Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Book Review - Life of Pi


You would have noticed that it is always the stories with themes such as 'rags to riches' or 'victory of the good over evil' that reach the top and stay there, with the central theme being the age-old Darwin-ism theory—survival and that too only of the fittest. Life of Pi is a survival story. Not to mention the fact that with about three-fourth of the movies that are made are based on the man-woman relationship, it is the packaging and presentation that is taking the center stage. And though we have heard a thousand survival stories, yet Yann Martel has packaged it so well that you forget yourself and immerse in the same clichéd theme of the book.

Even though the Life of Pi is a fiction, somewhere in the first quarter of the book, Yann Martel makes you believe that it is a biography of someone (Pi) who was born in Pondicherry, India, grew up till his teens, with a zoo in his backyard, and with the political scene in India becoming unstable (the 1977 Emergency Declaration), the family along with a few animals that remained behind, after most of the zoo inhabitants being sold off, boards a Japanese cargo ship to Canada.

After this act of making you believe, all the action takes place in the 227 days that runs between the day the vegetarian Pi gets into the sea as a castaway in a 27-feet life-boat with a hungry, carnivorous, 450-pound Bengal Tiger and till the day he lands in Mexico, weather-beaten and in one piece. In these 227 days, there are times of delirium, dread, delight, discovery, deprivation, dilapidation, desperation, desolation, darkness, divine interventions, dinginess, and damnation. Pi who has lost everything, his kith and kin, overcomes everything and survives.

Moments of faith and belief are splashed at the right dose and the right time and it is this belief that makes you cling to the novel and move forward catching hold of the link one after another, but at a slow pace. During the times when you think the links are falling apart (you losing interest), it is this belief that bonds you together with the story.

At certain places, you get the idea that a few facts about the South-Indian culture are a bit incoherent (just 2% of the entire story telling). But, overall, this book is a great read, no doubt about it!!

The book ‘Life of Pi‘ is about 10 years old now. However, this fact does not stop from being reviewed or being recognized as a good read. There is much more that I picked from this piece of fiction, I mean, a lot of takeaways for the life of 'anyone'!

12 comments:

Balaji Srinivasan said...

Well written. :)
Have you read 'The kite runnner'?

reNUka said...

Thanks! Yes. Very recently. :-) I must say I still do not have the guts to write a review of it. Perhaps read it one more time and then must attempt to!

pankazz said...

Ang Lee is gonna make a movie comeout in this christmas..3D adaption of this book

reNUka said...

Yes, pankazz. I only wonder which version surpasses the other?

Loraine said...

You have a really nice review =) did you know that the movie version will be released this November 21? Also, in 3D adventure film? Something to look forward to either ways. Here's my review by the way: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/07/life-of-pi-by-yann-martel.html

Have a nice day! :)

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing.

reNUka said...

Hey Loraine! Missed to thank you for your comment. Thanks for you words! :-)
Did you get to see the 3D live version? I have not had a chance to. Must catch up soon.

reNUka said...

@anon, you are welcome!

Loraine said...

I haven't either! I'm excited to watch it :D

reNUka said...

Hi Loraine,
I saw the movie this weekend and I cannot really compare or say if justice has been done or not--both versions seem to stand on its own.

One thing about the movie: I can see that a strong emphasis has been given to emotions; the bonding between Pi and God, Pi and his mom, Pi and Anandi, and finally between Pi and Richard Parker.
That has not come out that forcefully in the book--all I can see is Pi's struggle in the boat. Maybe, if I read the book one more time, I can see more and something different.

Renton Auto Body said...

A very detailed story. I like the idea of how the author has focused on survival of the fittest. But some scenes are very detailed , very eccentric! I had a tough time to finish this book. I give 2.5 star because of the hard work, research & the effort the author has put. I really don't get this book!! Enjoy reading if u are into castaways, animals, gory details of animal meat etc. I still think Pi survived because of his vivid imagination or love for his life.

reNUka said...

Hi ther! Thanks for visiting my page and expressing your views about the book and the movie.