpful Score: 2
I guess I'm in the minority- just couldn't get into this book
Helpful Score: 2
Good read, not what you expect. Not for the squeamish. Different, interesting, well-written.
Helpful Score: 2
I cannot even express how much I enjoyed this book. It is amazingly well written and brings about many of the theological, worldly, and evolutionary debates of which no one can agree on one solid answer. I think this is an excellent book for anyone who is ready to sit down and try to think about what he/she believes is reality.
Helpful Score: 2
This is certainly a book unlike many I have read before. While you may get the impression that this book is solely about the journey of a boy and his struggle to survive in a lifeboat in the Pacific, this is really so much more than that. Martel's main character has unique views on religion, and this may make you consider your own more carefully. It's really a good book, and it ought to be read. It makes you think in addition to having a great story.
Helpful Score: 2
Surprisingly,I was extremely shocked at the ending. I was truly taken by surprise. I don't think a book has ever done that to me. Utterly original and completely weird, but that is what makes it special.
Helpful Score: 2
I agree with the other view. This book is completely different at the beginning. The first half is dry and slow and the second half. Wow - it descriptively and vividly describes horrific images of survival. Definitely kept my attention. It just got a little outlandish for me at the end. Definitely better than I thought it would be. I'm glad I was reading it for book club so feeling dedicated to finish it, but it was not a book I absolutely loved.
Helpful Score: 2
A fabulous romp through an imagination by turns ecstatic, cunning, despairing and resilient, this novel is an impressive achievement "a story that will make you believe in God," as one character says. The peripatetic Pi (ne the much-taunted Piscine) Patel spends a beguiling boyhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper. Growing up beside the wild beasts, Pi gathers an encyclopedic knowledge of the animal world. His curious mind also makes the leap from his native Hinduism to Christianity and Islam, all three of which he practices with joyous abandon. In his 16th year, Pi sets sail with his family and some of their menagerie to start a new life in Canada. Halfway to Midway Island, the ship sinks into the Pacific, leaving Pi stranded on a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, an injured zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After the beast dispatches the others, Pi is left to survive for 227 days with his large feline companion on the 26-foot-long raft, using all his knowledge, wits and faith to keep himself alive. The scenes flow together effortlessly, and the sharp observations of the young narrator keep the tale brisk and engaging. Martel's potentially unbelievable plot line soon demolishes the reader's defenses, cleverly set up by events of young Pi's life that almost naturally lead to his biggest ordeal. This richly patterned work, Martel's second novel, won Canada's 2001 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. In it, Martel displays the clever voice and tremendous storytelling skills of an emerging master.
Helpful Score: 2
Loved this book, but the first few chapters are hard to get through. Highly recommended. The ending was very thought-provoking!
Helpful Score: 2
This book is a quick, wonderful read. There are lulls in the 'action,' making you wonder when you're going to get back to the story. You will not be disappointed. And the ending.... I never expected it.
Helpful Score: 2
Very engaging and well written with enough details to convince the reader it could be a true story.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was amazing! A metaphor? A story? A real experience? Beautifully written with vivid details. I loved this book.
Helpful Score: 2
I thought this book was fascinating. Definitely worth its hype!
Helpful Score: 2
Wow! I just loved this amazing story! It was such a good book! It ranged every emotion - from evoking edge-of-the-seat excitement, to out loud giggles, to tears. It was simply a riveting story - I adored it! And while I initially thought that the quote on the front of the book ("It's difficult to stop reading when the pages run out.") to be silly, but now that I have finished the book, I must admit - I completely agree. I loved this book!
Helpful Score: 2
Luminous, impossible to put down read ... with a surprise ending that keeps you thinking. Stay with it for the first couple of chapters and be prepared to take an unforgettable adventure. Not one you will soon forget.
Helpful Score: 2
Amazing and original. It made think. Yet it is written in a light prose that its depth was enjoyable.
One of those books that I could read again.
One of those books that I could read again.
Helpful Score: 2
I tried reading this a few months ago but just couldn't get into it. Then my friend Lauren and I were discussing the TV show "Lost." My theory was that they're all dead (just like an episode of the old Rod Serling TV series "Twilight Zone"), but she speculated that it was going to be just like the end of this book. So I read it, and now I know what she meant. (Don't want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it, so that's all I'll say.)
I've heard lots of great things about this book, so hopefully others will like it better than I. As I told Lauren, I hated this book almost as much as Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea." She agreed, saying that she just liked the ending. Then she added that she never even finished "The Old Man and the Sea," so far all she knows that book ends with a surprising twist, too.
I've heard lots of great things about this book, so hopefully others will like it better than I. As I told Lauren, I hated this book almost as much as Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea." She agreed, saying that she just liked the ending. Then she added that she never even finished "The Old Man and the Sea," so far all she knows that book ends with a surprising twist, too.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book, the first half is very dry and slow, but the second half makes it all worth while and you can't put it down! I almost wish you would skip the first half, but you need the detail and background.
Helpful Score: 2
Very very good. Left to the imagination what really happened, looked at zoos completely differently after reading this.
Helpful Score: 2
A unique story, and those are hard to come by. It is well written, vivid, and will make you think. I enjoyed it, twice!
Helpful Score: 2
Fascinating and informative. Interesting reading on the lives of animals and survival at sea. A great story!
Helpful Score: 2
I loved the writing style of this author, can't wait to try out some of his other work. I found myself looking forward to the moments when I could sneak away to be alone with this book. It seemed to drag at the beginning for me, but really picked up when the journey in the lifeboat began. I'm not really very squeamish, but I found myself cringing at some of the stuff that happened. I was rather disappointed by the ending, but all in all a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Great book the story makes you appreciate a little bit more what you have. I look at life from a different angle and notice every little detail i come upon.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow! If you want a book that makes you look into your own psyche this is it. It's a wonderful read and then the ending takes you by surprise and shocks you while making you wonder what would YOU do?
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating story of a young boy shipwrecked on a lifeboat with a tiger. The ending is terrific - leaves you guessing what really happened.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked this book, very funny, but strange, definitely original.
Helpful Score: 1
Incredible. This is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. What a wonderful study of human nature and the world in which we live. Pi seems to crawl right out of the pages to become a living person, weaving a story that will undoubtedly linger in your memory.
Helpful Score: 1
Couldn't finish this!! About 3 years ago (before I knew about this site) I read 80 pages or so and couldn't stand to waste any more time on it. Wish I would have written down specifically what bugged me because now I can't remember, except for something about the way he presented the descriptions of the religions, it was too simplistic and cheesy somehow. But like at least one other reviewer says, maybe getting past the first 100 pages would have done the trick.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the best book I've read in a very long time. It's not just a tale - if you read it that way, the beginning will be boring and the end will be irritating and maybe disappointing. The book is a profound portrayal of the human reality of stories, how it isn't always enough to ask "was it true?", because the "false" story contains human truths that "just the facts" can't express. This is why the author says it's a story that will make you believe in God - human experience is inevitably more than just the facts of what happens. Usually I HATE books that claim that truth is relative, it doesn't matter whether something is true or false, all that matters is your beliefs, or some such "truthiness" drivel. Likewise books that insist that religious writings are "literal truth." This book was not like that. Truth is not relative, nor does belief equal truth. It's just that Truth includes more than "just the facts."
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fantastic read!! I loved every word of it.
Helpful Score: 1
"Life of Pi" describes the edgy adventure of a young man from India and how he was stuck on a lifeboat with a tiger. It sounds too fantastic, but the author makes it believable. The first third of the book relates anecdotes about Pi's life in India, his religious beliefs, and his family. The tiger encounter begins later in the book. "Life of Pi" discusses philosphy, religion and human stamina all while learning how to live with a tiger in a small space. I love this story. Destined to be a modern classic.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was....interesting. If you can get through the first 100 pages or so, it gets better and there is quite a twist at the end. I read this for my book club and there was much to discuss about it. Not a quick read, but worth it in the end.
Helpful Score: 1
I thought it was an interesting read. There were a few pages that were hard for me to get through due to all the very detailed occurrences.
Helpful Score: 1
My head hurts. This book makes me think WAY too much. The first 100 pages were a real snooze fest for me. I knew most of the religious facts and it the text was VERY heavy. I used it to fall asleep to two nights in a row.
The problem? From there it gets really good... so I read the next 200 pages late into the night last night. My overall impression is that the book is entirely too wordy, it's heavy readying that doesn't always flow through the mind easily. I felt like I had to digest this book paragraph by paragraph instead of chapter by chapter.
This is not a book I would have usually read (in fact, I'm going to be reading a nice mindless Patterson book to scrub my brain clean after this one) *laugh*
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD....
I, of course, believe the 2nd story, the one that's more plausible. My big problem is that I can't get past the meerkat bones that were left in the boat. Perhaps they were some other animal's bones? Pi seemed so sure they would be tested and proven to be meerkats though...
I'm also having problems figuring out the island and Richard Parker. Was Richard Parker Pi? God? He found the strange island while recovering from blindness. I know there's some significance to that, but I can't figure it out. Perhaps it represented him at first giving himself up to death, then maybe seeing it for what it was (he "found" his own teeth) and the drive to continue on.
One other thing... the other guy that the tiger killed. The other blind man in the boat. Who was that? Everyone was dead by that point except the tiger. ARGGGHHH....
The problem? From there it gets really good... so I read the next 200 pages late into the night last night. My overall impression is that the book is entirely too wordy, it's heavy readying that doesn't always flow through the mind easily. I felt like I had to digest this book paragraph by paragraph instead of chapter by chapter.
This is not a book I would have usually read (in fact, I'm going to be reading a nice mindless Patterson book to scrub my brain clean after this one) *laugh*
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD....
I, of course, believe the 2nd story, the one that's more plausible. My big problem is that I can't get past the meerkat bones that were left in the boat. Perhaps they were some other animal's bones? Pi seemed so sure they would be tested and proven to be meerkats though...
I'm also having problems figuring out the island and Richard Parker. Was Richard Parker Pi? God? He found the strange island while recovering from blindness. I know there's some significance to that, but I can't figure it out. Perhaps it represented him at first giving himself up to death, then maybe seeing it for what it was (he "found" his own teeth) and the drive to continue on.
One other thing... the other guy that the tiger killed. The other blind man in the boat. Who was that? Everyone was dead by that point except the tiger. ARGGGHHH....
Helpful Score: 1
Pi-thetic! Psuedo-religious babble. I prayed for the tiger to eat Pi and end my misery. Awful on all fronts.
Helpful Score: 1
Although I skipped the gruesome animal sections, I still loved this book. Philosophical, spiritual and humorous, Martel is a brilliant writer. Pi is an inspiration to us all.
Helpful Score: 1
Another reviewer coined the term "magical realism" to describe this book and that is the most fitting epithet that I can think of. The author challenges you with a bizarre and captivating story yet the narrative is always an authentic, beliveable voice.
The book is in three parts, with the major action occurring in the middle part. The beginning did not seem slow or dull to me, but it seemed to be the introduction to a good tale, a journey to be enjoyed, not rushed through. If you aren't aware of what is coming in the middle section, you won't be tempted to view that as the main action of the book, and the events will be as much a shock to you as they are to the Pi, the main character.
