Life of Pi by Yann Martel Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Life of Pi
Book Review: Mind-enhancing but legal !
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book having heard that it was highly rated but having read nothing more. And I genuinely believe that this is the route to maximum enjoyment....so stop reading the reviews now !For those who've carried on, essentially "The Life of Pi" is such a fantastic tale, told in such blisteringly vivid language, with so many different themes and nuances that I believe that it can be about whatever you want it to be ! I would take no persuading that there are real insights about ecology, environment, geo-politics, society in there as well as the more obvious messages.
For me, the themes which run most clearly throughout the story concern religion and nature and how, through the study and the combination of the two, Pi, the central character, builds his life first in India and ultimately in Canada. The two themes are embodied early in the book in the form of Pi's mentors, the two Mr Kumar's. And it is also through the application of faith and science that Pi survives his ordeal at sea - with his knowledge of animals, commitment to three faiths and his name (short for Piscine) it's as if he's predestined to endure it. Insights, powerfully conveyed, on the relationship between Man, Nature and God (or should that be Imagination) permeate the story.
Being about whatever you want it to be (you know, within reason) the ultimate impression is of the defining power of imagination and possibility. This is finally recognised in Pi's interview at the end of his ordeal where a more literal (likely ?) explanation of his ordeal is offered, and then rejected even by the sceptical matter-of-fact insurance men.
So, a great story - please read with eyes and mind wide open !
Book Review: refreshingly different
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this book because it sounded a bit different, and it certainly was.It thrilled me yet was surprisingly gentle to read and I judge a good story on how dissapointed I am to be nearing the end.
Do not try to understand what is real, simply enjoy the beautiful, bizarre tale of Pi and the tiger.
I miss this book now that I have finished it.
Book Review: Not for the faint hearted!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
A fantastic read, but definitely not for the faint hearted or queasy! Very graphic and gorey desctiptions in parts. Yann Martel excellently paints the picture in your head on each and every page, you can nearly smell and feel the atmosphere. I found it a little hard to get into at first, the chapters before the sinking of the ship are very philosophical and I think quite unrelated to the main plot. But amazing literature and although it is fiction you learn alot about various things throughout the book like religion, animals etc. The story is fantastic and Yann Martel does a good job, hence the Booker Prize!Book Review: A SIMPLE TALE WITH COMPLEX DEPTH
Summary: 5 Stars
This book at it's surface is an engaging fairy tale about an adventure down a river with animals. That in itself is worth the price of admission. But, if you read between the lines this book is much much more than just a lovely fairy tale. There is depth and meaning and lessons to be learned here. Another book that I would like to recommend that is also on it's surface simple but deep, is called, The Little Guide To Happiness. A simple little thing, but like Pi, it too is something that will wake your mind.Book Review: a story to make you believe in God
Summary: 5 Stars
A wonderful book, full of interesting asides and humour in the face of adversity. When I finished, I couldn't understand why the tale should make me 'believe in God'. The story is amazing yes, but amazing things happen all the time. Then the passages on atheism came back to me. Pi believes it is better to be an atheist than an agnostic, for it is doubt that imprisons us. At least an atheist has no doubt. To get the most out of this story you must have faith that Pi's story of Richard Parker is true. Once the doubt creeps in the story is robbed of its power. We are asked to believe in the fantastical island, pushing our imaginations to the edges of credibility, of Pi training Richard Parker to jump through hoops but we believe, we believe. Later he gives us an alternative to our new found belief and instantly we become doubters again. Yann Martel is pointing out that faith is all that matters; faith in survival, faith in a system, faith in an incredible story. Without it we are lost.Both Mr Kumars (flipsides of the same coin) have their own doctrines that they are devoted to without doubt. As it is with God. To get the most out of God you have to believe entirely. Without faith we are all at sea.