Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a transformative novel, an astonishing work of imagination that will delight and stun readers in equal measure. It is a triumph of storytelling and a tale that will, as one character puts it, make you believe in God. After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wide, wild Pacific. The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, one zebra (with broken leg), an orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker and Pi - a 16-year-old Indian boy. As the 'crew' begin to assert their natural places in the food chain, Pi's fear mounts, and he must use all his wit and daring to develop an understanding with Richard the tiger. Life of Pi takes the reader on an extraordinary journey - geographical, spiritual and emotional. A rare thing, here is a novel that will change your view of the world.
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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
Review
Absurd, macabre, deeply sensual- suggests Conrad and Rushdie hallucinating together over the meaning of The Old Man and the Sea and Gulliver's Travels. -- Financial Times, May 2002
Life of Pi is a great adventure story, the sort that comes along rarely. It is also rich in metaphysics, beautifully written, moving and funny. -- Scotland on Sunday, May 2002, reviewed by Michel Faber
So magical, so playful, so harrowing and astonishing... Every page offers something of tension, humanity, surprise, or even ecstasy. -- The Times, May 2002
This enormously lovable novel is suffused with wonder. It[probes] the imaginative realm with scientific exactitude, twisting reality to 'bring out its essence'. -- Guardian, 25 May, 2002
Yann Martel’s third work of fiction, Life of Pi, is a terrific book. It's fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore. -- Sunday Times, May 2002, reviewed by Margaret Atwood
Life of Pi is a great adventure story, the sort that comes along rarely. It is also rich in metaphysics, beautifully written, moving and funny. -- Scotland on Sunday, May 2002, reviewed by Michel Faber
So magical, so playful, so harrowing and astonishing... Every page offers something of tension, humanity, surprise, or even ecstasy. -- The Times, May 2002
This enormously lovable novel is suffused with wonder. It[probes] the imaginative realm with scientific exactitude, twisting reality to 'bring out its essence'. -- Guardian, 25 May, 2002
Yann Martel’s third work of fiction, Life of Pi, is a terrific book. It's fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore. -- Sunday Times, May 2002, reviewed by Margaret Atwood
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
188 of 206 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.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found it a bit hard going to start with,but now I have got into the story on the lifeboat I am thoroughly enjoying it. Still have half a book to read.Recommended it to a colleage at work.You cant lose at the princely sum of 20p for the download.Give it a try.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By John Smith
Format:Paperback
Yann Martel's 'Life of Pi' will surely go down as a modern classic work of literature. His writing style is sharp and gripping, yet very thought provoking as well. The moments of hilarious wit are equally balanced by a very clever and well thought out narrative describing and explaining the thoughts and events concerning the central character - Pi Patel. I was not particularly inspired to read this book at first after reading the back, but after a little encouragement from a family member who bought it for me, I can say I thoroughly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read?
Make you believe in God? No, you choose your God, a book won't do it. I enjoyed the book, a disappointing ending, but I enjoyed the observations of Pi, and I'm pleased I've read... Read more
Published 8 hours ago by Ian Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Book
Learning so much about animal behaviour, can't put it down. It helps that I have visited Pondicherry and Canada makes more interesting.
Published 19 hours ago by elaine read
1.0 out of 5 stars
Life Of Pi by Yann Martel
Rubbish I hate it don't like it one little bit. Guess why don't under stand it one little bit because a am 11
Published 1 day ago by S. Blyth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleased I eventually read this.
I was always put off reading this book as I thought it sounded rather a tedious story. I am so glad I came across it as a Kindle daily deal & decided to give it a go. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Pepperhounddog
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unless interested in religious side of this book not good
Very slow to start with and concentrates on the religious side initially. Hard going! I actually stopped reading it and started another book.
Published 1 day ago by mary burdon
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting read and a well told story.
Having had the fortune to read this prior to seeing the film I can honestly say I found the story enthralling. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Natural Papa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
What a wonderful book. Different (in a good way) Exquisite writing. Loving it .
I had bought the DVD of the film when it came out and I really enjoyed it. Read more
I had bought the DVD of the film when it came out and I really enjoyed it. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Alison
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST
This is definitely one of the best books I have read in a very long time
Definitely a 5 stars from me
Definitely a 5 stars from me
Published 2 days ago by Andrew
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holiday Read
The first purchase for my Kindle was Life of Pi which I'd seen in a bookshop and rather liked the look of. It is quite gripping and excellent read which I greatly enjoyed.
Published 2 days ago by Hazel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartwarming
The most beautiful book I have read in a long time I didn't want it to end. The story is tragic and brutal but told with such rich vivid description that it is also full of love... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Mrs R L Knight
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