Rated 4 out of
5
by
Michael from
Tiger Tale
Martel weaves an eloquent tale, descriptively rich with witty humour as he transitions from writer and narrator in the form of a young Indian boy Piscine Molitor Patal, known to all as Pi. A voyage across the Pacific from his homeland of India to new home of Canada pits young Pi's faith in spirituality and a God, against that of the primal urge of survival in a lifeboat lost at sea with a menagerie of zoo animals. The novel flows with spiritual, emotional and symbolic undertones that eventually compels the reader to debate the truth in the events that happened in Pi's Life.
Date published: 2018-04-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Erica from
Even if you've seen the movie you should read the book
The book provides an inside perspective to Pi's thoughts and more of his character is shown. If you liked the movie you should consider reading the book as there are more scenes in his adventure that cause you to doubt reality.
Date published: 2018-03-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JKJK from
Top!!
I love this story so so much. The symbolism and the metaphors are everything! Such a deep story that really gets you thinking. I thought the movie did a great job at portraying the story as well. Such a great piece.
Date published: 2018-03-08
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Melanie_Mackenzie from
Brilliant
This book was a gift and I was dubious about reading it at first as not my usual preferred reading. However, it grabs you instantly and is a brilliantly written book that I enjoyed very much.
Date published: 2018-02-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Lelou from
An experience
What an experience. This novel left me with a hole in my heart that took a while to mend. And we get to support a Canadian author.
Date published: 2018-01-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Lelou from
An experience
Wow. I feel like this novel left me with a hole in my heart. I would definitely recommend looking into some of the Easter eggs in this novel, makes it even a better experience. An absolute must-read, and it's great to support Canadian offers.
Date published: 2018-01-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Marzipan from
Magical
A beautiful meditation on religion and identity, all set against the backdrop of survival on the open ocean.
Date published: 2018-01-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Rebecca from
Better Every Time
This is a book I can read over and over again. The story is beautifully written, and the message is powerful. I have an uncommon interpretation of the ending but either way the story is worth your time.
Date published: 2018-01-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Michele from
So good!
I loved this book! I gobbled it up in a few days and it stayed on my mind a while after.
Date published: 2017-12-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Evelyn from
I couldn't put it down!
This novel had me hooked. Not only could I not put it down, but I also couldn't stop thinking about the story afterwards. Martel is skilled at telling the story without telling all, which leaves you captivated.
Date published: 2017-11-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Clara_B from
Great!
That book is really great.
Date published: 2017-11-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Hayley from
best book ever
This is the best book ever written! The way the words flowed together like water.I loved the main character he was super likable. And for some reason the fact that there was only one child and all animals as main characters really helped show off the descriptions instead of the conversations. The best part of the book was the ending, right when you think you knew what was going on bam something major happened. I've read this book years ago and it was my favourite then and years later it is still one of my favourites. Everyone must read this book.
Date published: 2017-11-10
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Shaheen from
Honestly hated this book
I was really excited to read it but was really disappointed. Most other people I know love it but I found it really frustrating to read.
Date published: 2017-10-31
Rated 4 out of
5
by
RealNJ from
Lessons learned
Everyone said the book is great and awesome and very good and so on and so forth but I am sorry I don't feel that way. After reading, I saw the movie and it gave me more appreciation for the book, although, it gave and took away from the book, it was a better movie than my imagination gave while reading the book. There was quite interesting lesson I learnt from the book.
Date published: 2017-10-25
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Rissa from
Human becoming more animal in survival mode
Life of Pi is an intriguing book. I read it for a course I took in university about animals in human cultures, and then watched the movie. Yann Martel expertly weaves a tale about a human boy tapping into his animalistic side in order to survive a disaster at sea – on a lifeboat with a full-grown Bengal tiger. We had a lot of discussions about the connection between Pi and Richard Parker, debating whether they were friends or simply co-survivalists and which version of events at the end we believed was true.
Date published: 2017-10-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
karen from
Good
Read and then watch the movie! Good book!
Date published: 2017-10-12
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Kyla from
Ok
I really, really liked this book until the end. I'm one of those people if I don't like the ending then the book is ruined for me.
