Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel is a delightful piece of literary work. Once picked up, I can’t put it down; with every turn of the page, I became curious-er and curious-er. Martel has created an utterly imaginative and uplifting story, not to mention hilarious and totally amusing too.

Life of Pi is about a sixteen-year-old Indian boy, Pi Patel whose full name is Piscine Molitor Patel. He was named after a swimming pool in France.

Pi is a religiously-inclined boy and his curiosity in various beliefs led him to embrace all three: Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. He is also very observant and since his father is the director of a zoo, he gets plenty of animal education. He is a smart and fast learner.

His father decides to close down the zoo and sold the animals to other zoos worldwide. They then travel together with the animals onboard the ill-fated cargo ship Tsimtsum. Pi’s family perish in the tragic sinking of the ship in the Pacific ocean. Pi survives the wreck along with a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, a female orang-utan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Imagine what it’s like to have such a company on a LIFE BOAT!

What follows is the story of Pi’s survival in the vast ocean over many, many uncertain days. More than 200 days, to be exact. Very graphic. So much so, I couldn’t stop reading and just went on and on. Do check out the clever conversation with his Japanese inquisitors at the end.

I must say, I’m totally bowled over by this must-read novel. DON’T MISS IT.