Yann Martel's prose is fascinating. His words are a pleasure to read and are the magic carpet that allow you to suspend disbelief and enter fully into the world he has created. If you enjoy well-crafted writing, this book will be a treat.
The book is in three parts, with the major action occurring in the middle part. The beginning did not seem slow or dull to me, but it seemed to be the introduction to a good tale, a journey to be enjoyed, not rushed through. If you aren't aware of what is coming in the middle section, you won't be tempted to view that as the main action of the book, and the events will be as much a shock to you as they are to the Pi, the main character.
Yann Martel's prose is fascinating. His words are a pleasure to read and are the magic carpet that allow you to suspend disbelief and enter fully into the world he has created. If you enjoy well-crafted writing, this book will be a treat.
Helpful Score: 1
I heard so many good things about this book, I was excited to read it. What a letdown! The beginning was great, the middle was excrutiating, and the ending was anti-climatic. But please be your own judge. I think I was just so fed up with the middle, that the ending would have to have really blown me away to make up for it.
Helpful Score: 1
Didn't like it, but do remember the story one year later.
Helpful Score: 1
This book haunted me for some time with its meaning. I found it intriguingly full of metaphor and very philosophical. Pi as a young Indian boy in a lifeboat with an assemblage of animals takes on a "noah's ark" feeling, but then ony Pi and the Tiger
are left and the strategy for survival interrupts Pi's fantasy life. I was driven to read this but then by the end, wasn't always sure what it had really been about:)
are left and the strategy for survival interrupts Pi's fantasy life. I was driven to read this but then by the end, wasn't always sure what it had really been about:)
Helpful Score: 1
Philosophical and secular, enjoyable read about life lessons learned by a zookeeper's son
Helpful Score: 1
I only read a couple of chapters of this book before deciding it wasn't for me. It's very popular, but it's not my cup of tea.
Helpful Score: 1
I could not put down this book once I opened it. I could read it again.
Helpful Score: 1
It's a good story, with good characterization and metaphors. It had a good meaning, but seemed kind of trite once the book was finished.
Helpful Score: 1
Magical and enthralling. One of my favorites.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one I will never swap! An instant classic - a must read!
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book. I will say that we read it in book club and several of the members where not able to finish because they felt it got a bit long and boring in the middle. Howevereveryone who read the ending loved it. I encourage anyone who reads the book to stick with it to the end I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Helpful Score: 1
I LOVED this book. What a spiritual adventure it took me on. I highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
What an amazing tale! A character that is complex, issues that you would never dream of, and religion to boot! The detail and imagination this author shows is incredible. I highly recommend this novel to anyone wanting an adventure!
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this book so much that I bought the audio so I could listen over and over in my car. Great story and a must read.
Helpful Score: 1
If I were on a lifeboat with a tiger and this book I would beg the tiger to eat me so I didn't have to finish reading this book. I hated this book. Bletch!
Helpful Score: 1
Yann Martel understands animals almost as well as he understands people. In his tale a young man is strand at sea after a ship carrying zoo animals sinks. He is eventually alone on his tiny dingy except for a ravenous tiger that may choose to make a meal of him...if he doesn't cause his own demise. This is a powerful story with plenty of obtuse turns to keep even the most jaded reader on the edge of their seat. Be prepared, the tales takes some very unexpected turns.
Helpful Score: 1
A very original story and found I couldn't put it down! Pi's story captivated me and I had to pace myself so as to absorb the story. Great read!
Helpful Score: 1
Reading this immediately following The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins I expected to be a bit cynical of the we-are-all-brothers-in-faith tone. However, Martel has found an original and convincing voice in Pi and his unique tale of an intimate spiritual journey. The author disarms by focusing on the similarities in belief systems rather than the differences. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book is the ease in which Martel weaves the inspirations of different religions together througout. From Pi's feelings of persecution being compared to that of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), to his perceived sufferings being likened to a crown of thorns, to his invocation of the goddess of wealth, Lakshimi, to 'favor him bountifully'.
This book did not make me believe in God as it claims, but it did renew my appreciation for a well- written allegory.
This book did not make me believe in God as it claims, but it did renew my appreciation for a well- written allegory.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is so overrated. Between the author trying to justify why it's better for animals to live in captivity and then showing multiple examples of why that's not true and then the awful brutal way that animals die in the book it's difficult to get to all this deep sybolism that people are raving about. The book moves very slowly at points and in the end I'm not really sure what the purpose of all the suffering was.
Helpful Score: 1
A wonderful book! A story about faith, courage, survival, and about human nature. It really makes you think especially the ending, you learn a lot about the type of person you are. A highly recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
It is an enjoyable enough book. I particularly liked the main character's narrative while still on land, in his native India. It was richly and beautifully written, but it can be dull later on.
Helpful Score: 1
A really cool way of explaining religion.
The movie was wonderful, but I wanted to experience this book inbetween the pages.
The journey is of a young boy named Pi who is on a journey of a lifetime although he is not aware of it at the time. This book takes the reader from a world wide move from India, across the blue oceans to Canada, with a world contained in each moment.
This story embraces our search for meaning, connection, God and love while taking the imagination to new heights and awareness.
The journey is of a young boy named Pi who is on a journey of a lifetime although he is not aware of it at the time. This book takes the reader from a world wide move from India, across the blue oceans to Canada, with a world contained in each moment.
This story embraces our search for meaning, connection, God and love while taking the imagination to new heights and awareness.
Helpful Score: 1
I found Life of Pi to be an intriguing and interesting read. While the first 1/3 of the book is background about the operation of zoos and getting to know the character Pi, I found that section of the book to be really interesting and informative. Once the actual shipwreck occurs, there are some parts of the book that are difficult to read; however I could not put this book down. I found Pi's story of survival to be absolutely amazing, and while fiction, the story feels real with few exceptions.
One thing I found to be a bit confusing about the book was the sections scattered throughout that were written from the perspective of someone who apparently was interviewing Pi many years after he was rescued. These parts of the book didn't seem to fit in to me, especially because there was nothing at the end to sort of "wrap up" these interviews with Pi. Other than that, I thought this was an excellent read.
One thing I found to be a bit confusing about the book was the sections scattered throughout that were written from the perspective of someone who apparently was interviewing Pi many years after he was rescued. These parts of the book didn't seem to fit in to me, especially because there was nothing at the end to sort of "wrap up" these interviews with Pi. Other than that, I thought this was an excellent read.
Helpful Score: 1
Though I had read many very positive reader reviews, I was skeptical about this one given it\'s premise (a boy adrift at sea with a tiger in his boat). As it turns out, the book was delightful and engaging.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book after reading about it on bookreporter.com. Although it is very slow in the beginning, once Pi is adrift with the animals, it picks up steam. I am a teacher, and two of my students were reading it at the same time. It was great to chat with them about it.
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating read. When 16 yr old Pi Patel finds himself stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific with only a menacing 450 lb Bengal tiger for company, he quickly realizes the only way he will survive is if he makes sure the tiger is more afraid of him than he is of it. Great storytelling.
Helpful Score: 1
heartwarming story about a 16 yr old stranded in a lifeboat with a 450 lb Bengal tiger. Great for young readers (11-up) and excellent for teens...I am neither, but this book is great for anyone.
Helpful Score: 1
Starts out a little slow, but has an interesting twist. I liked it.
Helpful Score: 1
Piscine Molitar Patel spent his early years growing up in Pondicherry, India, where his father owned and ran a small zoo. His father shared much of his knowledge of wild animal behavior with him and his brother, Ravi.
He changes his name from Piscine to Pi when he changes schools because his classmates at the former school had taken to mispronouncing his name "pissing." He's noticed that without meaning to, that his teachers do that as well. He does it with much flair and aplomb, so much so, that even the few students from the old school who are at this new school accept the new name.
He is anxious to learn, and while his family is nominally Hindu, he befriends the priest at a local Catholic church and is studying Christianity. He also befriends a Muslim man in town and is studying Islam. He is happily and faithfully practicing all three religions until one day he is walking through a park with his parents and both the priest and Muslim man come upon them at the same time. Now his parents learn that he is a practicing Hindu, Christian and Muslim. They all argue that he cannot be all three -- yet this is what Pi desires. In the end, he is allowed to continue practicing all three religions.
At age 16, his father decides to relocate the family to Canada and sells many of the zoo animals and takes a few with the family as they emigrate to Canada.
A few days after leaving, Pi is awaken by a loud noise and gets up to explore what has happened. He notices that some of the animals are out of their cages and that water is entering the boat. He tries to find someone onboard to help him and his family and when he approaches some Chinese sailors for help, they put a life vest on his and toss him overboard onto a lifeboat. He is soon joined in the lifeboat by a zebra who has jumped overboard.
As the ship is sinking, Pi sees Richard Parker and, perhaps foolishly, assists him into the life boat. Upon realizing the foolishness of bringing Richard Parker onboard, he jumps into the Pacific. Only to scamper back to the lifeboat when he sees there are sharks in the water. He finds a place to temporarily hide from Richard Parker, the tiger he assumes is under the tarpaulin.
In the morning, he discovers that in addition to the zebra there is a hyena onboard and thinks, that Richard Parker must have fallen overboard. Surely there can't be both a tiger and hyena on the same boat and alive at the same time.
Then he rescues Orange Juice, a female orang-utan, who is floating by on a netted pile of bananas that had been in the ships hold. He saves the netting, which proves to be a good move, but does not save a single banana.
Soon Pi finds that he is alone in the boat with the tiger and has to devise a plan for how to survive on the boat with a tiger. He uses the knowledge he gained from his father to make the tiger fear him more than he fears the tiger.
It's amazing how a book that has roughly two-thirds of it's content be about floating in the ocean can be so enthralling. Pi's observations of life and his life are very engaging. His struggle to survive a world with dangers all around him kept me reading. One of the things that stands out for me is how his decision to figure out how to coexist with the tiger at one point actually saved his life and how at one point, he could have continued his journey and left Richard Parker behind, but didn't.
He changes his name from Piscine to Pi when he changes schools because his classmates at the former school had taken to mispronouncing his name "pissing." He's noticed that without meaning to, that his teachers do that as well. He does it with much flair and aplomb, so much so, that even the few students from the old school who are at this new school accept the new name.
He is anxious to learn, and while his family is nominally Hindu, he befriends the priest at a local Catholic church and is studying Christianity. He also befriends a Muslim man in town and is studying Islam. He is happily and faithfully practicing all three religions until one day he is walking through a park with his parents and both the priest and Muslim man come upon them at the same time. Now his parents learn that he is a practicing Hindu, Christian and Muslim. They all argue that he cannot be all three -- yet this is what Pi desires. In the end, he is allowed to continue practicing all three religions.
At age 16, his father decides to relocate the family to Canada and sells many of the zoo animals and takes a few with the family as they emigrate to Canada.
A few days after leaving, Pi is awaken by a loud noise and gets up to explore what has happened. He notices that some of the animals are out of their cages and that water is entering the boat. He tries to find someone onboard to help him and his family and when he approaches some Chinese sailors for help, they put a life vest on his and toss him overboard onto a lifeboat. He is soon joined in the lifeboat by a zebra who has jumped overboard.
