Life of Pi

Have you read/watched Robinson Crusoe? No? Cast Away (Starring Tom Hanks) at least? If you haven’t, do it. Both are wonderful and so is Life of Pi.

Author: Yann Martel Time/era of story - 1960's-1970’s Type: Adventures Journal

I wanted to read a sea adventure and that is when a friend of mine suggested me to read this book. This is a simple tell-tale about the survival of a 15 year old kid in sea for 227 days in a small life boat with some extra ordinary company of the wild animals – Richard Parker, a Tiger; a female Orangutan, a zebra and a Hyena.

The book starts of detailing his life as the son of a zoo owner in Madras, his explorations and affiliation to Christianity and Islam. Then when his family plans to move to Canada, things go awry and a sad shipwreck afflicts killing them all. Piscine Patel or “PI” manages to escape in a small boat only to find out later that he has company, dangerous company – wild animals. From here on, it is struggle for the survival, survival of the fittest.

It is a heart touching book, though the details would bore in the middle but the author manages to beautifully explain the thoughts of a person who has no option left to live and how the sole will to survive helps him surmount the extra-ordinary troubles. Yann Martel makes you step in the shoes of PI and think what you would have done? The desperate measures to survive from drinking salt water to eating the fecal matter of the Tiger definitely give you Goosebumps.

There is an interesting conversation with the two Japanese in the final part of the book. Since the book assumes the autobiographical tone of the adventures of a kid, it becomes gloomy and drab at more than one occasion, but by then you will be in the grip of the author and would move with the flow of the book.

If you are an avid reader, looking for something different, this is definitely a book to go for.

Trivia:

Yann Martel was awarded ‘Man Booker Prize’ in the year 2002 for Life of Pi. A movie is being made, based on this book with the title same as that of the bookand it is being directed by Ang Lee. (Source:IMDB). I just hope the movie turns out to be worthwhile watch.