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mil_nir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ravina_b's review against another edition
2.0
Being such a popular and famous book, I was deeply disappointed by how much I disliked LIFE OF PI. In a nutshell, I found the whole thing to be tedious, inauthentic, and boring in parts. A book about a boy on a lifeboat with a tiger really shouldn’t be boring. There isn’t really much action until a third of the way through the book and I felt that those first 100 pages were filler, it could have done without them. It took me days to get through them, which is very unlike me. I hoped for better once I got to Pi’s journey through the sea but I was still struggling with it around 75% of the way in and it got to the point where I was reading for the sake of reading rather than actually enjoying it. In terms of it being inauthentic, I can’t say the reason for this as I haven’t read any of Martel’s other work. I don’t know if I just don’t like his voice, or if I felt affronted by the fact that he is a white Canadian writing about a Tamil boy. Maybe I’m just too sensitive but it didn’t sit right with me and I thought the pretence of Pi being a real person was weird in that particular context.
Some of the other things I had issues with:
• Pi’s full name is “Piscine” - i.e. French for “swimming pool” - and his brother is called Ravi. The reason for his name might have been covered (I vaguely remember an uncle teaching him how to swim) but I don’t remember, and I feel like something as random as that needs a good explanation.
• It tries too hard to be deep in parts. There’s the surface level boy-and-tiger story, then there’s the deeper level to it all which I won’t spoil. But there was a whole “who else could tell this story in 100 chapters” thing which had a (in my perspective) silly explanation of why it was important, and for me made an okay story into a subpar story. On a related note, I did wonder if the name “Piscine” and all the talk of swimming was an attempt to connect to the main stranded-at-sea story - which again was trying too hard and didn’t explain his parents’ decision to call him Piscine.
• I get that it’s a religious book and there was the “this story will make you believe in God” tagline, but I thought the disparaging narrative about atheists (they believe in God when they’re desperate on their deathbed) and agnostics (they’re so confused, the poor dears) was unnecessary. The commentary on the other religions did make me a bit uncomfortable but I’m not Christian, Hindu, or Muslim so it’s not really my place to make that call.
I don’t know, maybe I’m too dense for this book but it just wasn’t for me.
Some of the other things I had issues with:
• Pi’s full name is “Piscine” - i.e. French for “swimming pool” - and his brother is called Ravi. The reason for his name might have been covered (I vaguely remember an uncle teaching him how to swim) but I don’t remember, and I feel like something as random as that needs a good explanation.
• It tries too hard to be deep in parts. There’s the surface level boy-and-tiger story, then there’s the deeper level to it all which I won’t spoil. But there was a whole “who else could tell this story in 100 chapters” thing which had a (in my perspective) silly explanation of why it was important, and for me made an okay story into a subpar story. On a related note, I did wonder if the name “Piscine” and all the talk of swimming was an attempt to connect to the main stranded-at-sea story - which again was trying too hard and didn’t explain his parents’ decision to call him Piscine.
• I get that it’s a religious book and there was the “this story will make you believe in God” tagline, but I thought the disparaging narrative about atheists (they believe in God when they’re desperate on their deathbed) and agnostics (they’re so confused, the poor dears) was unnecessary. The commentary on the other religions did make me a bit uncomfortable but I’m not Christian, Hindu, or Muslim so it’s not really my place to make that call.
I don’t know, maybe I’m too dense for this book but it just wasn’t for me.
potatoes90's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
christinamartin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Excrement and Cannibalism
lostinfrance's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book outside on the "cheap" shelves at Strand...and decided it was fate. So many people have read this book...talked about this book...and so many times did I find it on a table at a bookstore while I looked for inspiration. I should have stuck to my first opinion. I hate books with animals as main characters. The idea was definitely different...but how much can happen between a boy and a tiger. Seemed almost like Castaway...
So, I grabbed the book, and it sat on my shelf. And then Sandy was coming and I thought...perfect book for this weather. It was hard to get into, but I forged through...and it was definitely not a page turner...and I could have cared less for the character until about page 215...then I wanted to find out where the boy ends up...but until then I only kept reading because so many people loved it...and I wanted to find the interest. I didn't.
The last 100 pages were good. The descriptions of the deaths of the different animals (through out the book) were a bit ghastly and stomach turning...If he had just summarized, I would have liked the book more.
Read the book if you like reading about survival...or people and their relationships with animals. BUT don't expect the tiger to start talking to the boy.
So, I grabbed the book, and it sat on my shelf. And then Sandy was coming and I thought...perfect book for this weather. It was hard to get into, but I forged through...and it was definitely not a page turner...and I could have cared less for the character until about page 215...then I wanted to find out where the boy ends up...but until then I only kept reading because so many people loved it...and I wanted to find the interest. I didn't.
The last 100 pages were good. The descriptions of the deaths of the different animals (through out the book) were a bit ghastly and stomach turning...If he had just summarized, I would have liked the book more.
Read the book if you like reading about survival...or people and their relationships with animals. BUT don't expect the tiger to start talking to the boy.
mattyd2468's review against another edition
5.0
This was so good. The entire thing was brilliant. The way it was written with so much description. The actual story was great and I loved the characters! Then the ending just had me asking a million questions!!! I would definitely reccomend
rhiannav's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
supernovaz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love philosophical fiction so this was great. I did not enjoy the more survival parts of this book, found that to be boring/slow. It made me think
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
tofilmfiles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cjk424's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I could smell the spices, feel Richard Parker's warm striped fur, and see the vibrant colors. The ending "shocked" me and I absolutely loved Pi's funny anecdotes and musings about religion, whales, and his family.