As the ship is sinking, Pi sees Richard Parker and, perhaps foolishly, assists him into the life boat. Upon realizing the foolishness of bringing Richard Parker onboard, he jumps into the Pacific. Only to scamper back to the lifeboat when he sees there are sharks in the water. He finds a place to temporarily hide from Richard Parker, the tiger he assumes is under the tarpaulin.
In the morning, he discovers that in addition to the zebra there is a hyena onboard and thinks, that Richard Parker must have fallen overboard. Surely there can't be both a tiger and hyena on the same boat and alive at the same time.
Then he rescues Orange Juice, a female orang-utan, who is floating by on a netted pile of bananas that had been in the ships hold. He saves the netting, which proves to be a good move, but does not save a single banana.
Soon Pi finds that he is alone in the boat with the tiger and has to devise a plan for how to survive on the boat with a tiger. He uses the knowledge he gained from his father to make the tiger fear him more than he fears the tiger.
It's amazing how a book that has roughly two-thirds of it's content be about floating in the ocean can be so enthralling. Pi's observations of life and his life are very engaging. His struggle to survive a world with dangers all around him kept me reading. One of the things that stands out for me is how his decision to figure out how to coexist with the tiger at one point actually saved his life and how at one point, he could have continued his journey and left Richard Parker behind, but didn't.
Once you begin this book it is hard to put down. After finishing it I pondered for days - what was the true story? It definitely stays on your mind for a while.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this completely different novel. I found myself stopping to think often while reading this. The end didn't disappoint either. Martel's sense of humor that was smart and funny. A great read.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh how I just loved this book! I loved the adventure the author took you on and I was completely taken in by the story. Amazing ending...keeps you thinking long after reading! A must read.
Helpful Score: 1
Reading this book is like a 6-month exercise program; tedious, repetetive, and seemingly never ending, but the fruit of your labor is well worth it. The ending would have meant nothing without first laboring through the middle 60 chapters. And they weren't that boring...
Helpful Score: 1
Entertaining story about a 16 year old indian boy as the sole survivor of a sunken cargo ship. Stranded in the Pacific for 227 days with zoo animals aboard a lifeboat. Discussions of religion, sea survival,and how to become the alpha male when your partner is a full grown bengal tiger. Lots of slapstick humor.
Helpful Score: 1
I really didn't like this book. It was confusing and dry.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is so imaginative and well written. The story is amazing and I was so pulled in by it all that I felt like I was there and this was real. This is no doubt, one of the best books I've ever read. It is unique in subject matter and style.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is a fascinating look at how the human conscience works.
Helpful Score: 1
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this one before. You will need to suspend your sense of reality and then you will fall in love with it too! :)
Helpful Score: 1
For some reason had a difficult time getting into the book, never did finish it.
Helpful Score: 1
This is definitely a book for adults, possibly the oldest of the teen years. Excellent book, stark and violent in places, with lots of internal conversation for the boy on the boat. Utterly fascinating, and then when I read the epilogue, I got the surprise of my life, yet my suspicions were confirmed at the same time, or not. Still can't decide. This isn't because the author waffles, but because he writes in such a way as to tell you all sorts of things- but he doesn't decide for you, or explain things to death, or interpret for you. He leaves it up to the many facets of reader experience. Truly skilled!
Great reading, riveting, could not put it down. I was a bit taken aback by the description of the violence, so I hesitate to give five stars. It's a survival book and that probably means stark writing, so oh well. It is really well written.
Great reading, riveting, could not put it down. I was a bit taken aback by the description of the violence, so I hesitate to give five stars. It's a survival book and that probably means stark writing, so oh well. It is really well written.
Helpful Score: 1
I bought this book, and then my father gave me a copy for Christmas. He knows my taste well. I'm glad I have another copy, because this is a book I will re-read, lend to friends, and actually want sitting on my bookshelf forever. An inspiring and original tale reminiscint of a fine classic. Which is what this book is destined to become.
Helpful Score: 1
I could not put this book down. Excellent tale that combines humor, tragedy, religion and animal behavior. The story begins with an Indian zookeeper who decides to relocate his family and several zoo animals to Canada. The novel progresses fairly normal until the cargo ship sinks. I cannot give too much detail without giving the story away, however, the younger teenage son of the zookeeper is the only survivor....along with an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena and a tiger. This unlikely group is thrown together on a single lifeboat. These animals are not domesticated pets! Some of the situations on the lifeboat are appalling and tragic while at the same time the telling of this tale is hilarious. This is an extremely well written tale of survival. It is very believable and contains well researched animal behavior discussions. There is a twist to the parable at the end that will leave you shocked and questioning what you have read. You will have to read this one to believe it! I would highly recommend this book for a reading club or church study group!
Helpful Score: 1
I know I am in the minority, but I just couldn't get into this one. Picked it up 2-3 times but never got through it.
Helpful Score: 1
Really great book and the end really blew me away. Highly recommend this one to everyone.
Helpful Score: 1
The story is a ambitious yet simplistic. Pi is a teenage boy from India who ends up stranded with a Bengal tiger in the middle of the ocean. The author is really able to bring the reader in to share in the experience of Pi. Very interesting book, and I would recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
This story completely captured me. It is the story of a man who survives for over a year marooned on a lifeboat in the open ocean with a live tiger on board. There is a really great explanation for how he finds himself in this position, which is amazing to read about. Although it is fiction, there are so many parts that ring true. The start is a bit slow, but still entertaining, and the author really takes his time introducing the character to you, so that later, when he's on the lifeboat, you understand more about who he is. If you read only a few books in your life, read this one!
Helpful Score: 1
I was really excited about this book but i have to admit, I wasn't really into it. I read a little more than half and got extremely bored. I might try to keep reading but it just didn't hold my attention.
An interesting book, with many layers. I'm not even sure I understand all the hidden meanings in the book. It is one of those book that will stick with you for years to come. Some aspects of the book are very complicated, yet parts of the book are very simply written. Its a book all about contrasts. I would recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
Stunning! A must read for anyone who thinks the novel (as a form of writing) has left the realm of literature.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It explores so many topics, and so deeply. And then ending is so wonderful and so unexpected that it made me rethink the entire book. It is definitely a book worth reading at least once.
Helpful Score: 1
I absolutely loved this book. Such a compelling read, and the messages it contains on life, survival, spirituality, belief, nature, and human nature I found beautiful. The "twist" at the end really got me. Now I want to re-read the book. I think knowing the ending I would get more out of it the second time. It makes you think. I closed the book and sat and just thought about it for a long time. I had to come to my own conclusion about the "island," and I think I did! Now I'm waiting for my husband to read it so we can discuss it. Great, great read!
Helpful Score: 1
My son read this for school, but apparently skipped the last chapter where men from the shipping company came and interviewed Pi about his ordeal (he was stranded for 227 days on a lifeboat with a tiger). Skipping it, he missed the entire point of the book.
An intriguing treatise on human and animal nature. An animal lover and trainer myself (but not tigers!), I loved the part when Pi used his life jacket whistle and the drag anchors on the boat to get the tiger to associate the whistle with seasickness and thus control his behavior. Brilliant!
I was intrigued at the amount of discussion on religion in it, as well... Pi is a Christian/Muslim/Hindu.
The back of the my copy has a list of book group discussion questions, and it'd make a great one for that!
An intriguing treatise on human and animal nature. An animal lover and trainer myself (but not tigers!), I loved the part when Pi used his life jacket whistle and the drag anchors on the boat to get the tiger to associate the whistle with seasickness and thus control his behavior. Brilliant!
I was intrigued at the amount of discussion on religion in it, as well... Pi is a Christian/Muslim/Hindu.
The back of the my copy has a list of book group discussion questions, and it'd make a great one for that!
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't know what to expect with this book. I knew that it had won some awards and I had heard good things about it, but I didn't really know what it was about or why it was so great.
The story sounds unbelievable but that is kind of the point. I think the whole point of the book is faith. I mean when someone tells you a story you have to have faith that it is true because if they were the only ones there to experience it, you will never know for sure.
Really the way he writes the story does not make it seem unbeileable at all. He tells it in such a matter of fact way. It is just like someone recounting exactly what they experienced without embellishing it to make it sound better or worse than it was. Just like âhere is what happened, and then this happenedâ¦etc.â But with enough detail to make it believable and interesting.
The first part of the book was kind of slow for me. But as soon as he found himself ship wrecked, things picked up. The majority of the book chronicles his 227 days trying to survive at sea with a tiger in his boat. It is a great adventure story and the lengths at which he went to survive and the surprising coincidences that saved his life multiple times are astonishing.
Once I go into it I couldn't put it down.
The only parts that were hard for me to read were the gruesome detail about the hyena slowing killing the zebra and the parts in the beginning where he becomes a faithful Hindu, Christian, and Muslim all at the same time. That is impossible. You might could get away with following the religious traditions of each faithfully at the same time, but there is no way all 3 can coexist if you accept and really believe the teachings of each.
But it is unlike anything I have ever read and was very entertaining.
The story sounds unbelievable but that is kind of the point. I think the whole point of the book is faith. I mean when someone tells you a story you have to have faith that it is true because if they were the only ones there to experience it, you will never know for sure.
Really the way he writes the story does not make it seem unbeileable at all. He tells it in such a matter of fact way. It is just like someone recounting exactly what they experienced without embellishing it to make it sound better or worse than it was. Just like âhere is what happened, and then this happenedâ¦etc.â But with enough detail to make it believable and interesting.
The first part of the book was kind of slow for me. But as soon as he found himself ship wrecked, things picked up. The majority of the book chronicles his 227 days trying to survive at sea with a tiger in his boat. It is a great adventure story and the lengths at which he went to survive and the surprising coincidences that saved his life multiple times are astonishing.
Once I go into it I couldn't put it down.
The only parts that were hard for me to read were the gruesome detail about the hyena slowing killing the zebra and the parts in the beginning where he becomes a faithful Hindu, Christian, and Muslim all at the same time. That is impossible. You might could get away with following the religious traditions of each faithfully at the same time, but there is no way all 3 can coexist if you accept and really believe the teachings of each.
But it is unlike anything I have ever read and was very entertaining.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fantastic book that will have you hanging on until the ending. If you are fan of naturalism (Jack London, etc), this book will also have that additional appeal.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book. It can be very intense at times. In the end it leaves you questioning reality. Definately read this book1
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the best books I have read in years.I loaned my brother a copy and then he had to loan it out so there were other people he could talk to about the book. You will spend months-maybe years- thinking about it after you finish it. Really, really excellent book.I should mention it starts out slow- Stick with it! It's worth it!
Helpful Score: 1
I was fascinated with the story of this book and the many possibilities of interpretation. Nonetheless, I was dissapointed with the last 50 pages where the author seemed to fumble for an ending. I am glad I read it but would probably not whole hartedly recommend it! It did NOT make me believe in God, as it is allegedly supposed to do....
