Life of Pi

’ Life is a peephole, a single tiny entry onto a vastness. ’

We have all heard the phrase ‘ you can ’ t evaluate a ledger by it ’ s cover. ’ While this is a good biography lesson, specially when taken as a metaphor that extends beyond books and into people, places, foods, etc., sometimes the embrace of a fresh is very telling of what lies within. Yann Martel ’ randomness Life of Pi wears it ’ mho heart on it ’ s sleeve. A quick glance at the breed shows the fanatic stamp of ‘ Winner of the Man Booker Prize ’, INTERNATIONAL BESTS

’ Life is a peephole, a single tiny entry onto a vastness.’

We have all heard the phrase ‘you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.’ While this is a good life lesson, especially when taken as a metaphor that extends beyond books and into people, places, foods, etc., sometimes the cover of a novel is very telling of what lies within. Yann Martel’s Life of Pi wears it’s heart on it’s sleeve. A quick glance at the cover shows the overzealous stamp of ‘Winner of the Man Booker Prize’, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, the indication that, yes, this is ‘A Novel’, and an image that both depicts the major plot point of the novel, thus spoiling the surprise of who Richard Parker really is. All this praise lauded upon the cover is instantly telling that this is a novel that has reached a wide audience, and is most likely aimed towards wide critical acclaim. That is all fine, and bravo to Mr. Martel for being able to leave his mark on the bestseller list, something I can only imagine in my wildest of wildest dreams, but sometimes when reaching for a large audience you have to elbow out a small percentage of readers. I am that small percentage that was elbowed out by Martel’s attempt to make an accessible novel that will touch the reader on a spiritual level. This is a difficult novel to review as, firstly, I did enjoy reading the book. I gave in to reading this book that I have been purposely avoiding after reading the excellent Life of Pi was a pleasurable read that suffered from a heavy-handed serving of morality. While Martel delivers one charming phrase after the next with a graceful flow, he would have greatly benefited from a touch of subtlety.

All to often, Martel would draw conclusions for the reader. A prime example occurs in the first few pages when Pi’s science teacher visits the Zoo (a zoo that he does not hold back from explaining how it serves as a metaphor for humanity), and calls out the name of well-known scientists whose studies pertain to the activities of the animals he is currently viewing. Martel spoils the moment by explaining that Mr. Kumar liked to prove to himself ‘that everything was order’. It felt as if Martel didn’t believe his readers could connect the dot. Even more obscure ideas are spoiled in such a manner. When a rain of flying fish saves Pi and Richard Parker from certain hunger, he thanks Vishnu saying ‘once you saved the world by taking the form of a fish. Now you have saved me by taking the form of a fish’. While I would not have made this connection, it ruins that ‘ah-ha!’ moment for those that do. It is that special moment of understanding an allusion in literature that keeps me reading a wide variety of texts, and it seems insulting to have someone to make connections without giving you an opportunity. Even at the very end, in his shocking twist of an ending (I must profess this novel has an incredible conclusion), the two Chinese men literally draw the connections for you saying something to the effect of ‘oh, this is this and that means that…’. This all seems to be Martel’s way of making sure his message gets heard, and is able to reach everyone. It is a noble goal, and it gets people who do not typically read to like and enjoy a book, so I cannot necessarily knock him for it as that was his goal, but this is all to my chagrin.

‘It’s important in life to conclude things properly,’ Pi explains, ‘only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse’. The question now is, does Martel conclude things properly? I personally loved the conclusion to this book. He successfully pulls the rug out from under the reader and exposes the real message behind the book. Without spoiling anything, this novel makes a good statement on the powers of storytelling with both a fun plot device and well crafted statements such as ‘that’s what fiction is about, isn’t it, the selective transforming of reality? The twisting of it to bring out its essence?’ Had he left it at that, it would have been wonderful and allowed for mass interpretability and the reader could have easily connected it to spirituality. However, Martel forces the connection to religion down the reader’s throat. The whole beginning section of the novel, which details Pi’s exploration of various religions, seems irrelevant for the majority the novel. Occasionally he will pray or include some stunning statements on the beauty of life and the grace of God/gods, but it seems to have been only there to make sure you were looking for the religious metaphors in the plot and comes across as Martel with a death grip on the readers head, jerking it back and forth shouting ‘look here! Notice that! Remember what we talked about!?’ While much of the focus on spirituality was well done, it was far too heavy-handed and led to a rather narrow interpretation on the ending.

