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Life of Pi

By Yann Martel

(685)

| Paperback | 9781841953922

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Book Description

Winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction

Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his familContinue

Critics

Book Review: Life of Pi by Yann Martel Share

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a fantasy adventure story, but with an underlying theme that I never expected. Let me begin with a brief synopsis. This is the story of Piscine Patel, nicknamed Pi, and his misadventures. He is a young teenage Indian boy, ... (read full critics)

blogcritics published on Wed, 2 Nov 2011

Life of Pi: 10th Anniversary Edition

It’s difficult to believe that Yann Martel’s quirky little second book, the boy-meets-talking-tiger tale known as Life of Pi, was first published a decade ago. Canadian readers can now se e that date commemorated in a special 10th anniversary edition ... (read full critics)

januarymagazine published on Tue, 25 Oct 2011

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54 Reviews

3 people find this helpful

Although some of the others criticize the first part of the novel is a bit distracted from the main plot, I actually enjoy that part very much. Probably because in some sense I am a religious/mystical person? Seriously the twist in the end is expected, yet the impact to its readers nonetheless did n ... (continue)

Although some of the others criticize the first part of the novel is a bit distracted from the main plot, I actually enjoy that part very much. Probably because in some sense I am a religious/mystical person? Seriously the twist in the end is expected, yet the impact to its readers nonetheless did not reduce a single bit.
It then gives rise to my other question: do we really need an answer for everything? Or we just need to believe what sooths us the best? It's a teen question... and I at that time usually put in this way: "We usually dare not to face the reality as we are to feeble to fight against the brutality of truth."
Life is never easy. Probably there's a tiger in everybody's heart as it is our will-to-live. Perhaps.

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張小張・Cons said on Dec 21, 2006 | Add your feedback

2 people find this helpful

The story is a basically about an Indian boy survived after floating for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean, together with a Bengal Tiger on a lifeboat, after the sinking of the cargo ship he was on board.
Some funny quotes on religions by the author:
“Hindus and Christians are idolaters. The ... (continue)

The story is a basically about an Indian boy survived after floating for 227 days in the Pacific Ocean, together with a Bengal Tiger on a lifeboat, after the sinking of the cargo ship he was on board.
Some funny quotes on religions by the author:
“Hindus and Christians are idolaters. They have many gods.”
“And Muslims have many wives,”
“Christians know nothing about religion…They strayed long ago from God’s path,”
“You don’t have a single miracle to show for it. What kind of religion is that, without miracles?”… “It isn’t a circus with dead people jumping out of tombs all the time, that’s what! We Muslims stick to the essential miracle of existence. Birds flying, rain falling, crops growing – these are miracles enough for us.”
“Well, a whole lot of good it did God to be with you – you tried to kill him! You banged him to a cross with great big nails. Is that a civilized way to treat a prophet? The prophet Muhammad – peace upon him – brought us the word of God without any undignified nonsense and died at a ripe old age.”
“The word of God? To that illiterate merchant of yours in the middle of the desert? Those were drooling epileptic fits brought on by the swaying of his camel, not divine revelation. That, or the sun frying his brains!”
“…foreign religions”
“And with their one god Muslims are always causing troubles and provoking riots. The proof of how bad Islam is, is how uncivilized Muslims are,”
“Says the slave-driver of the caste system…Hindus enslave people and worship dressed-up dolls.”
“They are golden calf lovers. The kneel before cows,”
“While Christians kneel before a white man! They are the flunkies of a foreign god. They are the nightmare of all non-white people.”
“And the eat pigs and are cannibals,”

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ooooiivviioooo said on May 31, 2007 | Add your feedback

2 people find this helpful

This is an absolutely glorious wonderful subtle amazing book. I read it a few years ago and embarked on a re-read after a talk with some friends about it. It was even better the second time.
Try 'In the heart of the sea' by Nathaniel Philbrick for the story of the sinking of the whaleship Esse ... (continue)

This is an absolutely glorious wonderful subtle amazing book. I read it a few years ago and embarked on a re-read after a talk with some friends about it. It was even better the second time.
Try 'In the heart of the sea' by Nathaniel Philbrick for the story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex, on which Moby Dick was based. It makes a great combination with Life of Pi. Truth versus fiction.

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annemarie said on Mar 4, 2007 | Add your feedback

Amazing read

Now I am a complete realist and avoid all things science fiction and fantasy. However, I enjoyed this book immensely, yes I agree parts of this novel were unbelievable and seemed almost crazy, but it was a great story and a very unusual plot. I often find myself recommending this book to friends and ... (continue)

Now I am a complete realist and avoid all things science fiction and fantasy. However, I enjoyed this book immensely, yes I agree parts of this novel were unbelievable and seemed almost crazy, but it was a great story and a very unusual plot. I often find myself recommending this book to friends and family, for those who seek a good read with an unusual plot go for this

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semra eren said on Apr 9, 2012 about the eBook edition | Add your feedback

Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can.
I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me, sjarks beneath me, a storm raging about me.
I must say a word about fear ... (continue)

Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can.
I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me, sjarks beneath me, a storm raging about me.
I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever, trecherous aversaey, how well I know. It has no decency, respects no law or convention, shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, ehich it finds with unerring ease. It begins in your mind, always. One moment you are feeling calm, self-possessed, happy. Then fear, disguised in the garb of mild-mannered doubt, slips into your mind like a spy. Doubt meets disbelief and disbelief tries to push it out. But disbelief is a poorly armed foot soldier.
I had to tame him. It was at that moment that I realized this necessity. It was not a question of him or me, but of him andme. We were, literally and figuratively in the same boat. We would livr- or we would die- together.

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Serena! -A Mordor il male non dorme mai. ADDIRITTURA gli aggiornamenti dai contatti! aNobii, riesci sempre a commuovermi :')) said on Oct 24, 2011 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Appeal factor, language. Martel uses language beautifully and subtly as he takes the reader on a fantastic journey. Some phrasing that's just so lovely, one stops and rereads it for the delightful sound of it all, and the truth or beauty he's encapsulating. A wonderous example of form folowing fun ... (continue)

Appeal factor, language. Martel uses language beautifully and subtly as he takes the reader on a fantastic journey. Some phrasing that's just so lovely, one stops and rereads it for the delightful sound of it all, and the truth or beauty he's encapsulating. A wonderous example of form folowing function.

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mlbleichwehl said on Sep 27, 2011 | Add your feedback