Life of Pi

Several years ago, I was of the mindset that if I started a book, I would have to finish it, no matter how brutal or boring. Since reading life of Pi, I have reduced it to 100 pages, meaning, if the book does not catch me in 100 pages I drop it.

I can honestly say that this book left me a little sad. I'm not sure if that was the feeling it was supposed to invoke. I also wouldn't say I believe in God by reading this story either. But it does demonstrate a will to live in the face of hopelessness. That said, I can't say I particularly enjoy this.

Visually stunning and tasty, Martel has a strong handle on how to craft delectable prose. Vivid details regarding some of the more violent sections were so easily pictured I found my stomach churning as if I was with Pi on the sea. The book was a beautiful blend of the mesmerizing fantasy of being lost at sea and the depressing elements of what that reality would look like. (Possible poilers ahead) My biggest frustration regards the ending. As a writer, I can appreciate it. As a reader, it took the wind out of my sails a bit, and a book that had made me hopeful and thirsty for adventure instead left me with a bittersweet after-taste in my mouth. However, I'm still thinking about the book, which to me is a sign that was, indeed, a quality literary work.

In the book ‘Life of Pi' Yann Martel's beautiful and fluent writing gives a clear picture of the life of a spiritual man. The author has told his story beautifully and added beautiful philosophy to it. And the main attraction of the book is Pi's sea struggle expedition, which is so brilliantly portrayed that the reader will feel that he too is on the sea with Pi. And the ending was both happy and sad at the same time. Overall the book is a master piece.

This book was wild. It's an exciting, terrifying, unbelievable story about survival against all odds and, at the same time, a beautiful picture of religion, faith, and truth. I loved it. Honestly should be required reading.

If you've seen the movie, maybe wait to read the book until you've forgotten all but the most basic plot points of the movie. There are a few moments that would be a lot less rewarding to read if you knew what was coming.

Also, fair warning, it starts pretty slow. The first 20% of the book is about his childhood in India and details his relationships and his varying religious beliefs. It's fascinating, but if you don't start the book prepared for that content, it'll be hard to make it to the “action” of the book.

Age range: 16+
Violence and gore to an extent that would probably be jarring to younger readers. Also, a pretty challenging moral aspect.

The beginning of this book was incredibly slow. There was so much extra information that I didn’t need but it just went on and on. I enjoyed about 1 chapter from the beginning when it was talking about the differences in three of the world’s major religions. But then it just kept going on with the same topic for what felt like forever. When it got into the main part of the story, where Pi is in the sinking ship, it starts to get good. From then it feels fast paced and exciting, but after the lion has finished eating the hyena it goes back to being slow again. Like I get it Pi your fishing, I’ve heard enough. In the last 100 pages it gets really good. It is super disturbing and far more interesting. I think it’s because a large part of the book is set in the same place that it becomes boring to me, so the change of scenery into the carnivorous island I found very enjoyable. To sum up, I hated half of the book; I loved half of the book. Worth the read but only if you have a lot of free time.