Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

39 reviews

wet_towlette's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I thought I knew what was goes on and then the book ended and I feel kinda stupid. It was really good though     .

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sskalon's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


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lilyemmaaa's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


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abbruzzese's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I was giving up. I would have given up - if a voice hadn't made itself heard in my heart. The voice said "I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare."

i get it. i understand it now, the hype around this book, the reason it's touched the shelves of white women in book clubs everywhere, why it's shown up on every list of "100 books to read before you die" i've ever looked at.

the writing was high-quality. the plot was enthralling. the philosophical and religious bits were so beautifully communicated that, not only did i not mind reading them, i actually enjoyed them. before i started reading, i was worried i'd grow bored of reading about a monotonous struggle, but this wasn't the case at all; the story is structured in such a way that the events of pi's journey are, yes, told in regards to particular days, but also largely in chapters that focus on types of events or certain themes, rather than repetitive day-by-day recaps. this book has my most favourite element of any kind of story: a character facing the most bleak and unlikely odds of survival, yet doing so with grit and determination and an unrelenting refusal to die. call me old fashioned, but a human hellbent on surviving is my favourite kind of human.

i have nothing but praise of the highest order for this book. i can't even express in words how moved i am by it, how grateful i am that i decided to read it.

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gabrielleclarke05's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Very good, I just wish it didn’t take half of the book to actually get into the plot but after that it was great. I enjoyed the characters and the twist was fun the pacing was just off

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kirstinbuchan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5


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frankieclc's review against another edition

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5.0

chapter 99!!!!????????

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jennifer_vars's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

“I can well imagine an atheist’s last words: ‘White, white! L-L-Love! My God!‘—and the deathbed leap of faith. Whereas the agnostic, if he stays true to his reasonable self, if he stays beholden to dry, yeastless factuality, might try to explain the warm light bathing him by saying, ‘Possibly a f-f-failing oxygenation of the b-b-brain,’ and, to the very end, lack imagination and miss the better story."

"These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart."

I listened to the audio version of this book (haven't seen the movie yet) and I really enjoyed it. It was incredibly long (100 chapters) but a great story to follow. 

Because of the philosophical slant, it's pretty hard to say there is just one interpretation here. Depending on each individual reader, I can see a variety of themes readers may take away. 

Personally, I've lived most of my life with a bad taste in my mouth for organized religions.In my experience, it's been a show of a lot of hypocrisy and judgement from people with the effect of dividing rather than uniting people. 

However, as I've read more and reflected on the various allegories found in different religious teachings I've come to appreciate the value and beauty of some of the stories.

And that's what I took away here. It's not necessarily about believing in God. Pi believed in three different religions. It's about what it takes to believe in something. Whether that's God, yourself, the world, goodness or some other way to strive towards ideal. Reality in itself is a story, we in some ways can choose our own story. Pi's faith, connections and his creativity saved him.

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zoiejanelle's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

[originally read in high school] another life-changing read. totally altered how i view religion, karma, and the power of the universe. will definitely re-read now that i'm an adult, but i truly loved this book (and it's way better than the movie)!

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warejennm's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0


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