Life of Pi
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| Length: | 11 hours | ||||||||||
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Overview
Winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, this enchanting fabulist novel is a tale of adventure, survival, imagination, memory, and ultimately faith.
Pi Patel has been raised in a zoo in India. When his father decides to move the family to Canada and sell the animals to American zoos, everyone boards a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks, and 16-year-old Pi finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger.
Soon it's just Pi, the tiger, and the vast Pacific Ocean--for 227 days. Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they reach the coast of Mexico, where the tiger disappears into the jungle. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story, so he tells a second one--more conventional, less fantastic. But is it more true?
A realistic, rousing adventure and meta-tale of survival, Life of Pi explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character claims, to "make you believe in God."
Pi Patel has been raised in a zoo in India. When his father decides to move the family to Canada and sell the animals to American zoos, everyone boards a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks, and 16-year-old Pi finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger.
Soon it's just Pi, the tiger, and the vast Pacific Ocean--for 227 days. Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they reach the coast of Mexico, where the tiger disappears into the jungle. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story, so he tells a second one--more conventional, less fantastic. But is it more true?
A realistic, rousing adventure and meta-tale of survival, Life of Pi explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character claims, to "make you believe in God."
Reviews (76)
Life of Pi Review
Written by tdickson on August 1st, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Very different story line. I really enjoyed the thought process of how to live on a life boat with a full grown tiger and stay alive. It is very funny that at the end the authorities did not want to believe the truth but would have rather believed a lie.
Life of Pi
Written by Erin from Santa Barbara, CA on June 9th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
I loved this book. Delightful,shocking, and thought provoking.
a delicious morsel of Pi
Written by Lyndsay Wright on May 23rd, 2008
- Book Rating: 4/5
What a nice story. Unlike some readers I found the zoological tidbits at the beginning fascinating, as well as highly relevant for the story’s resolution. I enjoyed Martel's commentary on 'the zoo' as a humane facility for animals. The religious chapters are a bit trying, as an atheist, but I suppose necessary for the story. It passes in time. Before you know it you’re on a small life boat in the middle of the Pacific with a tiger, hyena, orangutan and zebra. The story was so masterfully told that at times while reading I actually ‘sought shade’ or felt a ‘tremendous thirst’; it’s so intimate a story. It’s the kind of book you catch yourself thinking ‘what did I do with that banana!? Ah yes... that was ‘Pi’s’ banana.’ :) Highly recommended read.
Amazing Story Telling
Written by Laura from Milwaukee, WI on May 19th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
This book is firmly entrenched in my list of best books I've ever "read". The author is a gifted story teller who captured my attention from the start. It's a shame that some of the reviewers only listened to the first 1-3 CD's because this story gets better the further you get into it. The narrator was perfect!
Life of Pi
Written by Kathie Soracco on May 16th, 2008
- Book Rating: 4/5
The author uses the most eloquent, descriptive words and phrases of almost any other author I have read. The book was a bit slow to start but then picked up and was hard to put down. Lots of twists and turns that were totally unexpected. Very imaginative tale.
Life of Pi
Written by Anonymous from Andover, MA on May 9th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
This was an awesome book. One of the best reading that I have ever heard on tape, he really made the book come alive. Highly recommend with the warning that you will find yourself unable to stop listening.!
Life of Pi
Written by moviegal from Reading, PA on April 18th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
I truly loved this book. I found myself telling the plot to anyone who would listen, although everyone looked at me a little strangely! It was slow in the beginning but necessary to the second half. I cannot remember the last book I listened to that made me laugh out loud so often; I am sure my fellow drivers were nervous when in the lane next to me. The narration added enormously to the effect. I would recommend this book to anyone who reads for the most important reason: to see what happens next. (Thank you Stephen King!) You never know what is going to happen next with Pi and Richard Parker.
Life of Pi
Written by Christine Brean from Gardena, CA on April 17th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Hard to believe that anyone would not rate this book at a 5. It is probably one of the best stories told since The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Even Muslim-Christians who are Hindus could not physically and mentally survive a life-boat ride with Richard Perkins, a menacing hyenna, and a few other animals. So extremely well read that I was wondering how true this tale could be. Some reviewers said it starts out slow. Listen, you have to walk before you run. And the walk is well worth it. Kudos to the author Martel.
Life of Pi
Written by Dorothy Alesio on April 14th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
I loved it! The book was so interesting I couldn't wait to listen to it...a little graphic at times but absolutely mind blowing.
Life of Pi
Written by Anonymous on April 11th, 2008
- Book Rating: 5/5
Extraordinary book. Very well written and thought provoking. I highly recommend it to anyone that whats more than just a quick read.