Format Read: Trade Paperback
Number of Pages:356
Release Date:2001
Publisher:Vintage Canada
Formats Available: paperback, hardcover, ebook, audio
Purchasing Info: Amazon
, Book Depository, Book Depository UK, Chapters
Blurb:
Yann Martel’s second novel, Life of Pi, appeared in Canada in 2001 to enthusiastic reviews and moderate sales. A year later, it came out of nowhere to win the Booker Prize and became an international publishing phenomenon (and Amazon.ca’s first blockbuster). In a wonderful display of storytelling verve, Martel takes a distinctly unpromising premise–a “story that will make you believe in God” about a boy trapped on a lifeboat with an enormous tiger–and pulls it off with complete and winning confidence.
My thoughts:
Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a book I’ve had sitting on my shelf for over a year, just waiting to be read (I purchased it that long ago). Then with my university course I finally had to make time to read it; I was actually looking forward to it.
To start, there’s quite a broad statement made right from the out set of the story that it is a tale “that will make you believe in God”. This is a big claim and I can’t honestly say that this was the eventual outcome for me. Early in the book, there are references made to Pi Patel’s discovery of religion, and not just one, but three separate religions that can often be seen in opposition in real life but found a gelling point for Pi. This theme may have been evident to deeper readers than myself throughout the rest of the novel, but not as much for me.
Putting that aside though, Life of Pi has lots of humour. Pi is a smart, witty seventeen year old thrown into the most harrowing ordeal imaginable yet he could almost always find words of wisdom or situations that offered a definite snort in response. Through the worst of his tale, I encountered a lull in my reading. I felt like I just couldn’t continue any longer, nevermind this poor young boy stuck in a life boat with a Bengal tiger. and what he had to endure. But I did make it all the way to the end and I’m glad for it.
It’s an entertaining yet wholly unreal story, but from everyone I’ve spoken to that has read it, people seem to take different lessons from this book. It’s is a meaty, literate novel that’s is well worth a read (especially as it seems they are just about to make it into a film.)
Subtracting points for strange parts with meerkats and turtle blood nutrition facts, I give Life of Pi 4 Bookies
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.
About Jackie
Jackie is a quirky mom, living in Ontario, Canada. She's a bookkeeper by day and a book lover by night. She also blogs at The Novel Nation and writes occasionally for Heroes and Heartbreakers.
Blog RSS Feed
Follow Me on Twitter
My Facebook
I loved this book! I never, ever read this genre, but a friend loaned my husband the audiobook. We stuck the CD in the player because we had a long drive and nothing else to listen to, and we were completely hooked. We even started sitting in the driveway for a few minutes with the car idling just because we had to get to the end of a scene.
@Sandy – It really is a different kind of book, right? It wasn't what I was expecting, but surprises can be nice.
I loved it too – it's a wonderful metaphor. It doesn't matter what you believe in the end, all that matters is that choose to believe one or the other, and for me that was the important message in the book.