Date published: 2017-10-07
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Emilie from
Life of Pi
The beginning was so slow it was like pulling teeth. once you got into the book about halfway it started to get better but still wasn't great. I did enjoy the animals though.
Date published: 2017-09-29
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Sunshine_Jenn from
Life of Pi
This was not one of my favorite books. I just couldn't get interested in the concept.
Date published: 2017-09-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mark from
good
good storyline, a must read!
Date published: 2017-09-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mollymomka from
I loved this book!!
I love the adventure, heart and vivid images that Yann provides with his writing.
Date published: 2017-09-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Michael from
One of my favourite books!
The details were so vivid I felt like I was part of the book while reading, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it!
Date published: 2017-09-10
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Chloe from
Wonderful writing
While at times, the book couldn't be a bit slow when it came to plot progression, the beautiful writing kept you hooked when you might have dropped it if it was another book.
Date published: 2017-08-27
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Atty from
Good read
I really enjoyed the concept of the book. The first part of the book was really entertaining and I enjoyed reading it, the second part was good but it was slow.
Date published: 2017-08-22
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Diana from
OK
I saw the movie first and I felt the same way about the movie as I did about the book. It was sad, interesting, different and entertaining. I didn't dislike it but I didn't love either. The movie was very true to the book, I think my experience of the book would have been different (more positive because of the unique nature maybe?) were it not for the the fact that I watched the movie first. I will say that the book had a lot of humourous moments, especially before Pi gets on the ship, the author has a way with words which makes everyday occurrences ironic and hilariously satirical. After the ship though it does get a lot more somber in tone (for obvious reasons).
Date published: 2017-08-12
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Diana from
OK
I saw the movie first and I felt the same way about the movie as I did about the book. It was sad, interesting, different and entertaining. I didn't dislike it but I didn't love either. The movie was very true to the book, I think my experience of the book would have been different (more positive because of the unique nature maybe?) were it not for the the fact that I watched the movie first. I will say that the book had a lot of humourous moments, especially before Pi gets on the ship, the author has a way with words which makes everyday occurrences ironic and hilariously satirical. After the ship though it does get a lot more somber in tone (for obvious reasons).
Date published: 2017-08-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Aneen from
One of my favourite books!
I never get tired of this book! I read it again and again, and it's always such an adventure.
Date published: 2017-08-01
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Kaila from
Not a Fan
The beginning was decent and gets three stars in itself, but the second half was so incredibly boring.
Date published: 2017-07-28
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Mouse from
Enjoyable enough.
A neat concept for a novel but I prefer more realistic scenarios personally.
Date published: 2017-07-27
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Mouse from
Enjoyable enough.
A neat concept for a novel but I prefer more realistic scenarios personally.
Date published: 2017-07-27
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Andrea from
Good read
I can't describe this book any better than "insightful", there is so much that you learn about yourself through Pi's perspective. Slower read but worth it.
Date published: 2017-07-26
Rated 2 out of
5
by
DanA from
I hated this book. It gets 2 stars for the idea (the rest is terrible).
I had such high hopes for this book, given all the hype. Not impressed. Martel obviously fancies himself more of philosopher than he actually is. Yet another novel that appears to be little more than an exercise in self-indulgence.
Date published: 2017-07-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Didi from
Loved it!
I read this in highschool and I love it, it's quite a conversation starter!
Date published: 2017-07-25
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Legolassy from
intersting
interesting book i read and analyzed in english class. one of a kind
Date published: 2017-07-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cynthia from
Still one of my favourites, all those years later!
I loved this book when I first read it in French. I have since read it multiple times in English and every time I have such a great time. The new cover makes me want to buy a third copy (one in French, one in English), but that might be a little obsessive, haha!
Date published: 2017-07-21
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Sandy from
Good
This book was well written and an interesting storyline, but for me it wasn't a terrific read.
Date published: 2017-07-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Alexandra from
Classic
Read this book in highschool and still re-read every chance I get. I love the way the story is told. Highly recommend reading this.
Date published: 2017-07-18
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Madeleine from
Interesting read
Not sure if its because I read this novel in class but I didnt overly enjoy the book.
