Life of Pi Review

From Goodreads:  
Growing up in Pondicherry, India, Piscine Molitor Patel - known as Pi - has a rich life. Bookish by nature, young Pi acquires a broad knowledge of not only the great religious texts but of all literature, and has a great curiosity about how the world works. His family runs the local zoo, and he spends many of his days among goats, hippos, swans, and bears, developing his own theories about the nature of animals and how human nature conforms to it. Pi’s family life is quite happy, even though his brother picks on him and his parents aren’t quite sure how to accept his decision to simultaneously embrace and practise three religions - Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.

But despite the lush and nurturing variety of Pi’s world, there are broad political changes afoot in India, and when Pi is sixteen, his parents decide that the family needs to escape to a better life. Choosing to move to Canada, they close the zoo, pack their belongings, and board a Japanese cargo ship called the Tsimtsum. Travelling with them are many of their animals, bound for zoos in North America. However, they have only just begun their journey when the ship sinks, taking the dreams of the Patel family down with it. Only Pi survives, cast adrift in a lifeboat with the unlikeliest oftravelling companions: a zebra, an orang-utan, a hyena, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Thus begins Pi Patel’s epic, 227-day voyage across the Pacific, and the powerful story of faith and survival at the heart of Life of Pi. Worn and scared, oscillating between hope and despair, Pi is witness to the playing out of the food chain, quite aware of his new position within it. When only the tiger is left of the seafaring menagerie, Pi realizes that his survival depends on his ability to assert his own will, and sets upon a grand and ordered scheme to keep from being Richard Parker’s next meal.


My Review:

First, I must say that I cannot recall a story that has been so beautifully told.  I loved how Martell takes his time weaving Pi's story in 315 pages.  His attention to description and detail are second to none.  I quickly fell in love with Pi, from the silly way he came to be called Pi to his deep and desperate thoughts while adrift in the Pacific.  I could truly feel his grief, his fear, his longing.  Just as strongly, I could feel his faith.  I don't want to give too much away, but the ways in which he manages Richard Parker are nothing short of genius.  It is a wonderful and inspiring tale of both physical and spiritual survival.  

Richard Parker.  What to say about him?  His name was comical, but his ferocity was not.  I found myself looking at his picture on the cover every so often in sheer awe of his size, strength, and beauty.  The story was unbelievable and yet believable.  I loved how Richard Parker, in essence, saved Pi.  It was a poignant example of how our greatest fear can become our greatest triumph.  

Here is one of my favorite parts:  "I wish I had said, 'Richard Parker, it's over. We have survived. Can you believe it? I owe you more gratitude than I can express.  I couldn't have done it without you. I would like to say it formally: Richard Parker, thank you. Thank you for saving my life.'"

I also loved how Pi taught me about religion, zoology and animal training.  I got quite an education that I was not expecting.  I found myself reading parts of the book aloud to Dave, and saying "can you believe that!?!"

To conclude, you would be crazy to not read this book.