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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I really liked his writing style and enjoyed his story. Since he seems to have such a wild imagination and a wide variety of experiences I'd love to see some fiction from him in the future.
3.5 stars The Elephants in My Backyard is the memoir of Rajiv Surendra (Kevin - the rapping mathlete in Mean Girls!) and his quest to be Pi in the movie based on the book, [b:Life of Pi|4214|Life of Pi|Yann Martel|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320562005s/4214.jpg|1392700].
He was intent, like obsessively intent on becoming Pi, from traveling to India to the places in the novel, learning to swim, and emailing the author, Yann Martel. The email responses from Martel are included in this book, but not Surendra's correspondence. How Martel did not lose his sh*t with this guy, remained polite and kind is beyond me! It was quite obsessive seeming his emailing Martel through the years and through the many directors Hollywood burned through before finally landing Ang Lee but sadly, not casting Rajiv Surendra.
The final chapters are good ones - Rajiv left Toronto, left his dream of playing Pi and his unhappy home life and moved to Munich where he found peace and happiness.
He was intent, like obsessively intent on becoming Pi, from traveling to India to the places in the novel, learning to swim, and emailing the author, Yann Martel. The email responses from Martel are included in this book, but not Surendra's correspondence. How Martel did not lose his sh*t with this guy, remained polite and kind is beyond me! It was quite obsessive seeming his emailing Martel through the years and through the many directors Hollywood burned through before finally landing Ang Lee but sadly, not casting Rajiv Surendra.
The final chapters are good ones - Rajiv left Toronto, left his dream of playing Pi and his unhappy home life and moved to Munich where he found peace and happiness.
This was a lovely book about doing what you love and accepting failure. Rajiv Surendra prepared for several years for the role of Pi (adapted from the book of Yann Martel), as the film was being rescheduled several times, travelling to India, corresponding with Yann Martel, learning to swim, visiting a zoo... And he didn't get the part.
I found it somewhat inspiring although a bit disorganised. At the same time, his pursuit of so many hobbies (weaving! knitting! baking! drawing! learning German!) was impressive enough to make me rethink what I do and why I do it. I had some questions though - he tries very hard to come across as laid-back and "normal" and "not your typical actor" but at the same time can afford to fly to India and stay there several weeks, is able to go to college, the gym, etc... I don't know. I couldn't quite relate.
I found it somewhat inspiring although a bit disorganised. At the same time, his pursuit of so many hobbies (weaving! knitting! baking! drawing! learning German!) was impressive enough to make me rethink what I do and why I do it. I had some questions though - he tries very hard to come across as laid-back and "normal" and "not your typical actor" but at the same time can afford to fly to India and stay there several weeks, is able to go to college, the gym, etc... I don't know. I couldn't quite relate.
(From www.pingwings.ca)
Received from the publisher, for free, for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I first heard about this book at a Penguin Random House preview event last fall. Mean Girls is one of my favourite movies, so the book’s loose connection to this movie caught my attention initially. And then something about Rajiv Surendra’s plight to play the role of Pi in the film adaptation of Yann Martel’s The Life of Pi really intrigued me, probably because I was pretty sure he didn’t get it (I have not read the book or seen the movie). How would this book handle that aspect of his story, I wondered.
This was such an interesting journey, and in the end, it felt to me like it was also an exploration of the importance of trying, learning, dreaming, and even failing. It’s funny and poignant, and I’m so glad I enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would.
Recommended!
Received from the publisher, for free, for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I first heard about this book at a Penguin Random House preview event last fall. Mean Girls is one of my favourite movies, so the book’s loose connection to this movie caught my attention initially. And then something about Rajiv Surendra’s plight to play the role of Pi in the film adaptation of Yann Martel’s The Life of Pi really intrigued me, probably because I was pretty sure he didn’t get it (I have not read the book or seen the movie). How would this book handle that aspect of his story, I wondered.
This was such an interesting journey, and in the end, it felt to me like it was also an exploration of the importance of trying, learning, dreaming, and even failing. It’s funny and poignant, and I’m so glad I enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would.
Recommended!