Date published: 2017-07-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kent from
Liked it
Martel is a great story teller. I wish his other novels got a great acclaim as this. Well worth thee read
Date published: 2017-07-13
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Kimm from
did not like
I read it only because it won so many awards. disappointed.honestly dont know what the fuss was about.
Date published: 2017-07-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
GirlBoss from
Need to Read
I read this book for a high school course years ago and I am glad I did. It opened my horizons to reading different types of books and looking for the meaning in all stories. Recommend for young adults who are beginning their love of books. #plumreview
Date published: 2017-07-03
Rated 4 out of
5
by
StephM from
Great read
I very much enjoyed this book. It was a unique and moving adventure. The book also has a personality, I remember very fondly how the author described the origin of the name "Pi" in the opening pages of the book. #plumreviews
Date published: 2017-07-03
Rated 3 out of
5
by
RichmondReader from
I really like this story
Good book, beautiful new cover!
Date published: 2017-07-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Sarah from
Good Book
This book is well-written and worth a read but it is not my favourite story. #plumreviews
Date published: 2017-06-30
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Taylor from
Life of Pi
Not my type of book, but I could see that it would be enjoyable to people who like this type.
Date published: 2017-06-29
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Mishie from
a little slow
A good read, but a little slow, especially for younger readers.
Date published: 2017-06-28
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Caroline from
The Life of Pi
An interesting book. I read it before high school English.
Date published: 2017-06-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mahera from
One of my favourites
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this back in high school for doing well in my English course.I have re-read this so many times and each time the adventure and storytelling does not dissapoint
Date published: 2017-06-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cathy from
One of my favourite bools
I really love this book. It is a page turner from start to finish. The ending will blow your mind. Recommended 100%.
Date published: 2017-06-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cathy from
One of my favourite bools
I really love this book. It is a page turner from start to finish. The ending will blow your mind. Recommended 100%.
Date published: 2017-06-26
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Amanda_Pisko from
Solid
This was a solid read! I enjoyed it a lot
Date published: 2017-06-26
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Joeratesbooks from
I didn't enjoy it
Please know that this is only my opinion, and I am definitely no expert book reviewer feel free to ignore my review and read it for yourself!
This book seemed so interesting and I had such high hopes for it. This book actually replaced To Kill a Mockingbird as reading material in my grade 11 class, so I figured that it was going to be a masterpiece. I was disappointed. Symbolism plays an important role in literature, but in my personal opinion it didn't fit properly in this book making it feel as though it was forced in without much effort to making it seem natural. Additionally, I found the start of the book to be incredibly dry and boring, and I realize that the introduction is generally this way, I felt that little was done in an effort to keep the reader engaged.
Date published: 2017-06-25
Rated 4 out of
5
by
1234 from
great
read the book as a child and I still read it on occasions as an adult. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from reading and really enjoyed the characters
Date published: 2017-06-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Emily_D from
A Canadian Classic
This is a classic of CanLit. A really inspiring story that makes you change the way you think about the world. #plumreview
Date published: 2017-06-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Sarah from
A good read.
The book is a great mix of drama, wacky fun, and mesmerizing imagery. I really enjoyed the book and plan on re-reading it some time in the future.
Date published: 2017-06-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jodi from
5 Stars
I have read multiple times, and will read again. Great story.
Date published: 2017-06-21
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Jess from
Tedious
I had to do an English assignment with this book and it was just too long for the semester. I'm sure if I read it on my own I would've liked it more.
Date published: 2017-06-20
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Shawna from
Inspiring
A lovely book that makes you question what you truly believe.
Date published: 2017-06-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Scott from
incredible
pi's journey is worth going laong for the ride. dont miss out on it
Date published: 2017-06-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Scott from
dont miss
this is a classic of canadian literature and you have to read it. its brilliant and clever
Date published: 2017-06-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Scott from
wow
one not to miss. the story of pi and his tiger stuck in a boat is brilliant.
Date published: 2017-06-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Scott from
wonderful
a beautiful fanciful story with a dark twist.
Date published: 2017-06-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jessica from
Fabulous!
Such a great, unique story. Riveting. Highly recommend
Date published: 2017-06-17
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Amanda from
I couldn't finish it
I tried three times to finish this book, have yet been able to. Will try again
Date published: 2017-06-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kiaa from
awesome
Awesome piece of literature
Date published: 2017-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kiaa from
loved it
Awesome piece of literature
Date published: 2017-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kiaa from
Loved it
Awesome piece of literature
Date published: 2017-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kiaa from
Loved it
Awesome piece of literature
Date published: 2017-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Ainsley from
Loved it
Such a great adventure to read during summer
Date published: 2017-06-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
John from
Life of Pi
The best book I have ever read
Date published: 2017-06-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Booster from
Awesome!
Had to read it for school, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Date published: 2017-06-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tamara from
Really good
This was a really good read. Highly recommend
Date published: 2017-05-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Lapache from
classic
this is a modern classic !
Date published: 2017-05-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Chantelle from
Unique
This was a very well written and interesting book. I haven't read anything else like it. It was an incredible story but I wouldn't read it again. Despite being so well written I found I just didn't enjoy a lot of the content.
Date published: 2017-05-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MickeyE from
Creative and Stimulating!
It's a very imaginative and well-woven story that I personally found interesting enough to help transition my reading taste from Percy Jackson (not that there's anything wrong with that series) to more mature and analytical pieces of literature (although this transition was mediated by our English teacher XD) It's a great book to have at a book club for variety in discussion and interpretation, due to the story's own ambiguous essence.
Date published: 2017-05-27
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Owl1935 from
Too graphic for me.
I started out loving this book from page one about India and the zoo etc. Also the main character searching out different religions...Loved all that but once it was about animals/ppl on the boat and pages and pages of violence, I couldn't handle it. Read it for bookclub, but I truly didn't like this book at all.
Date published: 2017-05-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tracy from
LOVE THIS BOOK
Really good book. If you're down for an adventure and the sturggles of fantasy and humanity, great read.
Date published: 2017-05-26
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Sabiha_Kamani from
Loved it!!
Such a great story! I gave it to my mom after, who isn't much into reading, and she also loved it!
Date published: 2017-05-26
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Mink from
Not a favorite of mine
I really did not like this book. I did not find the characters to be agreeable or believable, and I really had trouble finishing it. Not to my taste.#plumrewards
Date published: 2017-05-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Antonello from
Enjoyed it
Such an entertaining story to read
Date published: 2017-05-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
AvidReader from
Great
A wonderful story and very entertaining and emotional
Date published: 2017-05-22
Rated 4 out of
5
by
MonSter from
Enjoyable
This book is far outside my comfort zone, but I've enjoyed reading it. It's vivid and colourful, and at times fantastic.
Date published: 2017-05-18
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Lapache from
touching
great storytelling ! highly recommended
Date published: 2017-05-18
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Paige_Blakley from
A Delight
It's a great book, I don't think I'll go back to it but I'd easily reccommend it to anyone. #plumreview
Date published: 2017-05-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Karolina from
Love this book
Had to read this book as part of my school curriculum in grade 12 and remember it was hard to get into, but I ended up loving it at the end. Love the character development and the whole story of it, you really start to root for the main character and he almost becomes like your friend. Read it again as an adult and still love it. Even met Yann Martel once and he was an interesting man to speak to.
Date published: 2017-05-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Braedyn from
One Of Those Books That Should Be a Classic
This was so well written, you would think it would be boring with a male stranded on a raft with a tiger - but no! Anything but! I could not put it down.
Date published: 2017-05-16
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Mary from
Good read
It's hard to put down, a beautiful adventure. I liked it better than the movie.
Date published: 2017-05-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Afsheen from
Journey to Endless Possibilities
Life of Pi is about believing that anything is possible. Even when all seems lost, there is so much left. It's this giant paradox that reminds me of Violet Baudelaire's phrase "there's always something" from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's wonderful book to get us through even the most impossible moments in our lives.
Date published: 2017-05-09
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Marie from
Okay book
The story was okay, but not my favorite kind of book. Have read a lot better.
Date published: 2017-05-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Emreader from
Loved it!
I thought this was a great book to read. I loved the flow of the storytelling and all of the symbolism and extra insight that could be read
Date published: 2017-05-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Emily from
Beautifully written
This story was beautifully written and the story came together in such a heartbreaking and touching way. I would highly recommend.
