pharmdad2007's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting short works by a fascinating and complex author. The title story especially creates an entire world and rewrites history.
damc's review against another edition
5.0
enigmatic to the nth degree. beautifully crafted prose. thought provoking in the extreme.
forkdogforkfruit's review against another edition
4.0
Read as an audio book. This is a great example of how an audiobook should work. First person narrator for the reading work so well and the emotion involved really cuts deep.
hongjoongie's review
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kriziaannacastro's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
karasmichelle's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to the audiobook version of Yann Martel's novel "Life of Pi" last summer on a 5-hour road trip to one of my favorite places to golf and swim in PA, Treasure Lake.
The story started off slow but picked up momentum as the story focused on a boy who is trapped on a small boat adrift at sea with a big tiger for many months. (Tough for that scenario not to be interesting.) Both survive, and without a doubt Martel's power of imagination is revealed through twists and unexpected turns of the suspenseful tale.
"The Facts Behind the HELSINKI ROCCAMATIOS" (1993, Harcourt Inc, 209 pp., $13 - paperback) is a collection of three stories and a novella that pre-date his Pi adventure. Curious to see what Martel would do with the short-fiction genre, I picked it up at my fave used bookstore (Gently Used Books of Douglassville).
For more of my review of "The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccomatios," visit my blog at:
http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/pottstown/balancingthebooks/2010/02/stories-yann-martel-wrote-before-life.html
The story started off slow but picked up momentum as the story focused on a boy who is trapped on a small boat adrift at sea with a big tiger for many months. (Tough for that scenario not to be interesting.) Both survive, and without a doubt Martel's power of imagination is revealed through twists and unexpected turns of the suspenseful tale.
"The Facts Behind the HELSINKI ROCCAMATIOS" (1993, Harcourt Inc, 209 pp., $13 - paperback) is a collection of three stories and a novella that pre-date his Pi adventure. Curious to see what Martel would do with the short-fiction genre, I picked it up at my fave used bookstore (Gently Used Books of Douglassville).
For more of my review of "The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccomatios," visit my blog at:
http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/pottstown/balancingthebooks/2010/02/stories-yann-martel-wrote-before-life.html
modknight's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like it nearly as much as I loved Life of Pi.
kristy_gardner's review against another edition
4.0
a collection of short stories that are littered with violent spectacles of humanity. what does that even mean? haha - it was enjoyable and slightly disturbing.
shirohige's review against another edition
2.0
Es cuático como se arma este relato, como se va construyendo el paralelismo entre la historia del amigo del narrador, quién está enfermo de SIDA , y la historia que van armando entre ambos.
La historia de la familia Roccamatio es un constructo que usa el escritor para poder desviar u aliviar el pesar del enfermo. Nunca sabremos de que trata. Solo poseemos información periférica de ella. Parte a inicios del siglo pasado y terminará abruptamente el 2001. Estos trazos satelitales se conforman principalmente de hechos importantes ocurridos en la historia universal (y literaria) y como de alguna manera permea en el estado de animo-e interacción- de los dos personajes .
Lo principal -sin embargo- es como el enfermo lentamente va siendo consumido y , como el hecho en si, también menoscaba el espíritu de los que lo rodean. Siendo crudo y durísimo alejándose del tono de [b:Vida de Pi|1651327|Vida de Pi|Yann Martel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348856686s/1651327.jpg|1392700].
La historia de la familia Roccamatio es un constructo que usa el escritor para poder desviar u aliviar el pesar del enfermo. Nunca sabremos de que trata. Solo poseemos información periférica de ella. Parte a inicios del siglo pasado y terminará abruptamente el 2001. Estos trazos satelitales se conforman principalmente de hechos importantes ocurridos en la historia universal (y literaria) y como de alguna manera permea en el estado de animo-e interacción- de los dos personajes .
Lo principal -sin embargo- es como el enfermo lentamente va siendo consumido y , como el hecho en si, también menoscaba el espíritu de los que lo rodean. Siendo crudo y durísimo alejándose del tono de [b:Vida de Pi|1651327|Vida de Pi|Yann Martel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348856686s/1651327.jpg|1392700].
sgunther's review against another edition
5.0
As a huge fan of Yann Martel, I was inclined to like these stories. However, when I first read them, I felt nothing more of a response than "huh." Of course the writing was pristine, but the stories? Huh. That's all. But, I am pleased to say, this is another book that has grown on me very much.
"The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios"
"Facts" is about a young straight man with AIDS and his friend, and the ways in which the two attempt to occupy themselves during the extended hospital stay at the end of his life. Touching, creative, and thoughtful.
"The Time I Heard the Private Donald J. Rankin String Concerto with One Discordant Violin, by the American Composer John Morton"
Possibly my favorite story of the set. It is hard to explain why I like these stories so much now, and you can probably tell I'm not trying to hard, but just know that I love them. This one especially gets me right here [pats heart], particularly the last few lines. And the part about the semicolons makes my inner writer just sing.
"Manners of Dying"
This is clearly the weakest link of the quartet, and you would not miss much if you skipped it. Still, it is an interesting concept, and worth looking at--if only to make yourself think a little.
"The Vita Aeterna Mirror Company: Mirrors to Last till Kingdom Come"
A good little slice of humility. Oh, a good one. This story reminds you to appreciate your life, your people, your past. And so, so well-executed.
"The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios"
"Facts" is about a young straight man with AIDS and his friend, and the ways in which the two attempt to occupy themselves during the extended hospital stay at the end of his life. Touching, creative, and thoughtful.
"The Time I Heard the Private Donald J. Rankin String Concerto with One Discordant Violin, by the American Composer John Morton"
Possibly my favorite story of the set. It is hard to explain why I like these stories so much now, and you can probably tell I'm not trying to hard, but just know that I love them. This one especially gets me right here [pats heart], particularly the last few lines. And the part about the semicolons makes my inner writer just sing.
"Manners of Dying"
This is clearly the weakest link of the quartet, and you would not miss much if you skipped it. Still, it is an interesting concept, and worth looking at--if only to make yourself think a little.
"The Vita Aeterna Mirror Company: Mirrors to Last till Kingdom Come"
A good little slice of humility. Oh, a good one. This story reminds you to appreciate your life, your people, your past. And so, so well-executed.