Life of Pi

A Novel by Yann Martel

by Yann Martel

Paperback, 428 pages

Published Nov. 19, 2012 by Canongate Books Ltd.

ISBN:: 978-0-85786-553-3

(25 reviews)

After a tragic shipwreck, a solitary lifeboat is left at the mercy of the wild blue waters of the Pacific. The only survivors are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a zebra with a broken leg, a hyena, an orang-utan — and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. Now a major motion picture from acclaimed director Ang Lee, the much loved Life of Pi is a bewitching tale of adventure and friendship — and of finding courage in the most unexpected places.

58 editions

technicat@bookwyrm.social reviewed Life of Pi by Yann Martel

a fun-philosophical read

4 stars

I saw the movie first, and found it a visual feast, but I enjoyed the book a bit more. The lengthy first person narrative provides both a constant thread of humor and also an almost stream of consciousness philosophical musing. I read the critical reception in the wikipedia entry with the various philosophical messages attached to it (wikipedia calls it a "Canadian philosphical novel" which are three words I never thought I'd see together) but it is perhaps best enjoyed if you just read along and don't try to read too much into it.