Thursday, June 17, 2010

"Life of Pi', by Yann Martel


This fiction tells a remarkable story that is full of surprises and wonder. Written by an expect storyteller in such a way that makes everything even the unbelievable sound credible.

The novel is divided in three sections:

The first section recounts a fictional writer's interaction with PI. Pi tells his childhood story of growing up as a son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry India and learning a lot about animals, their ways, emotions and traits. In his teens, on a quest to understand who God is, Pi immerses himself into the beliefs practiced by Christians, Muslims and Hindus. A tug of war erupts when the leaders of these religions groups discover Pi's activities and Pi's own brother sarcastically adds another aspect when he suggests that Pi should also embrace Judaism...

Section two continues at a steady and interesting pace. Pi and his family decide to close the zoo and immigrate to Canada; the animals are placed in zoos around the world. The family and many animals are transported on a Japanese cargo ship, a trip that will open a whole new experience for each one of them.

Not long into the voyage, disaster strikes and the ship sinks. Pi is cast adrift in a lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. In this part of the story, the author dazzles us with literary prose captivating ones imagination to its extreme. The 227 days Pi spent at sea is a constant test of survival in cramped quarters...the ultimate cat and mouse scenario...

In section three, Pi finally reaches the coast of Mexico where Japanese authorities are anxious to interrogate him on the loss of their ship. The Japanese investigators have trouble believing his story so Pi replaces each animal with human attributes and gives them names. At the end, the investigators are left totally confused and with conflicted opinions on what really happened.

"Life of Pi "is a wonderful and cunning novel that is entertaining, eye opening and thought provoking

2 comments:

  1. I read Life of Pi some years ago, I suppose when it was first published, as a birthday presebt. It was a good read, very imaginative and I am pleased you liked it too. Phil.

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  2. Wonderful novel indeed, rare are those thinking otherwise....

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