Helpful Score: 1
A little slow, detailed and seemingly wandering in the beginning, this story all comes together in a stunning tale of survival that keeps the reader hooked right up until the last chapter when you'll be flabbergasted by the brilliance of the writer. The best book I read this year!
Helpful Score: 1
I am the one person in America who didn't like this book. Don't let it dissuade you. You'll like it, everyone else did. I did like the tiger.
Helpful Score: 1
lifted my spirits in a dark time. truly a remarkable book.
Helpful Score: 1
I listened to this book on my iPod and loved every minute of it. In fact, it is one of those books that you keep checking to see if it is a true story. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the characters involved), it is not. Well written and very creative. Takes a premise that seems hard to believe, until you start reading!
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful storytelling. A lovely tail intricately woven to captivate despite the extraordinary circumstances.
Helpful Score: 1
Full of funny anecdotes, surprises, survival skills and warming thoughts. Nice to read to a cup of tea.
Helpful Score: 1
Very funny in spots, tragic in others.
Helpful Score: 1
This is an unusual book. The strength of Pi and the unusual circumstances of his journey are very interesting, sometimes riveting and sometimes need to move along faster.
I know this book was required reading for middle school students here in at least one school. Because of the mixed up spiritual outlook of the main character, it would not be my option for that age reader.
The book is a book about endurance, a lesson on the importance of close observation, and the strength of the human spirit.
I know this book was required reading for middle school students here in at least one school. Because of the mixed up spiritual outlook of the main character, it would not be my option for that age reader.
The book is a book about endurance, a lesson on the importance of close observation, and the strength of the human spirit.
Helpful Score: 1
FUN, FUN, FUN!! A witty writer.
I really loved this book..captivated me...did'nt want to put it down!
I really loved this book..captivated me...did'nt want to put it down!
Helpful Score: 1
Allegorical tale of survival following a shipwreck in which a boy, a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger are the only survivors.
Helpful Score: 1
My favorite novel! A little boy is shipwrecked and finds himself trapped on a lifeboat with a live tiger! This is the story of Pi's trip across the ocean with his ferocious companion. All sorts of terrifyingly real as well as mind-bogglingly fantastical things happen.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this book to be a little gory actually, but it has a nice twist at the end. Fabulous alliterations and detail that makes you want to go back and explore the book again with your new found knowledge. Good lessons to be learned along the way.
Helpful Score: 1
I agree with those who spoke about the book's slow start, but once they got onto the ship, the pace picked up. I loved the tale and took it completely at face value. THEN, when they did the interview at the end the whole thing turned around for me. I found it one of the most imaginative and clever books I've ever read. My son (age 12) was as captivated as I was.
Helpful Score: 1
Hubby liked it quite a bit, but thought it started out slow. I loved the whole thing, cover to cover. My father in law agreed with hubby. I think they weren't looking for the deeper meaning in the beginning. It talks a lot about countering public belief and gives religious insight (PS I am NOT religious). I found it very intriguing.
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting story about faith, survival, and human nature. I really enjoyed the talk and descriptions of all the animals.
Helpful Score: 1
Wow! What an original, thoughtful, disturbing and wonderful book. Don't let anyone tell you the ending.
Helpful Score: 1
Everyone should read this book. Really. I wouldn't say that about anything else I've ever read. Starts slow but stick with it, it's worth it.
Helpful Score: 1
The story of a boy stranded in the Pacific Ocean with the company of a tiger. This book drags a bit at the beginning but once you get past the initial part, it is thrilling.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked the first 80 percent of this book. Unfortunately, the author let me down in the end with a relativistic and unbelievable ending. If you're philosophical at all it might bug you. But it was still worth the read.
Helpful Score: 1
A riveting story beautifully told. Not to be missed.
Helpful Score: 1
Absolutely brilliant. A little slow in the beginning, but an amazing story.
Helpful Score: 1
Oh what a Grand Tale!
and Grand Tale must be capitalized.
This book has been likened to stories such as "The Old Man and the Sea"
"Robinson Crusoe" and others, but for me it was much like reading Grimms Fairy Tales.
It was a wonderful, captivating, awful, sad, delightful, compelling, horrific ..story.
I was like a fish on a hook. I thought I could try just a taste, but nibble after nibble and then suddenly SLAM! the hook was set, I was caught unawares and I couldn't stop. Oh and I did want to more than once. Stop that is. Sometimes it became just too much, but those non-stopping times were the times I put away more pages than ever.
I won't bore myself and anyone that may read this with a "book report", but I will say that although one reviewer said that this book would make you find God. I do not agree with that assessment. What it will do is restore your belief in the power of story telling. Because that's exactly what it is. Powerful , awesome story telling.
I loved this book!
and Grand Tale must be capitalized.
This book has been likened to stories such as "The Old Man and the Sea"
"Robinson Crusoe" and others, but for me it was much like reading Grimms Fairy Tales.
It was a wonderful, captivating, awful, sad, delightful, compelling, horrific ..story.
I was like a fish on a hook. I thought I could try just a taste, but nibble after nibble and then suddenly SLAM! the hook was set, I was caught unawares and I couldn't stop. Oh and I did want to more than once. Stop that is. Sometimes it became just too much, but those non-stopping times were the times I put away more pages than ever.
I won't bore myself and anyone that may read this with a "book report", but I will say that although one reviewer said that this book would make you find God. I do not agree with that assessment. What it will do is restore your belief in the power of story telling. Because that's exactly what it is. Powerful , awesome story telling.
I loved this book!
Helpful Score: 1
The unique interweaving of literary techniques, setting, themes, and tone made this book one of my all-time favorites. I have used it to instruct my students of literature, and learned new things each time. Worth reading several times.
Helpful Score: 1
Very well written. Thought provoking. Reminded me of The Old Man and The Sea, but it will never replace it for me. :)
Helpful Score: 1
Magical story about survival. Living next to a Bengal tiger in the middle of the ocean. Dominance of intelligence allows Pi to live from day to day. Excellent. susan
Helpful Score: 1
interesting. wierd. ending makes the whole thing a lot clearer. glad i read it
Incredibly interesting read. Wasn't sure what to think until the final chapter. I am not sure if the book "makes you believe in God" as one reviewer said, but it is an interesting commentary on religion and a boy's struggle to survive.
wasn't wowed by this, maybe it was too built up by others beforehand.
A very strange novel, but one I couldn't put down. A story to really make one think about life.
Amazing story of just how capable humans are of surviving and co-existing in a pinch. This book had be on the edge of my seat the entire time. A survival story at it's best.
Overall a really good book. It's a very interesting premise for a novel. My only complaint with it is that it kind of drags its feet at the end.
The book cover reviews and online reviews are what enticed me to ready this book, as well as it being listed on a recent list of the 100 must read books of all time. But I must add that the first third of the book seemed to include long winded details that made the read boring, but I pushed on. Then on the other hand, the actual event that caused Pi to be on the lifeboat was quick and to the point with very little detail. Once Pi found himself on that lifeboat the book picked up quite a bit, and I found it extremely interesting until the end. I would suggest this book to anyone, however, encourage them to take in the long winded details in the beginning....after all it is those details that make Pi who he was.
Slow going in the first few chapters, but the twist in the last two pages makes it ALL worth it. Stunning--in the hammer-between-the-eyes, I-see-birdies sense.
An amazing and intricately woven story that defies conventional writing styles of today!
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. I have bought copies for my adult children and friends of mine. It was refreshingly NEW for everyone who read it. It was engrossing and hard to put down. Sometimes it seemed beyond belief, and yet, the author swears to it's authenticity. Eventually I ordered this book in hardcover form to earn it's place in my personal library. Delightful.
I found this story difficult. It had some very creative/ odd elements to it.
Another of my favorite books. I had to keep checking that it was fiction--and I kept thinking about it after I was done, so I know it was well done. I think I actually learned something, too!
A wonderful book! Great for all ages.
One of my favorite books of all time. Even though the middle part is dry and drawn out, it is absolutely necessary. Not light reading, very thought-provoking, but overall a fantastic well-written story with an incredible twist at the end that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about Pi's adventure. Part adventure, part survival epic, part suspense, and part spiritual meditation, this book is one I will keep and read over and over again. Yann Martel is a phenomenal storyteller and I will be reading every story he writes. This book is a must-read.
I had to read this book over summer, and when I got back to school everyone complained about how they had to stop reading it because it was so slow. But I was one the few who did read the whole thing, and I'm glad I did. It really is a good book if you give it the chance. Just bear through the first part.
This book was one of my all time favorites!
Unfortunately, for me this was one of those books where I wished I could have the time back that I spent on reading it. I felt that it seemed to be an exercise in self-indulgence on the author's part. I thought the efforts it made towards groping after meaningful truths were feeble and unfocused, that the characters were not terribly interesting or even very likeable, that the plot development was wandering, and that the fantasy elements were condescending and unconvincing. Just not my kind of book, I guess.
I think "Life of Pi" would appeal strongly to those who also enjoyed reading "The Alchemist", which is quite similar in style (and another book I didn't care for).
I think "Life of Pi" would appeal strongly to those who also enjoyed reading "The Alchemist", which is quite similar in style (and another book I didn't care for).
I love this book...it takes awhile to get into the begginnig , but once you get past that, it takes off. I'm not sure how this author thought of the premise of this book, but that is what makes a great book! Read and enjoy!
Great book. Not light, easy reading; stimulating and engrossing.
It took me a while to get into this book. The first part of the book seemed just to babble on and on. Towards the middle it starting picking up and had a strong finish with a twist at the end. Not a book I would recommend to everyone, but if you have read Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and The Sea"; you would probably like this.
whoa- I won't forget this one. I grew tired of the book a couple of times as I was ready for the water adventure to begin and there are some grotesque parts but overall an easy read and I'm glad I kept reading, the ending keeps you thinking for a long time. A lot of symbolism in this book.
I promise you, at the end, you'll go, "HUH???" and then want to read it all over again.
I recommend that you do not read too many reviews on this book. There are details that are better left unsaid until the time for them to be revealed comes along as you read.
Without spoiling anything, this is the story of a 16 year old who is moving from India, where his family owns a zoo, to Canada. They sell off the animals and are traveling with some of them via a freighter to Canada. The first third of the book is Pi's life in India. The rest is a remarkable survival story. Pi ends up on a lifeboat with a few animals, one of them is a 450 pound tiger. This is not for the squeamish. A tiger is a carnivore and the boat is only so big.
What will a gentle vegetarian do to stay alive as the days at sea in a life boat turn into weeks? Faith, humanity, the will to survive and at what cost are all explored. I read the hardcover edition with illustrations by Tomislav Torjanac. The beautifully painted pictures only enhance the powerful story. I highly recommend this book. It will stay with you for a long time.
Without spoiling anything, this is the story of a 16 year old who is moving from India, where his family owns a zoo, to Canada. They sell off the animals and are traveling with some of them via a freighter to Canada. The first third of the book is Pi's life in India. The rest is a remarkable survival story. Pi ends up on a lifeboat with a few animals, one of them is a 450 pound tiger. This is not for the squeamish. A tiger is a carnivore and the boat is only so big.
