Life of Pi
Just when I thought I was growing out of fiction, Life of Pi crawled its way into my hands. I never thought so far-fetched a story could make for such a realistic read. Yann Martel is a very talented writer. The book is based on an Indian boy from Pondicherry, Pi, short for Piscine Patel, who is migrating to Canada with his family. His father, a zookeeper, has on board their cargo ship a bunch of his zoo animals. When the ship sinks unexpectedly, Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orang utan (called Orange Juice) and a royal Bengal tiger (called Richard Parker, funny story behind the name). The story then follows Pi and his struggle for survival in the middle of the Pacific, amid a mini zoo. Life of Pi is about endurance, solitude, hints of humor and a wild imagination, literally.
A must, must read.
Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.
Ugh! I almost bought this the other day from my local used bookstore. I put it back, though, for Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go. I keep meaning to read Life of Pi but the story just never seems to appeal to me. How much story, I wonder, can there be in a boy stranded on a boat with animals? But, almost everyone has universally good things to say about it so there must be a reason. I wonder if it’s still there. Hummm…
I wondered exactly the same, but trust me, pick up the book as a leap of faith, if that’s what it takes 🙂 It’s addictive from the first few pages. Promise you won’t be able to put it down too often.
I remember reading the book a few years ago and what appealed to me the most, was that it almost has this juvenile touch to it along with the depth and matter of a mature read. Pi surely rekindles the spirit of cavalry in us lesser privileged souls who can only enjoy a well planned, safe, within bounds “adventure”. My favorite character from the book has to be Richard Parker!
Mine was Orange Juice for a little while, and later the Jap guys (kidding). Richard Parker all the way!