Scan barcode
ricksilva's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story, centered around a boy trapped on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger that was part of a shipment of zoo animals being transported to North America from India, works best in its humorous moments. The background of the main character, who embraced multiple religions growing up, is engaging and entertaining.
The survival-story that makes up the bulk of the book is intended to be primarily symbolic, but is reasonably engaging as survival stories go, with the interactions between human and tiger the most interesting aspect. The ending is dragged out, and then given an alternative narrative to end on an ambiguous note leaving the reader to decide which is the "better story", but while it made a certain logical sense, I didn't find it all that satisfying a conclusion.
This was an entertaining read, but didn't live up to the hype of either the story's setup or it's popularity.
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, and Cannibalism
lilyemmaaa's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Excrement, Death, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Cannibalism, Blood, War, and Vomit
matcha_pages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Cannibalism
abbruzzese's review against another edition
- 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 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.
Graphic: Animal death and Blood
Moderate: Excrement, Cannibalism, Child death, Violence, and Death of parent
the middle of chapter 99 has graphic descriptions of death, violence, blood, cannibalism, murder, and death. skipping that part does not (in my opinion) affect your experience or understanding of the story.gabrielleclarke05's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Body horror, Confinement, Mental illness, Vomit, Death, Religious bigotry, Dysphoria, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Excrement, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Blood, Cannibalism, and Self harm
jordanez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Graphic: Cannibalism
kirstinbuchan's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Animal death, Body horror, Torture, Vomit, Cannibalism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Excrement, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
nessazee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Cannibalism
maiahhtratchh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Excrement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Body horror
phantomgecko's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
If I'd read this instead of listening to it, I'd've probably cried. It is a heartwrenching story while still being inspiring and hopeful. The ending left me feeling a little bereaved. Tbh, that's one of my favorite ways for a novel to leave me.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Cannibalism, Excrement, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, and Religious bigotry