What will a gentle vegetarian do to stay alive as the days at sea in a life boat turn into weeks? Faith, humanity, the will to survive and at what cost are all explored. I read the hardcover edition with illustrations by Tomislav Torjanac. The beautifully painted pictures only enhance the powerful story. I highly recommend this book. It will stay with you for a long time.
Magic, funny magic. Great!
Slow to start - not a really quick read - lots of details. But will leave you thinking. Worth the start to get it read.
The beginning is engaging but the middle is a bit tedious. However, it was very much worth reading for the ending. One of the best endings I've ever read.
This was recommended to me by a friend, and I kept postponing this book. Once i sat down to read it, I was angry at myself for having waited so long to open it! Martel is a master storyteller, as is the main character, Pi Patel. An Indian boy who practices three different faiths (he's a Hindu, a Muslim and a Catholic) finds his spirit tested when a shipwreck leaves him stuck on a boat with an unhinged hyena, an injured zebra, a loving orangutan, and an adult male Bengal tiger. Yes, a freakin' tiger. Most of the book is just Pi trying to stay alive. A great parable of sorts, with many layers to unravel (but not so deep that you're left scratching your head or searching Sparknotes for the symbolism you may have missed). The last 30 pages will blow your mind, making you want to read the whole story again with new perspective. A great read, don't put this book off!
One of my favorite books--captivating and very thought provoking.
Out of a seemingly impossible premise comes this book about life, love, and survival. A great book.
I really liked the book and couldn't put in down especially toward the last
100 pages.
100 pages.
Story was very interesting. All the follow up facts made me believe it actually had occured. Good read:)
it took me a while to get into this book. I had very high expectations. About halfway through I really started to enjoy it and found it an overall entertaining read!
I usually will not tell what the book is about in my reviews, I think you can get that from the professionals.
The character development in this book is very good. It was not predictable or like anything I had read before.
I really enjoyed this book. I talked about it so much my 11 years asked me to read it to her and she got hooked. It is a great story and very well written.
The character development in this book is very good. It was not predictable or like anything I had read before.
I really enjoyed this book. I talked about it so much my 11 years asked me to read it to her and she got hooked. It is a great story and very well written.
Guess I am in the minority here but I didn't love this book. But it does "stay" with you.
Most thought provoking book I have ever read.
Took a while to get into the story. Surprise ending made up for it!
This ISBN number shows hardcover, but the book is in paperback.
I worked my way slowly through this story, not because it lagged on, but because Yann Martel writes this book as if you are the castaway. He languishes vocabulary on all the minute details and thoughts/psychology of Pi Patel to fill the book to take you through 227 days afloat on a blistering salty sea. Magic, horror, bliss, and sadness transcend on you at each turn of the page. Chapters are kept short to ensure no one thought is landed on for too long.
I will definitely be reading more of Yann's books. They are spiritual, beautiful, and tragic. More authentic in character than anything I have read to date. Read this book, savor it...you will regret it's end and long for a new beginning.
I will definitely be reading more of Yann's books. They are spiritual, beautiful, and tragic. More authentic in character than anything I have read to date. Read this book, savor it...you will regret it's end and long for a new beginning.
Fascinating, gripping. couldn't put it down. I highly reccomend it.
One of the most original and interesting and exciting and absolutely NEAT books I've ever read. One of my lifetime top ten. If you have no sense of adventure and no imagination whatsoever, don't read this book. If you simply cannot suspend being grounded totally in practical reality, don't read this book. On the other hand, if you want to take an amazing journey, do read Life of Pi. It asks... What is real? Hmmm.
For some reason I kept not reading this book even though it was on the best seller list forever. When I finally read it I loved it! It's very unusual but grabs you so you have to keep reading.
Like many I found it slow in the beginning. I put it down and then picked it up again after a couple weeks, then read it straight through in one night. I totally accepted the story until about 2/3 through when I thought "wait a minute..." but I didn't see the end coming. If in fact it was really the end! I'm not a very "deep" reader - I need to be hit with a sledgehammer message before figuring out meaning in a book, so I'm sure most of the allegory went right over my head. But I did like it.
My favorite book of all time -- survival, meaning of life, deep symbolism -- wonderful (and not a drop of sappy romance that every two-bit author feels the need to add).
One of the most original and interesting and exciting and absolutely NEAT books I've ever read. One of my lifetime top ten. If you have no sense of adventure and no imagination whatsoever, don't read this book. If you simply cannot suspend being grounded totally in practical reality, don't read this book. On the other hand, if you want to take an amazing journey, do read Life of Pi. It asks... What is real? Hmmm.
I had to go back and read this book a second time. The ending changed my outlook on the whole story. Great book.
This is a very unique read. It starts rather slow and I almost put it down, but towards the middle it picks up and then I finished it off in one night and wanted more! A pretty wild ride and leaves you wondering...
A rather difficult book to follow in the beginning. However, after Pi is stranded in the Pacific, I had trouble putting it down.
Really enjoyed this book. A bit slow at first, but wrapped you up in its trance.
Magical, imaginative, sometimes unbelievable. I read this out loud to the teenagers on a ski trip. Then reread before regifting it to my mom. Still wondering about the end.
At this point, I have to say this is the best book I have ever read! I recommend this to all my friends.
not at all what I expected based on book reviewers.
I'd split this book into 2 sections, the first gives a flavor of India and had me hooked from the start, the second is the journey and that part has a real twist.
I'd split this book into 2 sections, the first gives a flavor of India and had me hooked from the start, the second is the journey and that part has a real twist.
I was surprised that this book was able to keep my attention so well. It was a slow start, but got better and better. The character development was great. In our book club, another reader was convinced it was a true story, even with the impossibility of it all!
Was told this was a great book - I just couldn't get into it though. Tried to start it several times before giving up.
Very intriguing. The end will keep you thinking weeks after reading it.
It came highly recomended to me, but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe that it was just too much religion for me.
Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, had a fervent love of stories and practices not only within his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is 16, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to Canada aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks--and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, in orangutan, a wounded zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can Pi and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge and cunning keep him alive until they do?
Very enjoyable read. You'll be lost for a while, finding your way inside this young boys mind!
Very interesting book about a man who survives a shipwreck.
I just could not get into this book. I had heard many great things about it,however,I just simply did not enjoy what I managed to get through.
Won The Man Booker. Good read.
I read this while traveling. It was definitely an enjoyable read.
An odd book, with a plot blurb that just wasn't all that enticing enough as I had the print book on my TBR for years before finally giving it away, even though so many recommended it. Then along came the audio, and I was hooked from the moment I heard Pi speak.
And that is a good deal of what kept the headphones glued to my ears. Pi speaking this deliciously different tale, in a voice obviously of a young man, who spoke words that sang due to the melody of his soft Indian accent.
I know I'd have read things with my eyes and thought it was good writing, but I would not have laughed out loud quite frequently, even at things that really were not all that funny, if not for Pi's voice and lilt, the sardonic humor that filled his spirit. The way he could not only emphasize words, but letters in those words.
He broke my heart, while I was laughing. He called out "Richard Parker" over and over, and I could not hear it enough.
Of course, this is due to Jeff Woodman, an amazing narrator, and the author, Yann Martel, with the most creative of minds.
I love this book. I love that Pi loves religion, is a devout Hindu who prays to Mecca, and goes to Mass, and probably keeps the Sabbath.
And I learned a lot about wild animals, too. Those in and out of a zoo.
And that is a good deal of what kept the headphones glued to my ears. Pi speaking this deliciously different tale, in a voice obviously of a young man, who spoke words that sang due to the melody of his soft Indian accent.
I know I'd have read things with my eyes and thought it was good writing, but I would not have laughed out loud quite frequently, even at things that really were not all that funny, if not for Pi's voice and lilt, the sardonic humor that filled his spirit. The way he could not only emphasize words, but letters in those words.
He broke my heart, while I was laughing. He called out "Richard Parker" over and over, and I could not hear it enough.
Of course, this is due to Jeff Woodman, an amazing narrator, and the author, Yann Martel, with the most creative of minds.
I love this book. I love that Pi loves religion, is a devout Hindu who prays to Mecca, and goes to Mass, and probably keeps the Sabbath.
And I learned a lot about wild animals, too. Those in and out of a zoo.
From Publishers Weekly
A fabulous romp through an imagination by turns ecstatic, cunning, despairing and resilient, this novel is an impressive achievement "a story that will make you believe in God," as one character says. The peripatetic Pi (ne the much-taunted Piscine) Patel spends a beguiling boyhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper. Growing up beside the wild beasts, Pi gathers an encyclopedic knowledge of the animal world. His curious mind also makes the leap from his native Hinduism to Christianity and Islam, all three of which he practices with joyous abandon. In his 16th year, Pi sets sail with his family and some of their menagerie to start a new life in Canada. Halfway to Midway Island, the ship sinks into the Pacific, leaving Pi stranded on a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, an injured zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After the beast dispatches the others, Pi is left to survive for 227 days with his large feline companion on the 26-foot-long raft, using all his knowledge, wits and faith to keep himself alive. The scenes flow together effortlessly, and the sharp observations of the young narrator keep the tale brisk and engaging. Martel's potentially unbelievable plot line soon demolishes the reader's defenses, cleverly set up by events of young Pi's life that almost naturally lead to his biggest ordeal. This richly patterned work, Martel's second novel, won Canada's 2001 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. In it, Martel displays the clever voice and tremendous storytelling skills of an emerging master.
A fabulous romp through an imagination by turns ecstatic, cunning, despairing and resilient, this novel is an impressive achievement "a story that will make you believe in God," as one character says. The peripatetic Pi (ne the much-taunted Piscine) Patel spends a beguiling boyhood in Pondicherry, India, as the son of a zookeeper. Growing up beside the wild beasts, Pi gathers an encyclopedic knowledge of the animal world. His curious mind also makes the leap from his native Hinduism to Christianity and Islam, all three of which he practices with joyous abandon. In his 16th year, Pi sets sail with his family and some of their menagerie to start a new life in Canada. Halfway to Midway Island, the ship sinks into the Pacific, leaving Pi stranded on a life raft with a hyena, an orangutan, an injured zebra and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. After the beast dispatches the others, Pi is left to survive for 227 days with his large feline companion on the 26-foot-long raft, using all his knowledge, wits and faith to keep himself alive. The scenes flow together effortlessly, and the sharp observations of the young narrator keep the tale brisk and engaging. Martel's potentially unbelievable plot line soon demolishes the reader's defenses, cleverly set up by events of young Pi's life that almost naturally lead to his biggest ordeal. This richly patterned work, Martel's second novel, won Canada's 2001 Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. In it, Martel displays the clever voice and tremendous storytelling skills of an emerging master.
This book takes you on an interesting journey. It starts out with chapters between author and interviewee, which was confusing at times but then just interviewee from about the middle to the end. I could imagine being in the boat with them. I liked the twists in this book.
A good story that has an interesting ending that reveals much about the human spirit and enduring faith. Highly recommended!
I was completely and utterly consumed with this book; it was beautifully written and beautifully told. It was magical, spiritual, whimsical.
Sadly, though, the end was disappointing but it does not take away from the enjoyment I received from reading the rest of the book.
Sadly, though, the end was disappointing but it does not take away from the enjoyment I received from reading the rest of the book.