My major concern is that Martel only gave us what he thought the reader would want, making quotes such as ‘ I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you see higher or further or differently,’ seem like he wasn’t being as ironic with the ending as he hoped it would be. While the conclusion comes out as ‘bet you didn’t see that coming’, it really doesn’t say anything that hasn’t been said before. The novel is heralded as being an affirmation of faith, and that’s exactly what it is, an affirmation. It isn’t going to challenge your beliefs, although he does an excellent job allowing different religious figures to challenge the differences in belief of one another even if it is the same concepts anyone would learn in a 100 level humanities course; it isn’t going to convert any readers to a life of devotion; it only provides a blanket and a comfort to those that already believe. Which, once again, is not a bad thing, if that is what you are looking for. It reminded me of something a professor once told me in a World Religions course. He described church as something that, and this is his opinion, is a crutch for those who needed it. He compared the obligation to attend to telling a girlfriend you only hang out with them because you feel you have to and are obligated to. While his opinion is a bit harsh and easily offensive, what he was really trying to say is you should believe because you want to, not because you have to. Martel makes it seem like you have to believe in these things, and I see why that makes this book hard to swallow for someone who doesn’t. Once again, in hopes to reassure and reach a large audience, Martel rudely elbows out the remainder. However, I really feel uncomfortable discussing beliefs on the open seas of the internet, and I really hope nothing said here offends you as that is not my intention. Please understand I am only speaking in relevance to my thoughts on a book, not on religion. The insistence of Martel to wrap a cool concept with spirituality is a major reason why it is so difficult to talk about this book. It is hard to separate the two ideas, but I’m doing my best to keep this focused on the literary aspects. I’m getting too self-conscious! The whole point here is that a lot of what Martel says has been said before, better, and with more willingness to evoke a change in the reader.

All that said, there is a lot that I truly enjoyed about this book. If you push all the aforementioned details aside, this was a wild ride. This made me want to visit zoos and hug a tiger. Look how cute this tiger is: Tell me you don’t want to hug that! I really enjoyed the wealth of zoological knowledge Martel bestows upon the reader, and his insistence on seeming ‘realistic’ with his animals. After reading this book, you will know why you should never, ever try to hug a tiger or take a wild animal for granted. He makes an interesting point how we force cute cuddly animal toys on children and make them think they are some domestic pet. While this is used as an excellent point that humans are the villain, which is easily slotted into the religious issues as an explanation that it isn’t religion that causes violence but the people abusing the rhetoric, it does seem ironically opposed to his final statement of how religion glosses over the grimy, difficult to handle details of life and makes it easier to handle. Are cute cuddly animal toys then religion? This novel is a very positive message to the world, and anything promoting peace and harmony can’t be all that bad. I enjoyed statements such as ‘ If there’s only one nation in the sky, shouldn’t all passports be valid for it?’, which is an important idea considering the violence that takes place around the world. I also enjoyed how the animal story is also chock full of scientific facts and details, which fuses the idea of religion and science together instead of showing them as opposites. Thre were some symbolism, the ones he left untainted by a forced explanation, that really struck me. The tiger itself is open for many views, either as God, Pi, or life itself – something we must face and tame lest it destroy us. However, could it be the killer inside us all, an urge and animalistic force we must keep in check in order to exist in a civilized society? In a way, I felt that the ending could almost be an attack on religion, showing it as nothing more than a pretty way of viewing a world as ugly as our own. I felt that the tarpauline served as a similar symbol. It was a feeling of security, something to stand on, but underneath was the violent truth of a deadly tiger. Perhaps it was our personal sense of security which is actually just thin and flimsy. When Martel doesn’t slap us with his meaning, it is quite good.

I was simply not the intended audience for this novel. However, Martel has a positive message that he wanted to reach a wide audience in hopes to spread peace to a world badly in need of it, so I cannot be too harsh on him. He achieved his goals for the novel, but his novel did not reach my goals for literature. Still, this was a fun read and I would recommend it. Just ask yourself, ‘why read?’ and if the cons of this review outweigh the pros, then this novel is not for you. But if you desire something that will entertain, broaden your horizons of spirituality if you don’t know much about various religions, or reaffirm your faith, well look no further.
3.5/5

‘ Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous possessive love that grabs at what it can.’

