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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Book review - Life of Pi by Yann Martell





I get books very late so that all my reviews are mainly of books which have been around for quite sometime. This is just my own circumstances of how I get books and it cannot be helped. I am only grateful that I get books at all.

The book is a story of a young Indian boy called Pi (short for Piscine) from Pondicherry. The first half of the book deals with Pi's life in Pondicherry in the unusual circumstance of living in a zoo - along with his own family. The book very early on also reveals an unusual characteristic of Pi - his yearning to be a Christian, a Hindu and a Muslim at the same time and somehow succeeding in this despite coming from a secular family where his parents just do not know how to deal with religious fervor! Fortunately they just let it ride, hoping it will go away (it doesnt!).

The second half of the book deals with the incredible journey of Pi. Th family decides to migrate to Canada along with an entourage of animals which they hope to exchange in Canadian and American zoos for a great deal of money. How the ship sinks leaving Pi with Richard Parker a Bengal Tiger, how the two survive the wretched, hazardous journey and how fantastically they land in Mexico is a tale that one has to pinch oneself that one is still reading the book!!!!!

Fantastic though the story is, it is riveting and I loved the book. The bottom line you do come to believe in God.

8 comments:

  1. well written Mystica. although I had read the book over a year ago I liked yr take - interesting

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  2. This was one book I didn't expect to like (I don't read many books about animals or fables) but it surprised me and I loved it. Especially Pondicherry's history which I didn't know much about. It was gripping.

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  3. The number of books you recommend! You read a lot! (I read a few lines every night... , sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on how sleepy I am, but I hardly manage a book a day.)

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  4. Thanks for the comments. I am now an empty nester and though I do work its not a job with much pressure at all!!! I love reading comments and welcome the fact that someone out there is taking the trouble to read whatever I write.

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  5. I read martel's Beatrice and Virgil and I hated it. I now see that I picked up the wrong book. Will give this one a try. Thanks for the review.

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  6. I really enjoyed this one. It's been a while since I've read it, but it's one I might re-read.

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  7. This is on my shelf to read in the next few weeks. Hope I like it as much a you did!

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  8. You have a really nice review =) did you know that it will be in 3D adventure film? Something to look forward to either ways. Here's my review by the way: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/life-of-pi-by-yann-martel.html

    Have a nice day! :)

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