I'm devastated. I read this book in a single day. I was hooked by the story and loved the childlike wonder of the way Pi looked at the world prior to the ship sinking. And then with the ordeal that followed the book became something more. I was completely sold but started to lose my conviction when Richard Parker goes blind. The encounters that followed that point started to sour me on the story and then in the last 30 pages, even that was explained and to some degree explained.
What I thought was becoming a modern era Jonathan Livingston Seagull went in another direction entirely. I'm an adult and I can appreciate this book for the masterwork that it is but there's a part of me that wishes I'd never read the third part of the story. I could happily chalk the 2nd lifeboat and the island up to delusions.
And isn't that peace of mind part of what religion offers? In my last review I complained that the work I was reviewing didn't have a good finish. That there weren't questions raised that I'd need to ponder for days, weeks and years afterwards. No chance of that here. This book will give me food for thought for a long long time.
What I thought was becoming a modern era Jonathan Livingston Seagull went in another direction entirely. I'm an adult and I can appreciate this book for the masterwork that it is but there's a part of me that wishes I'd never read the third part of the story. I could happily chalk the 2nd lifeboat and the island up to delusions.
And isn't that peace of mind part of what religion offers? In my last review I complained that the work I was reviewing didn't have a good finish. That there weren't questions raised that I'd need to ponder for days, weeks and years afterwards. No chance of that here. This book will give me food for thought for a long long time.
I had a hard time getting into the first part of the book since I was so anxious to meet the Tiger! Once I did though, I loved it. I was slightly disappointed in the ending but it doesn't stop me from recommending it.
Makes you think. Leaves you guessing. Love IT!! Made me want to reread it to see if I missed anything. Such a vivid story! I could really picture all the fantasitc things Pi experiences. I'll reread this book over and over.
This is a fantastic book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading! I have recommended it to my family and friends!
Interesting book. Well written.
paperback copy
This book was excellent. My mom had been trying to get me to read it for months, but I had no time in college and then I had 5 or 6 books I had to read before I could start it. I'm very glad I finally read it, though. It's extremely well-written, and the story is about as interesting and absorbing as stories come. He's stuck on a 26-foot life raft with a tiger, after all. How much more suspenseful can it get?
My favorite quote from the novel is the message Pi puts in the glass bottle he finds in the ocean: "Am in lifeboat. Pi Patel my name. Have some food, some water, but Bengal tiger a serious problem. Any help very much appreciated. Thank you."
-- WARNING: POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILING FROM THIS POINT FORWARD --
Also, I personally believe he was stuck on a boat with a tiger, no matter if the last chapter gives you an alternate theory: Maybe the tiger was his dehydrated, half-starved, and very traumatized mind's way of coping with his hopeless situation, the extreme and occasionally gruesome things he had to do to survive, and the terror he witnessed at the hands of the other survivors, who ripped each other apart, literally, in pursuit of life. Of course, it's quite possible Pi doesn't even know which story is true himself - or that he knows perfectly well the tiger wasn't real, but wishes it were so he doesn't have to think about the much MORE terrible occurrences on the boat; however, much like Pi says in the end of the book, if I have to choose between the two stories, I choose the better one. The one with the animals.
My favorite quote from the novel is the message Pi puts in the glass bottle he finds in the ocean: "Am in lifeboat. Pi Patel my name. Have some food, some water, but Bengal tiger a serious problem. Any help very much appreciated. Thank you."
-- WARNING: POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILING FROM THIS POINT FORWARD --
Also, I personally believe he was stuck on a boat with a tiger, no matter if the last chapter gives you an alternate theory: Maybe the tiger was his dehydrated, half-starved, and very traumatized mind's way of coping with his hopeless situation, the extreme and occasionally gruesome things he had to do to survive, and the terror he witnessed at the hands of the other survivors, who ripped each other apart, literally, in pursuit of life. Of course, it's quite possible Pi doesn't even know which story is true himself - or that he knows perfectly well the tiger wasn't real, but wishes it were so he doesn't have to think about the much MORE terrible occurrences on the boat; however, much like Pi says in the end of the book, if I have to choose between the two stories, I choose the better one. The one with the animals.
Excellent read, sat on the edge of my seat at times. Unbelieveable story but could picture all of it. I prefer the one with the animals and will hold that as the truth. Enjoyed this and read it in 2 days.
I have mixed reviews on this book. Parts were slow, parts were exciting, parts were very good information about zoos animals and survival. Parts of it was very grouse. From reading other reviews I must have missed the deep meaning of the whole story. How some one can believe in three different style of religion is beyond me. But it was worth the read and now I have to google to see if I can find out what I missed.
Was an entertaining read, but I don't believe that it deserved all the hype it recieved.
One of my closest friends begged me to read this for the longest time. When I finally got a copy of it, I questioned his taste in fine literature. The first third of the book was incredibly boring, and it took me at least a month to get through it, and I'm one of those people who can finish a book in a day or two. I was going to give up, but he kept pushing me to finish, and I'm glad I did. Once it got interesting, I couldn't put it down. Something about trying to survive alone on the ocean doesn't have much appeal, but when you throw in a carniverous island that eats people, and an ending that makes you question if the story actually happened, it was an amazing book.
Book was great. I saw the movie first and was evenly impressed.
This book is utterly amazing!!! I fell i love with these characters! I felt such deep emotion and attachment to pi and Richard! I cried in the end... it broke my heart!
I truly enjoyed the philosophical arguments the narrator makes at the beginning and end of the book. My only complaint is that the middle got a little drawn out. Definitely worth the read, though.
Wow! Martel is a phenomenal wordsmith. I have never highlighted more passages in a book than I did in this one. The end had my head spinning. I had to read that twice. This is a book I believe people will love or hate. It is certainly a book that needs to be read at the right time. I've owned it for several years and am honestly glad I didn't read until now because I might have not appreciated it in the way I do now. Will be interesting to see show they have portrayed this in the movie.
This was an incredible story; clever, humorous, spiritual, thought provoking... Wonderfully narrated. I will be thinking aout this book for some time to come!
I've read this book twice and could easily read it again. It's a great discussion book for book clubs or anyone who loves discussing good books that make you think.
I did not get interested in this book until Part 2, but then it became fascinating.
This was hard to get into but once I did I loved it. Great prose, I could see what the author was writing about.
An interesting book. It has more depth than the story leads you to believe. Is about how we might make up the story we think people want to hear vs the reality of what really happened. Young man shipwrecked at sea, survives on a life boat with a tiger...or not.
Listened to about 4 chapters - couldn't reall get into it, so decided to stop
I loved this book! It is fantastic. A great summer read that you will not be able to put down. Read with no expectations and you will be pleasantly surprised.
this is a paperback from Quality Paperback Book Club, so, if you are familiar, it is bigger than a paperback, yet smaller than a hardcover. the ISBN did not match any that PBS offered, but I have no doubt this is the entire novel as originally published in hardcover.
This was a great book. The writing process must have been an interesting one. The story really sucked me in, and surprised me. I enjoyed the tale, and the lesson.
Slow to start, but I read on and ended up liking it.
Very good book - it will make you think about Religion, particularly the 3 Abrahamic ones, not in a lecturing way.
The whole story can be seen philosophically as a life journey, the struggle between your lower and higher selves, finding false havens, and so on - it can be interpreted on several different levels --- or you can just read it as a very entertaining tale of survival. I'm keeping this one so I can re-read it later.
The whole story can be seen philosophically as a life journey, the struggle between your lower and higher selves, finding false havens, and so on - it can be interpreted on several different levels --- or you can just read it as a very entertaining tale of survival. I'm keeping this one so I can re-read it later.
I loved this book
I loved this book...I was very good..unexpected but good.
absolutely loved this book..a true adventure..Z
This is the greatest book. Like nothing I've ever read before. It is neat because it is possibly a true story.
Wow, this is a great book! Its very hard to describe, but it is outstanding.
I loved this book!! Very different story line, intriguing, didn't want it to end. I highly recommend it.
Wow. Just .... wow. Sometimes I can't understand why books win awards and honors. But for Life of Pi, which is a Mann Booker Prize winner and is on the 1001 Books list, I totally get it. This is a really great story - and also an awesome mind twister.
Pi Patel grew up in India as the son of a zoo keeper. Although his parents were athiests, Pi follows the Hindu, Christian and Muslim faiths - all at the same time. He can't understand why this should be a problem because, as he says, he just wants to "love God".
When Pi is sixteen, his parents decide to move to Canada. He and his parents board a Japanese ship bound for North America. Many of the zoo animals travel with them, as they had been sold to various zoos in the US and Canada. When the ship sinks, Pi finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a zebra, hyena, baboon and Bengal tiger. Eventually, through somewhat gruesome natural animal actions, only Pi and the tiger are left in the boat.
The story of how Pi survives for seven months in a 26-foot lifeboat with a man-eating tiger was utterly fascinating to me. And it starts out very believably. But as the months wear on without rescue, the stories begin to become more and more unbelievable - almost as if Pi was halucinating. And yet the way the stories are told, they ARE believable. But are they true? The ending of the book seems to explain what truly happened to Pi, but does it really? The truth is left up to the reader. In the words of Pi Patel, "The world isn't just what it is. It is how we understand it."
Pi Patel grew up in India as the son of a zoo keeper. Although his parents were athiests, Pi follows the Hindu, Christian and Muslim faiths - all at the same time. He can't understand why this should be a problem because, as he says, he just wants to "love God".
When Pi is sixteen, his parents decide to move to Canada. He and his parents board a Japanese ship bound for North America. Many of the zoo animals travel with them, as they had been sold to various zoos in the US and Canada. When the ship sinks, Pi finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a zebra, hyena, baboon and Bengal tiger. Eventually, through somewhat gruesome natural animal actions, only Pi and the tiger are left in the boat.
The story of how Pi survives for seven months in a 26-foot lifeboat with a man-eating tiger was utterly fascinating to me. And it starts out very believably. But as the months wear on without rescue, the stories begin to become more and more unbelievable - almost as if Pi was halucinating. And yet the way the stories are told, they ARE believable. But are they true? The ending of the book seems to explain what truly happened to Pi, but does it really? The truth is left up to the reader. In the words of Pi Patel, "The world isn't just what it is. It is how we understand it."
This book seems overrated to me. Perhaps I'm not getting it, but I found it dull and long and I fell asleep on most attempts to read it.
A book that's dying for a sequel, maybe about a giraffe named Theta.
The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.
The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true?
The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true?
A wonderful fantastic novel that you will not be able to put down.
Interesting book. Worth reading. Gave it a B+.
I had a hard time finishing this book. The Life of Pi was a book just a little too deep for me.
A very inspirational book, it just had a hard time keeping my interest.
A very inspirational book, it just had a hard time keeping my interest.
I didn't like it at the start, but it was slowly engaging, easy to imagine.
Religion, swimming pools, funny ideas, zoos, India, family, the sea. Then showing a tiger who is the boss because it is eating your companions in a boat that survived an accident at sea. Then lasty you are found alone in that boat, the tiger is gone because it was a projection of your own mind. You were the tiger.
