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Life of Pi by Yann Martel, reviewed by Michael B.

Life of Pi is Yann Martel’s third novel, and takes you through a tale of a teenage Indian boy who ends up stuck on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with only a tiger as a companion. His story ends in such a way that could make one question their whole system of beliefs about everything in life, even the existence of God.

Piscine Molitor Patel begins Life of Pi as a young, Indian boy who lives with his family of one mother, one father, one brother, and one zoo, which his father owns and operates. Due to his life being so close to so many animals, he naturally develops an affinity for them, and he learns well from his father’s ability to perceive their emotions and how they behave. However, when Piscine is about fifteen, his family uproots to leave India and travel to Canada, ready to start a new life. Their trip is interrupted by their boat sinking, and Piscine gets tossed into a lifeboat with a tiger, a hyena, an orangutan, and a zebra. After a few short days, Piscine and the tiger are the only two left, and they must survive together in the expansive Pacific Ocean for 227 days before arriving on land. The book’s last few pages are a sudden, surprising twist which will leave the reader baffled and questioning the entire meaning of what they just read.

Life of Pi is an excellent recap of how one would survive if trapped on a lifeboat with a wild animal, and is rich with comedy. The author’s skillful writing keeps the reader interested in what could be even the most bland of areas. All three parts of the story come together excellently to leave the reader questioning the truth about Pi’s journey and about their own perceptions.

While quite witty, the comedy in Life of Pi is not necessarily for everyone, as much of the humor isn’t quite so direct. Additionally, the fairly open ending may be unappealing to some readers who are not as fond of post-modernistic writing styles. The story also sometimes feels a bit convoluted and may be a turn-off to many readers.

All in all, Life of Pi is an excellent story and deserving of four stars. Life of Pi will not appeal to every type of reader, but the audience that it targets will enjoy the story immensely. The interesting section on Pi’s survival for 227 days because all the more interesting after you read the ending, and many will appreciate Martel’s clever way of wrapping the story up.