Here’s more tigers. Because you deserve them:


We have all heard the idiom ‘ you can ’ t evaluator a book by it ’ s cover. ’ While this is a good animation lesson, particularly when taken as a metaphor that extends beyond books and into people, places, foods, etc., sometimes the cover of a fresh is identical telling of what lies within. Yann Martel ’ swears it ’ sulfur affection on it ’ s sleeve. A quick glance at the cover shows the fanatic stamp of ‘ Winner of the Man Booker Prize ’, , the indication that, yes, this is ‘ A Novel ’, and an trope that both depicts the major plot compass point of the novel, therefore spoiling the surprise of who Richard Parker very is. All this praise lauded upon the cover is instantaneously telling that this is a fresh that has reached a wide audience, and is most probably aimed towards wide critical acclaim. That is all ticket, and bravo to Mr. Martel for being able to leave his check on the best seller list, something I can entirely imagine in my wildest of wildest dreams, but sometimes when reaching for a large audience you have to elbow out a small share of readers. I am that small percentage that was elbowed out by Martel ’ s attempt to make an accessible novel that will touch the proofreader on a spiritual level. This is a unmanageable fresh to review as, first, I did enjoy reading the ledger. I gave in to reading this book that I have been intentionally avoiding after reading the excellent inspection from michigan Hermana. I had a lot of fun discussing this bible with her, texting her my shocks and suprises in the plat, and discussing the script in respective threads with fellow Goodreaders. As anyone can see with a quick glance at the overall ratings, this book seems to in truth strike a chord in many readers, even besides brings a bombastic push of dissenters. While I did extract a good conduct of pleasure from the novel, it good didn ’ thyroxine sit well with me at the same time. In all comeliness to the novel, and to my common read number, I have to dissect this bible with the same views of novels that I would any other. This begs the motion as to ‘ why do we read ? ’, and this reason differs from person to person much like each persons meaning of life – a composition explored in Pi.was a enjoyable read that suffered from a heavy-handed serve of ethical motive. While Martel delivers one charm phrase after the adjacent with a graceful run, he would have greatly benefited from a touch of subtlety.All to frequently, Martel would draw conclusions for the reviewer. A prime example occurs in the first base few pages when Pi ’ s skill teacher visits the Zoo ( a menagerie that he does not hold back from explaining how it serves as a metaphor for humanity ), and calls out the name of long-familiar scientists whose studies pertain to the activities of the animals he is presently viewing. Martel spoils the here and now by explaining that Mr. Kumar liked to prove to himself ‘ ’. It felt as if Martel didn ’ t believe his readers could connect the acid. even more apart ideas are spoiled in such a manner. When a rain of flying fish saves Pi and Richard Parker from certain starve, he thanks Vishnu saying ‘ ’. While I would not have made this association, it ruins that ‘ ah-ha ! ’ here and now for those that do. It is that special moment of understanding an allusion in literature that keeps me reading a wide kind of textbook, and it seems insulting to have person to make connections without giving you an opportunity. tied at the identical end, in his shocking flex of an ending ( I must profess this fresh has an incredible conclusion ), the two taiwanese men literally draw the connections for you saying something to the effect of ‘ oh, this is this and that means that… ’. This all seems to be Martel ’ south way of making surely his message gets hear, and is able to reach everyone. It is a noble goal, and it gets people who do not typically read to like and enjoy a book, so I can not necessarily knock him for it as that was his goal, but this is all to my chagrin. ‘ It ‘s crucial in life to conclude things properly, ’ Pi explains, ‘ ’. The wonder nowadays is, does Martel conclude things by rights ? I personally loved the stopping point to this book. He successfully pulls the rug out from under the reader and exposes the real message behind the book. Without spoiling anything, this novel makes a good argument on the powers of storytelling with both a playfulness plot device and well craft statements such as ‘ ’ Had he left it at that, it would have been fantastic and allowed for mass interpretability and the lector could have well connected it to spirituality. however, Martel forces the connection to religion down the reader ’ south throat. The whole beginning segment of the novel, which details Pi ’ s exploration of respective religions, seems irrelevant for the majority the novel. occasionally he will pray or include some stunning statements on the beauty of life sentence and the grace of God/gods, but it seems to have been only there to make certain you were looking for the religious metaphors in the plot and comes across as Martel with a death grip on the readers head, jerking it back and away shouting ‘ look here ! Notice that ! Remember what we talked about ! ? ’ While much of the concentrate on spiritualty was well done, it was far besides heavy-handed and led to a preferably specialize interpretation on the ending.My major concern is that Martel entirely gave us what he thought the lector would want, making quotes such as ‘ ’ seem