I'm still thinking about it while writing these lines. Creepy and but very, very good.
Religion, swimming pools, funny ideas, zoos, India, family, the sea. Then showing a tiger who is the boss because it is eating your companions in a boat that survived an accident at sea. Then lasty you are found alone in that boat, the tiger is gone because it was a projection of your own mind. You were the tiger.
I'm still thinking about it while writing these lines. Creepy and but very, very good.
interesting story about a young boy's survival of a shipwreck.
the story had me guessing until the very end. It is boy meets animal all aboard a small lifeboat
Creative story telling and thoughts on life.
Thought provoking.
This was an amazing, magical tale. The power of the human spirit is overwhelmingly beautiful. Loved this book.
The book was a little hard to get into at first, but once I got into it I was hooked. It was a charming story & very a very detailed account of what one might expect when lost at sea. Hard to beleive it was fiction, but then again who could survive over 200 days on a lifeboat with a tiger??
I really think this book is worth anyone's time. It resonated with me.
This book is rich in symbolism. A very thought provoking story that is hard to put down.
This is one of the most imaginative novels I've read (and I usually read SciFi). A boy is trapped on a boat (life raft really) with a former zoo kept bengal tiger. Can they make it to safety together? A really interesting look at life.
Very enjoyable.
inventive, poetic, unique. highly recommended.
A fascinating story of survival and perseverence. I really enjoyed this book.
A great book. Pi and his family emigrate from India to North America. His father was a zookeeper and has brought the zoo animals with him. The boat sinks and Pi finds himself on a raft with hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450 pound Bengal tiger. Soon there is only Pi and the tiger. The highlights of the story is how the two manage to survive on board the raft.
I thought this book was very good and creative until...the ending!
Loved it really great read five stars indeed
I was a little bored but finished it.
300 pages of a story similar to the "Old Man and the Sea." Easy read with large print.
I was somewhat board with the book. It has A LOT of background information. More than I think it needs and it seemed to jump around a lot. Read the following and judge for yourself!
Here's what's on the back of the book: Pi Patel, a god-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is 16, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks - and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an oragutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal Tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can Pi and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge and cunning keep him alive until they do?
I was somewhat board with the book. It has A LOT of background information. More than I think it needs and it seemed to jump around a lot. Read the following and judge for yourself!
Here's what's on the back of the book: Pi Patel, a god-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is 16, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks - and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an oragutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal Tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can Pi and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge and cunning keep him alive until they do?
Really enjoyed this book.
I loved this book and was very sad when it ended.
Very entertaining. Five stars.
The first 90 or so pages were slow going and I put the book aside for a while. But once Pi reaches the Pacific Ocean, I couldn't put the book down. Fast paced and full of exciting scenes that quickly flow and move it was a wonderful read that left me thinking about it long after I had finished.
very good book, not one you can rush through either.
I thought it was a bit slow to get into, only because it did not begin as I expected. It is a really good book, and the way it was written in the beginning was the way it needed to be so ...well...I guess what I'm trying to say is...it really wasn't slow at all.
The story was good, but it dragged. I wanted to hear about the shark he SAW, not every other shark in the world. I didn't need to learn about every single sound that a tiger makes; I just needed to learn about the one that Pi's tiger made.
Slow to start but picks up wonderfully as Pi spends months on a boat with a large tiger. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READ>
Did not understand what all the hype was about this book. Struggled to get through it. Disappointed in the end.
When 16 yr old Pi Patel finds himself stranded in a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with only a menacing 450lb Bengal tiger for company, he quickly realizes that the only way he will survive is if he makes sure the tiger is more afraid of him than he is of it. Finding strength within himself, he draws upon all of his knowledge and cunning, battles for food and shelter, over comes storms and disasters, and in the end makes a peace of sorts with both tiger and ocean.
This book is very interesting, it does suspend reality and makes you think. it is one of those books that you read and then find yourself thinking about months later... stretches your imagination, and your mind, I liked it. Much different than most books i choose, so it was a pleasant surprise! Well written.
Interesting. Makes you really wonder at the end...
A bit slow to start, but a great book. And it's supposed to be based on a true story!
I could only get through the first 50 pages. It was boring and too drawn out. Maybe you will like it, it just wasn't for me!
Why does everyone rave about this book?? I am an avid reader and I can get through some pretty dense, slow-paced books, but I thought this one was awful. I kept waiting for the "revelation" that's supposed to come - there is an interesting twist at the end, but not nearly interesting enough to justify the drudgery of reading the book!
I found this a thought-provoking book, often very strange and sometimes repellant. But I was, for the most part, extremely engaged by the story and the character of Pi.
I must be missing something. I was so disappointed by the end of this that I had spent so much time on it.
This book affected me very deeply...quite a story, told in a very unusual way. I read it over six months ago, and it still reverberates in my mind, probably more than any fiction book I've read in the past couple of decades. The cover of this particular edition has artwork that is simply stunning - almost makes me want to keep the book just for that!
I enjoyed this book, it was entertaining. I thought that the descriptions of Pi's experience were the best part. I could really "see" what he was seeing.
i loved this book from the very start. I believe it is on page one that the narrator describes Canadians as well-meaning and polite people with bad hair - a concept I found hilarious! I did not want the book to end.
Very interesting. Makes you question reality and fantasy.
The premise of the book sounded interesting. But is was truly painful to read. It seemed the author didn't have enough imagination to expain something without using EVERY possible metafore he could think of. His sentences were constantly run on sentences, and it felt as though he could never quite get to the point.
I wanted so much to like this book...read 125 pages before abandoning it.
Great book, very quirky account of teenaged boy in a lifeboat with hyena, orangutan, zebra, and tiger as his companions. Never entirely clear what part is fantasy or hallucination, what part "real."
This book is worth reading. It's definitely different. I really enjoyed reading about the zoo and I learned things about zoos that I never knew. I wouldn't put this on my top 10 list but it's enjoyable. The author is very creative and came up with an entirely unique story.
MASTERPIECE!
I love this book. Fantastic read. The twists are amazing.
I loved this story of Pi and his tiger.This is one book I will keep and I will recommend it to my friends for a good read.There is one gory scene on the boat. But the rest is fantastic.Great story if you love animals.
"Life of Pi" is a very thought-provoking book. It delves deeply into the character of Pi himself, who he is before his tragic experience, who he is during it, and who he is after it. It challenges the reader in an intellectual manner as you question the validity of Pi's story. You will question which story is true. You may even be questioning the possibility of a person who is deeply religious but in seemingly opposing ways. It definitely is a tale of survival although as the story ends, you do wonder if it is also a tale of how the mind survives a tragic ordeal. Is this a story of how a child rationalizes a very difficult experience or is this story the truth?
This is a very deep and thought provoking read. It is heartfelt, but also light hearted at the same time. I would suggest it to anyone.
You haven't "been there, done that" until you've read Life of Pi
Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a fantastic adventure with elements of faith, tragedy, discovery, and ultimately victory. The novel is in three parts: Part 1 is the setup, Part 2 is the meat of the story (and bulk of the novel), and Part 3 is a short, but necessary wind-up where Martel lets you catch your breath while giving you a jumping-off point to ponder the overwhelming experience.
Presented mainly as an account related by Pi in first-person, the story draws the reader in slowly, at first. Part 1 of the novel paints a picture of the boy growing up in Pondicherry, India. Pi is inquisitive, observant, and quirky. With a craving for things spiritual, he investigates the three major religions present in his locale: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Having a natural ability to see (and feel?) the good in all things, he embraces in his own way all three.
The base created in Part 1 is necessary for the meat, blood, and guts of the story presented in Part 2. Without the foundation of his life firmly rooted in the reader's mind, the Part 2 adventure story would not stand. But as a solidly built home provides shelter, Life of Pi is a complete work: We have not been short-changed by Martel. The reader feels the security of Pi's loving family life, followed by the emotionally and physically wrenching circumstances that lead to his adventure-ordeal, and the honest presentation of the facts at the end in Part 3.
Martel's construction of the story is masterful as he takes the reader on a curious drive through a wonderful world. Then, just as the reader realizes that the author has only been taking him on a steady upward track to a dizzying height, he is plunged headlong into a nightmarish alternate environ that changes Pi's life forever, and impresses upon the reader the fragility of - and dependence on - life that humans and animals must inevitably face. In Pi's situation, however, the change is about as abrupt as can be, and the resulting circumstance stretches our sixteen year-old protagonist to many extreme limits. We live his sadness, his terror, his reasoning, his will, his ingenuity, his intelligence, his surrender, his victories. And there were times that I swear I could taste the seawater and feel the waves while reading this masterpiece.
All readers owe to themselves the vicarious experience that Life of Pi brings. This is a definite must-read.
Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a fantastic adventure with elements of faith, tragedy, discovery, and ultimately victory. The novel is in three parts: Part 1 is the setup, Part 2 is the meat of the story (and bulk of the novel), and Part 3 is a short, but necessary wind-up where Martel lets you catch your breath while giving you a jumping-off point to ponder the overwhelming experience.
Presented mainly as an account related by Pi in first-person, the story draws the reader in slowly, at first. Part 1 of the novel paints a picture of the boy growing up in Pondicherry, India. Pi is inquisitive, observant, and quirky. With a craving for things spiritual, he investigates the three major religions present in his locale: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Having a natural ability to see (and feel?) the good in all things, he embraces in his own way all three.
The base created in Part 1 is necessary for the meat, blood, and guts of the story presented in Part 2. Without the foundation of his life firmly rooted in the reader's mind, the Part 2 adventure story would not stand. But as a solidly built home provides shelter, Life of Pi is a complete work: We have not been short-changed by Martel. The reader feels the security of Pi's loving family life, followed by the emotionally and physically wrenching circumstances that lead to his adventure-ordeal, and the honest presentation of the facts at the end in Part 3.
Martel's construction of the story is masterful as he takes the reader on a curious drive through a wonderful world. Then, just as the reader realizes that the author has only been taking him on a steady upward track to a dizzying height, he is plunged headlong into a nightmarish alternate environ that changes Pi's life forever, and impresses upon the reader the fragility of - and dependence on - life that humans and animals must inevitably face. In Pi's situation, however, the change is about as abrupt as can be, and the resulting circumstance stretches our sixteen year-old protagonist to many extreme limits. We live his sadness, his terror, his reasoning, his will, his ingenuity, his intelligence, his surrender, his victories. And there were times that I swear I could taste the seawater and feel the waves while reading this masterpiece.
All readers owe to themselves the vicarious experience that Life of Pi brings. This is a definite must-read.
Enjoyed this book. Fun. Easy. I think even people who don't like reading might like this one. I would read it again (and I don't re-read books).
Looks like Book-Club Edition paperback
I loved this book. It was delightful, magical..I couldn't put it down.
A real adventure,outrageous as it seems, it wins your heart, and makes you regain faith once again in the inner strength a boy can have in the face of danger and death.
When Pi Patel is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks, and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450 pound Bengal tiger.
Pi's fear, knowledge and cleverness keep him alive.
When Pi Patel is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks, and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450 pound Bengal tiger.
