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Loading... Life of Pi (original 2001; edition 2003)by Yann Martel
Work InformationLife of Pi by Yann Martel (Author) (2001)
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loved this book . Immediately wanted someone to talk to about whether the tiger was the one doing the eating or not. Really a great read ( ) Unlike majority of the books I've read this year, which I sought after and bought, this book found me. I stumbled across it in a coffee shop which offered customers free books. And I am forever grateful for that coffee shop. Like most people my age, this book is not as popular as the movie and I've seen the movie before. So I pretty much knew the story and I am someone who doesn't enjoy spoilers. However, I decided to give this book a go since the memory of the movie was quite faded in my mind and therefore I could not recall all the details of the story accurately. That was a great decision on my part. In short, this book absolutely blew me out of the water (pun intended). Every page was as interesting as the last and it was such an absolute pleasure to read. The themes of god, religion, life and death were never overdrawn and every element of the novel seemed to be in balance without being given too much or too little attention, which in turn accentuated the overall plot. Lot of the novels that I have read this year focused on literary complexity which needs to be dissected in order for the average reader to wrap their heads around the story and although complexity is admirable, the author often sacrifices the reading experience for it. But the author of this novel did nothing of that sort, he used direct and concise words without adding unnecessary complexity. That is not to say there is no literary complexity at all; there is plenty of space for detailed literary analysis. This novel also has a very compelling story-telling which makes it a bliss to read. The novel ends with an unusual cliffhanger where the readers are offered the choice between two completely different stories. Neither of those stories will change the overall ending of the novel, but either, will topple the experience of the novel on its head and the feeling left behind. I would highly recommend this novel to everyone, even if you have watched the movie. The movie obviously skips out quite a few details - although not crucially important to the overall plot - that changes the overall pace and the tone of the story. The novel, without a doubt is the superior of the two. With 'The Life of Pi' Yann Martell tacitly promotes a positive, imaginative approach to life. The young protagonist Pi reveals his tale of a potentially tragic voyage across the sea in a life boat accompanied by a zebra, an orang-utan, a hyena and a Bengal tiger. After an inital slow start this compelling tale gathers speed from page 80 onwards and concludes with the greatest ending to a book I have read; a magnificent prestige.
The story is engaging and the characters attractively zany. Piscine Molitor Patel (named after a family friend's favourite French swimming pool) grows up in Pondicherry, a French-speaking part of India, where his father runs the local zoo. Pi, Hindu-born, has a talent for faith and sees nothing wrong with being converted both to Islam and to Christianity. Pi and his brother understand animals intimately, but their father impresses on them the dangers of anthropomorphism: invade an animal's territory, and you will quickly find that nearly every creature is dangerous Granted, it may not qualify as ''a story that will make you believe in God,'' as one character describes it. But it could renew your faith in the ability of novelists to invest even the most outrageous scenario with plausible life -- although sticklers for literal realism, poor souls, will find much to carp at. Belongs to Publisher SeriesThe Canons (12) Fischer Taschenbuch (15665) Gallimard, Folio (4291) Keltainen kirjasto (350) Keltainen pokkari (55) — 1 more Has the adaptationWas inspired byHas as a reference guide/companionHas as a student's study guideAwardsDistinctionsNotable Lists
Martel's novel tells the story of Pi--short for Piscine--an unusual boy raised in a zoo in India. Pi's father decides to move the family to live in Canada and sell the animals to the great zoos of America. The ship taking them across the Pacific sinks and Pi finds himself the sole human survivor on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg and Bengal tiger called Richard Parker. Life of Pi brings together many themes including religion, zoology, fear, and sheer tenacity. This is a funny, wise, and highly original look at what it means to be human. No library descriptions found.
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LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumYann Martel's book Life of Pi was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsOT - Suntup: Life of Pi in Folio Society Devotees Popular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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