Ancalagon the Black Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Has anyone else here read Life of Pi, by Yann Martel? I just finished it last night. I was completely blown away. The richness of the narrative, the innocence and wisdom of the main character, the deceptively simple depth to the storyline--it was all magnificent on an epic scale. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone. While I could certainly quibble with a few details, it would be like taking exception to the style of sandpapering on the Sagrada Família. Am I all alone in loving this book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Yes, you are... j/k So did it make you believe in God? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo21 Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 M night is looking to direct that flick. been looking to pick the book up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 AtB, it was a terrific narrative. And it's M Night's kind of story, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman56 Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Why, does nothing happen for 2 hours and then there is some stupid little twist at the end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted September 3, 2004 Author Share Posted September 3, 2004 Originally posted by Hitman56 Why, does nothing happen for 2 hours and then there is some stupid little twist at the end? :laugh: I had exactly that reaction when reading your post too, Dan T. No, it's not like that. It's better than any of his flicks, and I'm terrified at what he's going to do with it! Johnny Punani, it didn't make me believe in anything I didn't already believe in, but it did give a glimpse of the sublime. That's the closest to the touch of God you can hope to get from a novel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 I will check it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 It was a very good book. A quick read in the sense that the pages flowed very easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
National Defense Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 yep--worth reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted September 3, 2004 Author Share Posted September 3, 2004 ***mild spoiler alert*** Burgold and Dan T: did you prefer the story with the animals or the one without the animals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 *Spoilers* Great book. I prefer the story with the animals, but there is always the possibility that the trauma involved changed the people inolved to animals. It's kind of irksome, becuase you as the reader don't know in the end if Pi is a reliable narrator though he's very religious and honest as a person in general. The book is somewhat slow in the beginning and hammers in it's points about Pi's charracter, his piety and reverence for God are very prevalent, and one can make the argument that it helped save him. The books's slow beginning also seeks to give the reader a very good working knowledge of zoos. You could make the argument that this book is a staunch defender of zoos and a rebuke to organizations that plea about animals wanting to be 'free.' Great story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Sounds really interesting. I'll buy it on half.com ASAP! Thanks for the hook up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaffordSkin Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I liked it too.... Agree that it started really slowly. Once I got past the 1st third though, I couldn't put it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Just got it at half .com for $3.95 in "like new" condition. I love that site for books, games and movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manleyistheman Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I'm about half way through it. Very good so far. I like Martel's style of writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsNumberOne Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Originally posted by Ancalagon the Black Has anyone else here read Life of Pi, by Yann Martel? I just finished it last night. I was completely blown away. The richness of the narrative, the innocence and wisdom of the main character, the deceptively simple depth to the storyline--it was all magnificent on an epic scale. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone. While I could certainly quibble with a few details, it would be like taking exception to the style of sandpapering on the Sagrada Família. Am I all alone in loving this book? Wow, that's quite a review. I guess I'll check it out. I had heard of it some months ago from a friend of mine, but the description of the actual story didn't seem all that captivating to me. I'll give it a shot after I'm through the book I'm currently reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted March 22, 2005 Author Share Posted March 22, 2005 Whoa, this thread got resurrected out of nowhere! Originally posted by TheDoyler23 I prefer the story with the animals, but there is always the possibility that the trauma involved changed the people inolved to animals. It's kind of irksome, becuase you as the reader don't know in the end if Pi is a reliable narrator though he's very religious and honest as a person in general. I believe that this is the point. I don't want to give away the ending, but the idea is that what we choose to believe ultimately determines the fulfillment we gain from life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 This sounds like a good read. I'll have to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Originally posted by Ancalagon the Black Whoa, this thread got resurrected out of nowhere! :laugh: It's why there's a search function! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cool Hand Loki Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Having just finished the book, I'm bringing ithe thread back one more time.... I feel compelled to read it again, to see how Martel synthesizes the 'real' story with the animal story, and to see if the events truly line up. I'm also interested in seeing when and how Pi's use of the Richard Parker side of his character would have gotten him out of trouble. I know there are several times when he credits RP with saving his life - I'm wondering if it's only in instances where he's forced to kill or eat meat, or if it simply refers to his more bestial, atavistic side. Also, I'm trying to figure out if there is a deeper meaning (or a 'real' story parallel) to my favorite (and the most horrifying, IMO) part of the story - the massive floating algae island. I too would recommend this book - it's a quick and enjoyable read, but a book that has more depth than I first suspected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gichin13 Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 great book, loved it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartskins Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 This is separate and distinct from the movie "Pi"? Correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cool Hand Loki Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Correct. Even the title is misleading; the number Pi doesn't play that large a role, although it is significant in some way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDoyler23 Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Originally posted by iheartskins This is separate and distinct from the movie "Pi"? Correct? The boy in the book's name is Piscine. (Pi for short) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted June 22, 2005 Author Share Posted June 22, 2005 Originally posted by Cool Hand Loki Also, I'm trying to figure out if there is a deeper meaning (or a 'real' story parallel) to my favorite (and the most horrifying, IMO) part of the story - the massive floating algae island. ***spoiler*** It’s a really good question. My dimly remembered, and very superficial, take on it is that the island represents complacency/loss of hope. Pi thinks he could be happy on the island, but what has happened is that he’s abandoned his quest, which gave meaning and drive to all his actions. A complacent, rote existence is good for lemmings (were those the creatures?), but it will devour a human – or a tiger – from the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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