Date published: 2017-04-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Rachel from
Love it
everyone needs to read this novel
Date published: 2017-04-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Nikki from
Enjoyable Read
This book has an interesting premise and is easy to read/follow. It's a good book to sit down and relax with.
Date published: 2017-04-12
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Madison from
Grrrrrrrrrrrreat!... Too much? ;-)
Another book I had to read for high school English class and really enjoyed.
Date published: 2017-04-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
claire from
Great
The book was great but the end was the best part.
Date published: 2017-04-06
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Sydney from
Great story!
A fantastic story with a great ending. A very different and exciting book.
Date published: 2017-04-05
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Barry from
A Different Kind of Story
If you like animals and want a different kind of adventure story to read than this is the book for you.
Date published: 2017-04-04
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Nicole from
good book
A little dry at the beginning but overall very good
Date published: 2017-03-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Molly from
I loved this!
A thought provoking, well written, and adventurous book. I didn't love the ending of the story, but most of the book was fantastic. It sits with me still, and I'm very happy I read it.
Date published: 2017-03-09
Rated 2 out of
5
by
DanA from
People loved this?!
I had such high hopes for this book, given all the hype. Not impressed. Martel obviously fancies himself more of philosopher than he actually is. Yet another novel that appears to be little more than an exercise in self-indulgence.
Date published: 2017-03-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kate from
So well written
I read this in high school and loved it! Highly recommend.
Date published: 2017-03-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Alex from
Mind-boggling
Read this over two years ago and still remains fresh in my mind. The movie helps in visualizing.
Date published: 2017-02-25
Rated 3 out of
5
by
PHOW from
okay
not really my kind of book by it was a nice read.
Date published: 2017-02-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Heats from
Amazing
Once I started reading .... I could stop. Great Read!!
Date published: 2017-02-14
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Angie from
Unique
One of the most unusual and unpredictable stories I've ever read!
Date published: 2017-02-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Martha from
Amazing!
In this story that also includes some wonderful humour, there are many pearls of wisdom buried throughout, but the one that stands out the most is the constant, uplifting reminder that you can still find beauty, spirituality and hope in a world that is often plagued by cruelty and ugliness by man’s infinite inhumanity to man. Life of Pi rewards the reader in many ways, and how much you like it will almost certainly depend on how much tolerance you have for philosophical and religious questions, and whether you enjoy a little soul-searching.
I devoured this original, beautiful book, and I expect it will stay with me for a long time.
Date published: 2017-02-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
KathyB from
One of my all-time favourites!
I've read this book a couple times, and I absolutely love it.
Date published: 2017-02-09
Rated 4 out of
5
by
vanessap from
Stunning
Great book that really gets you thinking. Filled with adventure.
Date published: 2017-02-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Shelby from
My Favourite
I had to read this in high school, and it's been one of my favourite books since then. A wonderful, captivating story that makes you think about life.
Date published: 2017-02-03
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Vbot from
Okay read
I thought it was well written but not really my kind of book. #plumreview
Date published: 2017-02-02
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Saudia from
not the greatest
Not the greatest read...I found it incredibly slow to get through
Date published: 2017-02-02
Rated 4 out of
5
by
SJR_ from
Good Book!
Good book. Well written. Hands down better than the movie.... and I enjoyed the movie! Read the book first!
Date published: 2017-01-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JayS from
Exploration of Culture & Religion
For those of you who enjoyed the film, read the book. Although the base story is enchanting and beautiful, the book offers subtle but inspiring ideas and views on culture and religion that can only be found be re-reading the pages. #plumreviews
Date published: 2017-01-29
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Brianne from
I Couldn't Finish It
It was just dull. If it weren't for a reading assignment for school, I'd have never picked up this book.
Date published: 2017-01-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
bookgal14 from
Diverse, Rich and Memorable
Time for a letter to one of the books that changed my life forever, guys! I only tend to write "letters" to books that have affected me as a person and as a whole. Yann Martel's Life of Pi is one of those books. I can see why the world went crazy.
