Life of Pi

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. Pi must survive the extremes, fierce thunderstorms, the blazing sun, lack of food, the continuous battle for water, and to survive what no other person has before, to live with a tiger on a lifeboat.

I reckon that this has to be one of my favourite books ever. The story is so outrageous that it seems real. I'm not sure how that is possible, but it is. A few of my friends thought that the story was true, which just proves how well this book was written. It is one of the best examples of courage, belief, wonder and hope.

I normally don't like this type of writing style, a recount with references to the past and future, but in this book, it was done so well that I fell in love with it. How the author writes like Pi recounting his life is amazing, and this way, you can feel the true power of Pi's journey.

I thought that the island was slightly disturbing, but without the island, you know that Pi would of died. Having a carnivorous island with millions of meerkats was so creative, I wouldn't of come up with anything like it (especially the meerkat part).

This book is truly a marvel of creation, it brings light to the darkness, and gives hope to those in need.

Reader reviewed by Rachelle

This is one of my favorite books of all time.  I don't normally read books more than once, but I reread Life of Pi.  This is a great book for discussion - perfect for book clubs.  I believed the whole story, and it was interesting to chat with others who thought the story was as they suggest it was at the ending.  The plant island Pi lands on haunts me - what a crazy place.  I found myself cheering for the tiger (can't remember his name).  After reading this book, you will never look at food, water, shelter or companions the same again.

Reader reviewed by Lippincote

I was attracted to this book for many reasons including the cover, which shows a small boy trapped on a lifeboat with a 450 pound tiger.

This small boy is Pi Patel, who has spent the first part of the novel exploring his religious beliefs. He then - as another reviewer has stated - gets to become God. Or does he?

His family are lost in a shipwreck, while traveling to Canada with their small zoo. Pi survives and, in a moment of weakness, helps on board his small life raft a tiger, named Richard Parker.

Richard Parker is not a Disney tiger. There is no friendship between man and beast, only appeasement. Vegetarian Pi has to kill, or allow to be killed, other innocent animals in order to feed the tiger and save himself.

And who is this tiger? Does he even exist? Is he, rather than Pi, God? Or is he just Pi's own survival instincts manifested in a form the boy can deal with?

This is not a book for the faint hearted. One person I forced it on was appalled by the animal deaths, and refused to finish reading it. My son also refused to even begin the book, on the basis that there is virtually no action. Or at least no action that appeals to the average, active boy.

So The Life of Pi is not for jocks, the easily discouraged, or the overly sensitive. However, for an intelligent, older teen, who is able to do the work necessary to interpret this book, it could be life changing.

Reader reviewed by Ray

Trapped on a lifeboat, with a tiger, floating on the Pacific. A teenager's amazing story of survival. WARNING: if you are "weak of stomach" do not read this book. Otherwise this is a Ray's must read!