Life of Pi
by Yann Martel
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Book Reviews of Life of Pi
Book Review: Life of Pi AKA one of the best books ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
By Alex Schnepf
Life of Pi is well worth the money it costs to purchase this book. This book has amazing descriptions of gruesome yet mind-numbing animal fights and also it uses great descriptors when talking about Pi's emotional feelings, physical and inner conflicts.
This riveting adventure for this young, Indian, vegetarian boy, Pi, is told in first person. For the most part in this story, Pi is drifting out on the Pacific Ocean with a couple of visitors aboard his vessel (a good size life boat). Those visitors are a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a bloodthirsty Bengal tiger.
Another thing that brought this book to life were the impeccable illustrations done by Tomaslav Torjanac. They added a great graphic picture to already amazing descriptions by Yann Martel.
All in all, I thought this book was very well written with outstanding descriptions and a real perspective on moral values and life.
Book Review: An allegory within and allegory
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really classic book.
This is an allegory within an allegory and therefore is a doubly deceptive book. If you try to read reality into it, you have missed the point. Remember this is a novel; it is not real life and and I do not refer only to the seeming confusion on the end.
This is the story of the difficulties of a young man forsaking one culture to live in another, when he is given no choice. Think of this boy moving from India to Canada and the difficulties that he faces particularly the pull of India that, if he does not conquer, will destroy him: the 450 pound tiger he has to control. Think of the alien character of the sea: Canada is as alien as the sea.
This is a truly exciting book that I recommend people re-read from the double allegory perspective.
Book Review: Great short story w/ 300 unnecessary pages
Summary: 2 Stars
This book came highly recommended, but was for the most part a letdown. The first one-fifth or so of the book was so boring that I put it aside for a year and then picked it up later after I was told that, yeah, the beginning is boring but you have to push through because it's such an amazing book. Most of the rest of the book is relatively more readable, but there was a lot of tedious technical description that I don't really want to spend my time on in fiction. I kept wondering "when is the payoff for all this?" Finally in the last 50 pages you do get to the payoff, and it is okay, but not so great that it redeems the previous 350 pages. In summary, 90% of the book is an overly-elaborate setup for a "punchline" that is somewhat interesting, but by no means mind-blowing.Book Review: the deluxe Life of Pi
Summary: 5 Stars
If you haven't read the Life of Pi you are in for a treat. Originally published in 2002, this is a new illustrated edition and it is simply wonderful.
A teenaged boy is shipwrecked and set adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with some unusual companions; a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a fierce Bengal tiger. They drift together for a long time as this savage and philosophical tale plays out.
The addition of 40 illustrations by Tomaslav Torjanac is an incredible enhancement to the book. His pictures are brilliant and colorful. Some seem almost photographic.
Re-reading the book was an absolute pleasure. I caught things I missed the first time through.
Book Review: Survival of the Fittest
Summary: 5 Stars
I am writing this review before finishing the book as I
will never be as captured by the story as now. The brilliant painting of pictures in the mind of Pi are reflected in the stunning illustrations. Deep struggling
descriptions by Pi captured my intellect and emotions.
I am reached on all levels by the impossible interaction
of Pi with Richard Parker and the elements of sea and sky.
Spiritual, mental and physical connections are amazingly
well portrayed in clear, simple yet poetic style.
It is sure that the events of this remarkable story will remain with me for a long while.