After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific.The crew of the surviving vessel consists of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan, a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger and Pi - a 16-year-old Indian boy.The scene is set for one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction of recent years. Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a transformative novel, a dazzling work of imagination that will delight and astound 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.
Life of Pi, Illustrated
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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.
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'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
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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
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual
A most unusual book; not a romance; not a thriller. If you have seen the film, it follows the book quite closely but there is a lot more detail in the book. Superb!
Published 3 hours ago by Jaybee
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
Written v
ery well with an unusual storyline. Slightly slow to start but a really enjoyable read overall. Thought provoking
ery well with an unusual storyline. Slightly slow to start but a really enjoyable read overall. Thought provoking
Published 22 hours ago by V A Rock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This book was a gripping and emotional story of how pi spent his days on a lifeboat. Would recommend it to those over the age of 13 as may be a bit disturbing for younger readers.
Published 1 day ago by michelle king
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not my thing!
I really enjoyed the film and thought the book would be good as well, but i just couldn't get away with it!
Published 1 day ago by Mrs. E. Hansell-christie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Was curious about the book because of the film that came so decided to try it.
Very glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Read more
Very glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Read more
Published 1 day ago by mole 95
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life of pi
What a fantastic story teller, I found this a riveting book that I could not put down the imagination paints a fantastic picture I now can't wait to see the film.
Published 1 day ago by Amanda Jane Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Review
I had seen the film advertised and I always like to read the book first. I was not disappointed but the ending does leave you wondering.
Published 1 day ago by Susan Winifred Larder
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read
It is a great book. It touches a controversial subject of faith, the way to deal with loss, hardship of survival and it provides some details about zoo keeping :-) I loved it.
Published 1 day ago by monia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life of Pi
An interesting book which everyone should read (before watching the movie). The author gives a diverse spread of information about animals, travelling and much more.
Published 1 day ago by M.Krish
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Book!
Such a fantastic! I couldn't put it down, the story is very realistic and is incredibly detailed recalling the events of Pi a young boy who survives a ship wreck but is left alone... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Ellie Jones
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