Dear My One and Only Special Book,
I expected much worse from you. When I began reading Young Adult Fiction, I was introduced to you and your movie (which was fabulous as well), but I had doubts. A book about a boy and a tiger, both stranded on a float-boat-thing in the middle of the Pacific where there are fantasy aspects? That didn't seem like quite my cup of tea. And then, tenth grade rolled around and my friends, who had English first semester, couldn't stop raving about you. I began to anticipate your arrival into my heart more and more. (That also couldn't sound even more cheesier). They kept telling me about how there is a big shocker at the end of you and how our teacher explained it amazingly. I COULDN'T WAIT.
I read you almost in a night, in a sitting. I finished you before the rest of my class did, and I couldn't stop squealing with my best friend about the ending and everything. I would like to share your plot with the rest of Goodreads and the blogging community, if you don't mind.
"Richard Parker has stayed with me. I've never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. Such is the strangeness of the human heart. I still cannot understand how he could abandon me so unceremoniously, without any sort of goodbye, without looking back even once. That pain is like an axe that chops at my heart."
People. Life of Pi is just absolutely beautiful, remarkable and it changed my life. It carries such a powerful message of hope and realism, stuck in a story that focuses on animals and how we humans act like them constantly. We've seen this animalistic comparison in other classics (because I would certainly call this gorgeous thing a classic, but not in an old, rusty kind of way) like William Golding's Lord of the Flies, but this was just completely different and intriguing. Honestly, I prefer books that present a specific concept in a more modern setting that is relatable for me. I rather have an instant connection with a character than a wicked setting. Pi Patel is our amazing hero, who definitely represents the characteristics of a hero well. He is living a normal-ish life, living in Pondicherry, India, where his father owns the Pondicherry Zoo. Pi has always had this connection with animals, and he is immediately torn apart when his father announces that their family is moving to Canada.
This is where the craziness occurs. The family heads onto a ship, which sinks, and Pi is the sole survivor. He spends days at sea, with three animals: a monkey, a hyena, and Richard Parker, a tiger who Pi has an amazing relationship with as the book progresses. Agh, how I wish I could endure the same feelings as I did while reading.
I did not read this book because I was required to at school. I know many people personally who actually did not even finish this book because we discussed it (at little too much) at school. YOU'RE NUTS. If you are thinking of putting this one aside and not reading it, then I'm not talking to you, my friend.
Life of Pi is mesmerizing, I honestly felt like it was a dream after I finished it. What's amazing is that we have one sole protagonist, and we never get tired of him. Yann Martel also plays with the format of the book he's writing, occasionally telling the story from his own author perspective, and moving on to Pi's perspective. It's like a diary, though there is also more to it. Martel also experiments with splitting the book into three parts, one being a retelling of Pi's past and future, while the other two being the "Better Story" and the other as "Dry Yeastless Factuality." You will understand that better while reading the book. One story is more imaginative than the other, though the ending of this story seriously gives readers a good finish, a satisfying finish where we will not be asking any more questions. Everything will be answered for us, and somehow, we will be believing in God more than ever. Or at least, I found myself in that position.
"Life will defend itself no matter how small it is. Every animal is ferocious and dangerous. It may not kill you, but it will certainly injure you. It will scratch you and bite you, and you can look forward to a swollen, pus-filled infection, a high fever and a ten-day stay in the hospital."
Yann Martel's use of imagery in inexplainable. It's impossible for me to describe how he does it. Every word, every sentence, every paragraph, we find ourselves seeing that there is a background story to it all, and that Martel utilizes specific words for specific reasons, to show something. My English teacher occasionally over-analyzed things which got me a little frustrated (specifically sentences that reference colours and whatnot) but I must admit that this is the book that has the most depth in it.
YOU HAVE TO WATCH THE MOVIE TOO. A big applause to the directors, producers, screenwriters, media workers and actors for doing a stellar job on making this gorgeous story come to life. I honestly didn't have any complaints, except for the obvious taking-away of specific details from the plot. You cannot even guess how the imagery looks in the movie. It's exactly how I pictured it, funny when looking at the fact that most films that are based on films are horrible. (*cough* Divergent *cough*)
I adore you, Life of Pi. I have so many friends that adore you too, and I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND YOU TO THE WHOLE WORLD. Everyone, grab a copy of this and the movie, and spend a few days (or binge it all into one) and enjoy. Thank you, Yann Martel and the publisher.
