One boy, one boat, one tiger ...After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary and best-loved works of fiction in recent years.
Life Of Pi
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Amazon Review
Some books defy categorisation: Life of Pi, the second novel from Canadian writer Yann Martel, is a case in point: just about the only thing you can say for certain about it is that it is fiercely and admirably unique. The plot, if that’s the right word, concerns the oceanic wanderings of a lost boy, the young and eager Piscine Patel of the title (Pi). After a colourful and loving upbringing in gorgeously-hued India, the Muslim-Christian-animistic Pi sets off for a fresh start in Canada. His blissful voyage is rudely interrupted when his boat is scuppered halfway across the Pacific, and he is forced to rough it in a lifeboat with a hyena, a monkey, a whingeing zebra and a tiger called Richard. That would be bad enough, but from here on things get weirder: the animals start slaughtering each other in a veritable frenzy of allegorical bloodlust, until Richard the tiger and Pi are left alone to wander the wastes of ocean, with plenty of time to ponder their fate, the cruelty of the gods, the best way to handle storms and the various different recipes for oothappam, scrapple and coconut yam kootu. The denouement is pleasantly neat. According to the blurb, thirtysomething Yann Martel spent long years in Alaska, India, Mexico, France, Costa Rica, Turkey and Iran, before settling in Canada. All those cultures and more have been poured into this spicy, vivacious, kinetic and very entertaining fiction. --Sean Thomas
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
* Every page offers something of tension, humanity, surprise, or even ecstasy The Times * A terrific book ... fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore -- Margaret Atwood Sunday Times * A unique and original story, brilliantly told Guardian * Full of clever tricks, amusing asides and grand originality Daily Telegraph * Ultimately uplifting Daily Mail * Extraordinary...Life of Pi could renew your faith in the ability of novelists to invest even the most outrageous scenario with plausible life New York Times Book Review * Martel's engaging characterization and vivid description enliven and enrich this dreamy, fantastic tale The Times 20090704 * Its appeal has endured, with a worldwide 'readalong' of the book next month and a moniker as a 'modern classic' to boot. The moniker, in this instance, is utterly deserved ... Pi is bewitching, the tale both nihilistic and naive, philosophical and playful, deeply moving while always treading the line clear of schmalz -- Arifa Akbar Independent 20090724 * Martel has a warm way of engaging with the reader --Robert Burdock RobAroundBooks.com 20090802
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By Anthony Lynas
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Life of Pi was, for me, a delight throughout. The first portion of the book seems to have garnered criticism in some corners but I found it to be a gentle and drily witty look at the way the world works. It provides the grounding for what follows, including the religious journey the book takes. Bearing in mind that I'm atheistic, I didn't feel like I was being preached to at any point in time. What's important here is that Yann Martel doesn't ram anything down the reader's throats. Pi relates all the events that occur to zoology and / or religion but the reader is always allowed to make their own judgement as well.
The story really picks up post-shipwreck and has some lovely twists and turns along the way. It's a paean to the survival instincts of the human spirit told through a series of increasingly bizarre and imaginative anecdotes. Wonderfully, everything is thrown askew at the end with a marvellous plot twist that leaves the reader considering the book long after they have finished it.
I read through Life of Pi in a little over two days; it was both enthralling and captivating and is that rare thing in modern art and literature - a positive and hopeful comment on the nature of the human being.
41 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
The Booker Prize was awarded to this book shortly after I read it.
Despite the sea voyage being, quite rightly, the important part of the book I found myself enjoying the 100 or so pages leading up to it just as much. The self-description of Pi's life in India was wonderful and packed with discoveries for the reader. It actually came as a bit of a disappointment when he got on the ship for Canada.
The book's write-up provided the main appeal for me, especially the assertion that it would make you believe in God. Well, as it turned out that was a bit ambitious, but I did draw great comfort from Pi's acceptance and practice of different faiths.
The secrets for me were the simplicity of the writing and the way I was drawn out of myself to a calmer, less complicated place.
It wasn't a book that I thought back on longingly for days and weeks afterwards, but at the time of reading it I did travel to a special place.
163 of 184 people found the following review helpful
By blurgirl74
Format:Paperback
Life of Pi stands with Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude as the most surprising and inventive book I have ever read. The description I read of the book said simply that it was the tale of a boy marooned on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific with only a zebra, orangutan, hyena and tiger for company. I was prepared for a fantasy with talking animals who help Pi throughout an adventure until they inevitably wash up on the shore. What I didn't expect it to be was a savagely brutal tale of survival teeming with blood, viscera, fear, despair and the very real teeth and claws of a 450 pound Bengal tiger. What I also didn't expect it to be was a beautiful, moving, heartfelt, loving exploration of loss, determination, belief and spirituality. That it can be both these descriptions at the same time tells you something of the power of this work of art. Life of Pi will be to some people a cracking adventure story, to some a philosophical treatise on the nature of belief and religion and to some a dizzying and confusing mix of the real, the assumed and the fantasy. To me it was quite simply astounding. The realisation of the point the narrator makes to the Japanese investigators at the end made me laugh and cry at the same time and for the first time in ages I felt a tug at my soul towards a higher power. Everyone in the world should read this book and after the last word, close it, take a deep breath and come out changed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting! Much enjoyed..
Very good book, found sometimes repetitive but worth reading. Brilliant imagery throughout also. Won't give away much but the final chapter was interesting and it had me consider... Read more
Published 36 minutes ago by Amelia Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating
Brilliant read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Was a captivating story, Pi's strength is admirable. Definitely worth the read, well deserved the five stars!
Published 1 hour ago by Ottillie Grace
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining yarn
The story develops with great humour as one man`s exploration of religion and philosophy, then suddenly we are gripped by an extraordinary tale of survival in extreme... Read more
Published 1 hour ago by bob
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astounding narrative!
The narrative was excellent. The story line was intriguing and the adventure captivating. Enjoyed reading this book, now looking forward to seeing the film. Good, exciting book.
Published 2 hours ago by Denise Marsh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Brought this after seeing the advert for the film, and I haven't been able to put it down! Captivating book!
Published 3 hours ago by shelley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
A wonderful story of survival and thrill. Beautifully written and a very satisfying end to the book. Hats of to the author xx
Published 4 hours ago by Maimeee
5.0 out of 5 stars
A intriguing read
I enjoyed this book, as it is thought provoking and scintillating. I enjoyed particularly its comments on animal behaviour. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Published 5 hours ago by Isaac Sawyerr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book
This took me away, I've never read something as good and thrilling as this. I recommend this to young teens and to watch the movie.
Published 5 hours ago by Jamie Oliver Lai
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable
I found the book very enjoyable and it kept my interest throughout. Very well written. The only negative was that it was a bit drawn out and I think I would have preferred it to be... Read more
Published 6 hours ago by PooZa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life of PI
Very lengthy long drawn out story. Quite boring in parts. Interesting companionship with tiger. Also, amazing how he stayed alive so long. Would rate this 7/10.
Published 7 hours ago by Jessie Stewart
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