like he wasn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate being as ironic with the ending as he hoped it would be. While the termination comes out as ‘ bet you didn ’ metric ton see that coming ’, it in truth doesn ’ t say anything that hasn ’ t been said before. The novel is heralded as being an affirmation of faith, and that ’ s precisely what it is, an affirmation. It international relations and security network ’ thymine going to challenge your beliefs, although he does an excellent job allowing different religious figures to challenge the differences in belief of one another even if it is the lapp concepts anyone would learn in a 100 level humanities naturally ; it isn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate going to convert any readers to a life of devotion ; it merely provides a blanket and a comfort to those that already believe. Which, once again, is not a bad thing, if that is what you are looking for. It reminded me of something a professor once told me in a World Religions course. He described church as something that, and this isopinion, is a crutch for those who needed it. He compared the obligation to attend to telling a girlfriend you merely hang out with them because you feel you have to and are obligated to. While his impression is a morsel coarse and easily offensive, what he was in truth trying to say is you should believe because youto, not because youto. Martel makes it seem like you have to believe in these things, and I see why that makes this book intemperate to swallow for person who doesn ’ thyroxine. once again, in hopes to reassure and reach a large audience, Martel impolitely elbows out the remainder. however, I truly feel uncomfortable discussing impression on the open seas of the internet, and I in truth hope nothing said here offends you as that is not my intention. Please understand I am only speaking in relevance to my thoughts on a ledger, not on religion. The insistence of Martel to wrap a cool concept with spirituality is a major reason why it is so difficult to talk about this book. It is hard to separate the two ideas, but I ’ meter doing my best to keep this focused on the literary aspects. I ’ molarity getting besides self-conscious ! The whole point here is that a bunch of what Martel says has been said before, better, and with more willingness to evoke a change in the reader.All that said, there is a set that I truly enjoyed about this record. If you push all the aforementioned details aside, this was a angry ride. This made me want to visit menagerie and hug a tiger. Look how cute this tiger is : Tell me you don ’ metric ton want to hug that ! I very enjoyed the wealth of zoological cognition Martel bestows upon the reviewer, and his insistence on seeming ‘ realistic ’ with his animals. After reading this book, you will know why you shouldtry to hug a tiger or take a wild animal for granted. He makes an interest point how we force cute cuddlesome animal toys on children and make them think they are some domestic pet. While this is used as an excellent point that humans are the villain, which is well slotted into the religious issues as an explanation that it isn ’ triiodothyronine religion that causes violence but the people abusing the grandiosity, it does seem ironically opposed to his final statement of how religion glosses over the begrimed, difficult to handle details of life and makes it easier to handle. Are cunning cuddlesome animal toys then religion ? This novel is a very positive message to the earth, and anything promoting peace and harmony can ’ thymine be all that bad. I enjoyed statements such as ‘ ’, which is an authoritative idea considering the violence that takes space around the global. I besides enjoyed how the animal history is besides chock full of scientific facts and details, which fuses the theme of religion and skill together rather of showing them as opposites. Thre were some symbolism, the ones he left stainless by a force explanation, that very struck me. The tiger itself is receptive for many views, either as God, Pi, or biography itself – something we must face and tame lest it destroy us. however, could it be the killer inside us all, an urge and animalistic military unit we must keep in check in order to exist in a civilized club ? In a way, I felt that the ending could about be an attack on religion, showing it as nothing more than a pretty direction of viewing a worldly concern adenine despicable as our own. I felt that the tarpauline served as a exchangeable symbol. It was a feeling of security, something to stand on, but underneath was the violent truth of a baneful tiger. possibly it was our personal sense of security which is actually precisely slender and unconvincing. When Martel does n’t slap us with his meaning, it is quite good.I was plainly not the intend audience for this fresh. however, Martel has a positive message that he wanted to reach a wide audience in hopes to spread peace to a world ill in motivation of it, so I can not be excessively harsh on him. He achieved his goals for the fresh, but his novel did not reach my goals for literature. placid, this was a fun read and I would recommend it. Just ask yourself, ‘ why read ? ’ and if the cons of this review outweigh the pros, then this novel is not for you. But if you desire something that will entertain, broaden your horizons of spiritualty if you don ’ metric ton know much about diverse religions, or reaffirm your religion, well look no further.Here ‘s more tigers. Because you deserve them :