Date published: 2017-01-24
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Kate from
Good book
Definitely interesting and captures your attention but not my favourite.
Date published: 2017-01-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Meagan from
A book you need to read twice
This book is quite spectacular. A great read. I highly recommend you read it and then when you've finished, you'll want/need to read it again. You'll have a different perspective the second time around. Honestly I think everyone should read it at once. The imagery is quite outstanding.
Date published: 2017-01-24
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Anon from
Interesting
It reminds me of a very real event that occurred on a boat..
Date published: 2017-01-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Chantelle from
Good
This was a very well written and interesting book. Completely different from anything else I've read.
Date published: 2017-01-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Naaz from
Amazing
One of the most brilliant works of literature of modern times.
Date published: 2017-01-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Stephanie from
I loved this book!
To be truthful, I'm not a huge reader but found this book caught my attention for the entire duration. It was a unique story with great adventure and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.
Date published: 2017-01-18
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Alana from
Worth The Read
I would bring this book to work and would read it on 15 minute breaks. Most of the time I didn't want to put it down at the end of the break. It is a great read!
Date published: 2017-01-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Steph from
EPIC
Martel is an amazing story weaver. He tells a breath taking tale that captures every bit of your imagination. Only to blow your mind making you want to re-read this story instantly after to see what you've been missing the whole time the first time through. I cannot recommend this book enough and it deserves all the awards and accolades and more which it receives.
Date published: 2017-01-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Jordyn from
Inspiring!
This book had a slow start but I recommend to push through it, the book becomes so intriguing. Absolutely amazing!
Date published: 2017-01-14
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Natasha from
Glad I Read This
It took me ten years to finally read this book because for some reason I thought it was a fantasy book and never really looked further into it. My mistake! I'm so glad I've finally read this. I found the beginning of the story to be a little slow, but stick with it - the scenes when Pi is trapped on the lifeboat are amazing. At the beginning of the book, the narrator says that the story he's about to tell will change the way you think. I was skeptical about what that might mean, but by the time I'd finished the book (and for a while after), the story was in my thoughts (without giving anything away). Read this is you want a good story that will make you do some thinking.
Date published: 2017-01-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Missy from
Action-packed
The reader is immersed into an adventure of survival with the protagonist with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting.
Date published: 2017-01-13
Rated 4 out of
5
by
TLM80 from
Great book!
I rally enjoyed this book! Slow to start, but then I couldn't put it down!
Date published: 2017-01-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Amanda from
Life Changing.
Though I found this book had a very slow start, after the first few chapters I was fully immersed in the story. It was a life changing read, and so very moving. I recommend this book to everyone.
Date published: 2017-01-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
CShev from
Wonderful
I surprised myself by loving this book! It contains discussion on religion, meaning (as in how we understand the world), and truth. The majority of this book goes into great detail about how the main character survives while being lost at sea, yet Martel somehow kept my attention the entire time and I was greatly moved by the ending. A worthwhile read!
Date published: 2017-01-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jessica from
Beautiful read
This book takes you on a journey - it's written beautifully and I love the adventure Patel goes on. You are constantly questioning the reality of it, and rooting for this young boy to survive. Really enjoyed it.
Date published: 2017-01-06
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Alli from
It was okay
This was fascinating to read, but it starts out kind of boring. It isn't until he gets on the boat that it gets more interesting.
Date published: 2017-01-04
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Alli from
Good book, but not for me
This was fascinating to read, but it starts out kind of boring. It isn't until he gets on the boat that it gets more interesting.
Date published: 2017-01-04
Rated 3 out of
5
by
QuietDay from
Be patient, it gets better!
This may try your patience until he is on the boat. The story from there gets more interesting and has a lot to teach the reader. Martel is a strong writer and your time with the protagonist and Richard Parker will give you a lot to think about.
Date published: 2017-01-03
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Booster from
Awesome
Had to read it in class. Great book to analyze and enjoyable to read.
Date published: 2017-01-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Randy from
Became an instant classic and rightly so
A must read in modern times and I'm sure it will stand the test of time. Re-readable, though provoking and wonderful.