Pi's fear, knowledge and cleverness keep him alive.
this book was sooo good. great i mean. i didnt quite understand the ending though. i would defenitly recommend.
Surprising story. What is real and what is a dream?
Though this book won much acclaim, I could not even finish it. There are too many other books that I would like to read. In sum, "much ado about nothing."
I was given this book as a gift from my little sister, and was shocked that I'd enjoyed it as much as I did. Very pleased~
The first few pages found me almost giving up on this book as it just wasn't making sense and seemed so off the wall, but at the advice of someone who had read it, I stuck with it and it didn't take long before it sucked me in. It's an outrageously unlikely story told as a memoir, and it's told in such a convincing fashion with such convincing explanations with regard to animal behavior that I found myself checking the back cover to see if it was based on a true story. It gets even more ridiculously impossible as it goes on but never stops being convincing and entertaining. And despite the fact that the book has only one human character throughout most of it, I found it to be hugely entertaining, fascinating, well-written and a book I would recommend to anyone.
Unique adventure, enjoyable read - a real page-turner!
This is precisely the type of book I love. It's a great story, incredible plot. But, my favorite part is its exploration of truth/fact, fiction/non-fiction. I absolutely loved it.
My book club is reading this book now and, although not everyone loved it the whole way through (although I did), we all agreed that there was an interesting twist at the end. So keep reading!!!
This book was impossible to get through. I got to page 69 and just had to stop.
I absolutely adored this book because I am an animal lover and I loved his lyrical writing.
I liked this book okay. The writing is definitely great and the story is fairly interesting. I really liked the factual information about animals vs. people and I preferred the beginning, the interaction between Pi and the different people he knows including his family. I really thought the end of the book was disappointing and their were some gruesome parts that did not need to be part of the book to further the story. I ended up skimming a lot of parts in the middle and end. It did not live up to it's hype but I am also glad I read it.
Okay - I know just about everyone raved about this book. My aunt highly recommended it over the Christmas holiday. But, I have to say, I just don't get it. I was not engaged in the story at all. I kept reading, intending to finish it, but when tedious reading began to be paired with gory reading, I gave up.
It was well written, cute, but kinda slow.
A page turner.
Not my favorite. Slow moving. Great symbolism and originality.
This book is an amazing story. If you are big into personal journeys then this book is definitely for you.
I thought that the concepts in this book were amazing. The main character touched base on religious subjects that usually aren't talked about, let alone in the point of view that the main character had. The style of writing from the author lost me at certain points in the novel but definitely painted a vibrant picture. At points you forgot about the character's suffering because of his mind set but the author definitely reminded you of exactly his predicament. This book was a long read for me. It was very hard to keep my focus but at the end I'm very happy to have read it.
Well written, very interesting. Loved it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure book. It's an amazing story about man trapped on a small boat with a huge tiger. The writing and plot are very well done. A page turner.
Young boy is adrift on the ocean in a lifeboat with several zoo animals...one quite dangerous. Thought-provoking page-turner that leaves you wondering about the ending. Great discussion book for book groups.Easy read.
An unusual story of courage and perseverance. A boy, a tiger and a boat....
interesting book. makes you think
I was reluctant to read this but I loved it.
So great -- wonderful imagination and fable, of sorts. I was so engrossed by it.
Good story, liked it a lot.
A very original story, well told.
This a really interesting book and it won the Booker a few years back...It is a fable about a boy and a tiger stranded on raft, a sort of microcosm of the world where theboy looks at life and the different role that each being can play.
Great book. A little grizzly at the end. But worth reading.
With more than one million copies in print, Life of Pi has become a modern classic, combining grand storytelling with a profound exploration of ageless themes: faith & truth, fact & fiction, man versus nature and innocence & experience
Iwas disappointed; the first 100 pages didn't seem to go anywhere. I quit, thought it was a waste of time. Members in my bookclub said the real story began around 100 pgs.
Great book for a reading group. Story of Pi Patel the son of a zookeeper that finds himself stuck alone on a boat with some animals, one of which is a Bengal tiger. How he lives while trying to find land is amazing.
It is an amazing book. I didn't want it to end.
This is an excellent book. Well-written and a joy to read.
Quirky, compelling story! Well written. I couldn't put it down!
One of the most original stories ever written!
GREAT BOOK! IT STARTS OUT A LITTLE SLOW, BUT TERRIFIC ONCE YOU GET INTO TO IT.
One of my favorite books....ever!!!
I loved it and I hated it. Makes for a great book club discussion!
"Life of Pi is a real adventure: brutal, tender, expressive, dramatic and disarmingly funny--It's difficult to stop reading when the pages run out." - San Francisco Chronicle
This book gives you a lot of food for thought.
Great book--it is a true adventure.
This book starts out a little slow, but keeps your attention. It kept me guessing until the end.
Guy in a lifeboat suriving incredible journey with tiger
Couldn't put it down.
Modern classic of a boy and his hungry tiger cast adrift.
Best seller that was just "OK".
An adventure of a shipwrecked boy and the animals that went with him.
A story of survival and faith. A fantastic read
A story of survival and faith. A fantastic read
Excellent book, thought-provoking, funny. Very different from what I was expecting.
One of my favorite books of all time. A great read...
This is a very interesting book about a boy called Pi Patel who grew up in India the son of zookeeper parents. He recounts his childhood and his singular adventures after being the sole survivor of a shipwreck.
love the ending, very good twist.
This book was an adventure. I couldn't put it down. It did take awhile to get into but once I did I was thinking about it constantly. A very good read.
I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down!
This was read by my 14 year old, he liked it very much.
This is my all time favorite book (of this decade)
This was a really different book. I really enjoyed reading it, and it will stick with me for a while. Quite the ending!
Did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did from reading the blurb. One of my all time favorites. Will read it again and again!
Great Book! It was a little slow to get in to, but once I was able to it was a very ejoyable read!
Interesting discussion of major world religions.
Loved this book. Gave you things to think about.
I LOVED this book. Smart, funny, engaging and wonderful!
I know most critics and readers sing the praises of this book, the ending ruined the story for me. I despise stories that become preachy and try to teach a one-sided moral lesson. Though the majority of the book is entetaining. I wish I hadn't read the last 50 pages.
Very interesting tale. Not my usual genre but enjoyable just the same.
Amazing story. Great ending!
Very thought provoking!
Thanks! Very prompt delivery
The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true?
Good young adult book with good moral.
-----A phantasmagorical tale with an improbable hero-----
Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories, and he practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks--and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutang, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. The Titanic was nothing like this! Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can he and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive in the lifeboat with the tiger until they do?
Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories, and he practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks--and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutang, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. The Titanic was nothing like this! Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can he and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive in the lifeboat with the tiger until they do?
unique and interesting
Winner of the Man Booker prize and New YOrk Times Notable book.
Ah, wonderful.
Once I picked up this book I couldn't stop reading until I'd finished it.
A very cute story and quick read. I definetely recommend it!
Very discussable book for our book group.
Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is 16, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. Ala, the ship sinks--and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Can Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they reach land?
an amazing book!
Pi Patel, a God loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories. When he is sixteen his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a cargo ship. Alas, the ship sinks and what follows is the story of Pi's survival.
Sixteen year old boy finds himself in lifeboat with animals from family zoo. Has to use his wit and cunning to survive when he and tiger are only ones left.
Fascinating story of survival.
I really did NOT like this book! It's on my list of "bad reads"! Definitely thumbs down in my book!
Pi Patel a god-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. when Pi is 16, his family and thier zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship alas, the ship sinks and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi can Pi and the tiger find their way to land can Pi's fear, knowlegde, and cunning keep him alive until they do
oh i just loved this book. It was one of the best books that i\'ve read in a while. Supposedly m.night shyamalan wanted to make a movie about it... i wonder if it\'s still going to happen?
Pi Patel, a God-loving boy and the son of a zookeeper, has a fervent love of stories and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family and their zoo animals emigrate from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks--and Pi finds himself in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi. Can Pi and the tiger find their way to land? Can Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they do? (Fiction)
I couldn't get into it
Great bookclub book. Pi Patel, age 16, ends up on a lifeboat w/ a tiger. Tale of his life before the shipwreck and journey w/ the tiger.
this book was very good. Was it real? a dream? hallucination? you decide...
This was a thoroughly delightful book. The following book review is from Amazon, and much better said that I could do.
Amazon.com
Yann Martel's imaginative and unforgettable Life of Pi is a magical reading experience, an endless blue expanse of storytelling about adventure, survival, and ultimately, faith. The precocious son of a zookeeper, 16-year-old Pi Patel is raised in Pondicherry, India, where he tries on various faiths for size, attracting "religions the way a dog attracts fleas." Planning a move to Canada, his father packs up the family and their menagerie and they hitch a ride on an enormous freighter. After a harrowing shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, trapped on a 26-foot lifeboat with a wounded zebra, a spotted hyena, a seasick orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker ("His head was the size and color of the lifebuoy, with teeth"). It sounds like a colorful setup, but these wild beasts don't burst into song as if co-starring in an anthropomorphized Disney feature. After much gore and infighting, Pi and Richard Parker remain the boat's sole passengers, drifting for 227 days through shark-infested waters while fighting hunger, the elements, and an overactive imagination. In rich, hallucinatory passages, Pi recounts the harrowing journey as the days blur together, elegantly cataloging the endless passage of time and his struggles to survive: "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."
An award winner in Canada (and winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize), Life of Pi, Yann Martel's second novel, should prove to be a breakout book in the U.S. At one point in his journey, Pi recounts, "My greatest wish--other than salvation--was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One that I could read again and again, with new eyes and fresh understanding each time." It's safe to say that the fabulous, fablelike Life of Pi is such a book.
Amazon.com
Yann Martel's imaginative and unforgettable Life of Pi is a magical reading experience, an endless blue expanse of storytelling about adventure, survival, and ultimately, faith. The precocious son of a zookeeper, 16-year-old Pi Patel is raised in Pondicherry, India, where he tries on various faiths for size, attracting "religions the way a dog attracts fleas." Planning a move to Canada, his father packs up the family and their menagerie and they hitch a ride on an enormous freighter. After a harrowing shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, trapped on a 26-foot lifeboat with a wounded zebra, a spotted hyena, a seasick orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker ("His head was the size and color of the lifebuoy, with teeth"). It sounds like a colorful setup, but these wild beasts don't burst into song as if co-starring in an anthropomorphized Disney feature. After much gore and infighting, Pi and Richard Parker remain the boat's sole passengers, drifting for 227 days through shark-infested waters while fighting hunger, the elements, and an overactive imagination. In rich, hallucinatory passages, Pi recounts the harrowing journey as the days blur together, elegantly cataloging the endless passage of time and his struggles to survive: "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."
An award winner in Canada (and winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize), Life of Pi, Yann Martel's second novel, should prove to be a breakout book in the U.S. At one point in his journey, Pi recounts, "My greatest wish--other than salvation--was to have a book. A long book with a never-ending story. One that I could read again and again, with new eyes and fresh understanding each time." It's safe to say that the fabulous, fablelike Life of Pi is such a book.
Very Light shelf wear. Great condition! Great book
