Life of Pi: A Novel

Yann Martel

Jan 2001 · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

About this ebook

Winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional-but is it more true? Life of Pi is at once a realistic, rousing adventure and a meta-tale of survival that explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character puts it, to make you believe in God. Publisher Fact Sheet. A fabulist novel that combines the delight of Kipling's Just So Stories with the metaphysical adventure of Jonah and the Whale

Ratings and reviews

The imaginary justice is by far well suited for a Baptist Catholic's artistry point of 1 fingure, however, the 3 under the index point back to their initial elements. Somehow, such imagination relates to sights just as the elevator opens an she notices the dark long hair beautiful man, formerly known as Hayseus, His expression to her explains that she no longer has to expose herself to her home terroristic assassin. Sadly she never imagined her molded seeds would still be accompanied by such art.

I was disappointed to find that this was not a true story. It is well written to make you believe that it is, even as far-fetched as the premise is. The ending may make you think otherwise, but overall a good read. I disliked reading about the butchering of animals and people, though I suppose they must be there to help you identify with the moral and intellectual suffering that are associated with being a castaway and fighting for your life. Many good quotes, but no moral benefit from reading.

I wouldn't even give it one star. What a pathetic individual. Her father supposedly abuses her and then she takes money from him so that she can live in NY? I was privileged to get this book from the author herself. Thank goodness I didn't have to pay for it.

About the author

Yann Martel was born in Salamanca, Spain on June 25, 1963. After studying philosophy at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, he worked at odd jobs and travelled widely before turning to writing. His works include Seven Stories, What Is Stephen Harper Reading?, and Beatrice and Virgil. He was awarded the Journey Prize for the title story in The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios. His second novel, Life of Pi, won numerous awards including the 2002 Man Booker. He continued to make the bestseller list in 2018 with his title, The High Mountains of Portugal.