Date published: 2017-01-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Melanie from
Great novel
Beautiful, well-written, captivating. If you like descriptive writing and plot twists with a hint of magic, you will love this book.
Date published: 2016-12-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Marie from
Favourite Book
One of my favourite books to date. I have read it numerous times again since highschool. A must-read for highschool students and adults!
Date published: 2016-12-29
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Amanda from
Okay
I had to read this book in high school but probably will never read it again. It was a long read and dragged on at points. Overall the story was quite interesting and thought-provoking
Date published: 2016-12-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Vanessa from
amazing
a great book. loved it more then I thought I would
Date published: 2016-12-28
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Tiffanie from
Loved this novel!
Even though, I haven't met a novel I haven't loved, this one surprised me. I heard tons of people complaining about the book, but I loved it. I had to read it for class but I could NOT put it down. Martel is an amazing story writer.
Date published: 2016-12-28
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Delia from
Not great
Very boing and hard to get into #plumreview
Date published: 2016-12-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Biggercounty from
Gets better with age
I read this as a teen and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't until I picked it up again in my late twenties that I really became enthralled. I felt as though I was on the boat, living every moment with the protagonist. If you've read it before, read it again. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?
Date published: 2016-12-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Susie from
Loved it!
The ending completely blew my mind.
Date published: 2016-12-27
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Cyrus from
Good. Great, even.
The bane of high school english teachers everywhere. For a reason, for sure. But for good reason? Certainly.
Date published: 2016-12-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
bookgal14 from
Enjoy!
I adore you, Life of Pi. I have so many friends that adore you too, and I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND YOU TO THE WHOLE WORLD. Everyone, grab a copy of this and the movie, and spend a few days (or binge it all into one) and enjoy. Thank you, Yann Martel and the publisher.
Date published: 2016-12-22
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Princess from
Life of Pi
Little long winded in places, but still a delightful read.
Date published: 2016-12-19
Rated 4 out of
5
by
rebecca from
life of pi
incredible story, takes a while to figure out, enjoyed more the second time i read it.
Date published: 2016-12-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Susan from
LOVED LOVED LOVED IT
I loved this bbok. All its quirks and fantastic creatures. I remember to this day where I was when I realized who/what Richard Parker was. One of the best moments in a book ever! And the ending was superb.
Date published: 2016-12-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Stephanie from
Enthralling
A very captivating and through provoking novel. I did have a bit of an issue with the ambiguous ending, but definitely worth a read.
Date published: 2016-12-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MDinh from
One of my favourites
This is officially one of my favourite books without a doubt. It's worth reading if you like learning about new cultures told in an interesting perspective that can be both touching and funny and truly emotional.
Date published: 2016-12-08
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Elliot from
Pretty Good
I had no idea what this book was about going into it and I really enjoyed it. It has a pretty good message at the end but I can see how some people might get frustrated by the ending.
Date published: 2016-12-08
Rated 3 out of
5
by
daniellemckay25 from
I want to love this book
I love the story however the actual writing just isn't for me, I found it incredibly hard to get through #PlumReview
Date published: 2016-12-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Twinkle from
LOVED IT!!!
This book was something different, really liked it!!
Date published: 2016-12-07
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Kaylee from
I did not like it.
I heard good things about it but was not impressed.
Date published: 2016-12-06
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Magic from
Life of Pi
I heard plenty of good reviews about this book and finally got around to reading it after some time. I didn't enjoy it in the slightest.
Date published: 2016-12-06
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Linda from
Loved!
Story is deep, complex and thought-provoking.
Date published: 2016-12-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
TheLastWord from
My All-Time Favourite Book
If I had to chose my favourite book ever, Life of Pi would be it (and I've read a lot of books...). I read it when it was first released, and have read it several times since - I always take away something different from this magical novel with each read even though I'm so familiar with the story. I think the ending of this book is one of the things that makes it truly incredible and would certainly recommend it as a must-read to everyone!
Date published: 2016-11-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Stephanie from
Awesome
My friend really liked this book and recommended it to me, so I bought it. I read it at first couple of years ago, but couldn't finish it. However when I decided to retry reading this book, I really enjoyed it. I'm glad I tried to finish it. The beginning was slow for me, but afterwards the book get better.
Date published: 2016-11-30