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svtephreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I read this for my humanities class in high school and then we watched the movie as a class. I remember loving it because of how we picked apart the book, and also loving the movie because it brought the imagery to life. I re-read it now to see if I would feel the same, and I realized I remembered so much because of how much of an impact this book made on me. I can’t say what it’s like to read it without that connection, but I recommend it to those who like adventure and questioning the meaning and truths behind life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I read this for a book club, and heard a lot of hype when it came out.
The structure of the book is interesting, with it written as if the main character Pi is telling his story to a writer decades after he survived a shipwreck and was on a lifeboat in the Pacific for over 6 months. Pi is likeable and is exploring religions in India as a teen when his family decides to sell the zoo they own and move to Canada.
His story of hardship and survival is harrowing. I won't give away the big twist at the end, although I figured something was going to be revealed well before then.
Overall, it is well done but not the spectacular, mind-blowing book that some critics described, at least for me.
The structure of the book is interesting, with it written as if the main character Pi is telling his story to a writer decades after he survived a shipwreck and was on a lifeboat in the Pacific for over 6 months. Pi is likeable and is exploring religions in India as a teen when his family decides to sell the zoo they own and move to Canada.
His story of hardship and survival is harrowing. I won't give away the big twist at the end, although I figured something was going to be revealed well before then.
Overall, it is well done but not the spectacular, mind-blowing book that some critics described, at least for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism and Murder
Starvationclaradetierra's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
vupperware's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The writing in this book is oftentimes quite elementary. That’s not a bad thing, but I think the story could have benefitted from more vivid prose.
The story is engaging through and through, but also somewhat in incohesive — the events do not follow a linear path, but are more of a series of highlight reels or snapshots that chronicle Pi’s journey.
Much of the contemplation of Pi, and (by proxy) the reader are surface level analyzations, and I found that the most thought provoking passages were found at the beginning of the book, before Pi’s arduous journey begins.
There does come a time in the book when new information can be retroactively applied, and I feel like this would make a second read very interesting.
I would certainly recommend this book, but not as a transformative work that challenges the reader’s perception. I’d recommend it more as a fun and relatively easy read; an adventure story with minor points of contemplation sprinkled in.
The story is engaging through and through, but also somewhat in incohesive — the events do not follow a linear path, but are more of a series of highlight reels or snapshots that chronicle Pi’s journey.
Much of the contemplation of Pi, and (by proxy) the reader are surface level analyzations, and I found that the most thought provoking passages were found at the beginning of the book, before Pi’s arduous journey begins.
There does come a time in the book when new information can be retroactively applied, and I feel like this would make a second read very interesting.
I would certainly recommend this book, but not as a transformative work that challenges the reader’s perception. I’d recommend it more as a fun and relatively easy read; an adventure story with minor points of contemplation sprinkled in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Death of parent
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can see why this is a classic. Full of teachable moments, especially the ending. But OMG it took so long to get there! I know that’s part of the telling of the tale, but the monotony, the monotony!!! Nonetheless, I would still reread it because it is a profoundly layered book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
traciereads's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death and Islamophobia
vaeryy's review against another edition
3.75
incredibly thought-provoking! not something i'd read over and over again - it took some time to process what I've read, even as I was reading through it. but I think everyone should read it at least once in their life. the exploration of someone/something bigger than yourself existing and finding yourself in that someone/something really came through in this story, and was written in such a way that I think everyone can take something away from. also absolutely fascinating plot idea?? felt like it slowed down a bit at points but in my opinion the story needed it, I just wasn't the biggest fan. still one of the most life-changing books I've ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Blood
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Never has a book that effectively describes one of the most repetitive existence in the most fascinating and engaging fashion. The vast majority of chapters are essentially "man on boat in ocean lives" but the book is shockingly easy to get through and was a certified page-turner.
Life of Pi is one of those books you wish you read in high school, you hope your English teachers assigns. This should be The Great Gatsby, the one book where everyone at school goes and actually unironically loves it. It's a bona fide classic.
What makes a book truly a classic is that it has enough depth for the scholar, but can easily be enjoyed by a pedestrian reader. There is so much metaphor and symbolism to be read into, Pi's role as a storyteller/unreliable narrator can be questioned, whether or not his animal friends represent concepts or other people--but like Pi in his interview at the one, he asks which story is better. The one with the tiger, of course. Honestly, you could hack off the third part and this book would still be incredible, maybe not as deep, but still incredible.
I think the most brilliant part of the ending is a part I didn't see touched on often enough--Richard Parker leaving Pi on the Mexican beach unceremoniously. It shows that it truly was a relationship of convenience, there is no "boy and his big cat" element here, they were two kindred spirits. It is excellent for a book that clearly loves animals and their lives to establish that wild animals are still wild. But it also plays into the concept the tiger is some sort of survival instinct/id of Pi and as soon as he finds civilization again it leaves, no longer needed.
Life of Pi is one of those books you wish you read in high school, you hope your English teachers assigns. This should be The Great Gatsby, the one book where everyone at school goes and actually unironically loves it. It's a bona fide classic.
What makes a book truly a classic is that it has enough depth for the scholar, but can easily be enjoyed by a pedestrian reader. There is so much metaphor and symbolism to be read into, Pi's role as a storyteller/unreliable narrator can be questioned, whether or not his animal friends represent concepts or other people--but like Pi in his interview at the one, he asks which story is better. The one with the tiger, of course. Honestly, you could hack off the third part and this book would still be incredible, maybe not as deep, but still incredible.
I think the most brilliant part of the ending is a part I didn't see touched on often enough--
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
bexsur's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
aquakerwitch's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I prefer the story with the animals, even though the idea of someone trying to eat tiger poo horrifies me. Wild how many characters they gender swapped for the UK touring version of the play to make it slightly more diverse as in the book I think the mum is the only woman??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail