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themirrorball's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
orshi999's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Animal death
Moderate: Cannibalism
nick13's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
slow-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? Yes
2.0
Look, I know this might be a bit of a hot take but this book is just...not good. If there was a better way to phrase it I would. There were so many details in this story that were just unnecessary, like that part where he lists every single thing he has on hand. It's not that I like a slow book, but like sometimes I'm just like, why are these twenty pages of nothing here? You know what I mean? And maybe I'm a bit (more like a lot) biased because I watched the movie first. Personally, most movies based on books never even strike close to what the book achieves but - how do I phrase this? - this book feels like the skeleton, the backbone that keeps the book together, and for that, I love this book, but the movie is the skin that makes it all complete. The movie is this beautiful masterpiece that takes out all of the unnecessary from the book, putting in parts that make it better, and keeps that masterful twist ending!
Basically what I'm saying is just watch the movie, it is one I always think about and is at least top ten in my favorite movies of all time and this book is, plainly, pretty less than mid-tier.
Basically what I'm saying is just watch the movie, it is one I always think about and is at least top ten in my favorite movies of all time and this book is, plainly, pretty less than mid-tier.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cannibalism, Death, and Gore
Minor: Religious bigotry and Racism
frankieclc's review against another edition
5.0
chapter 99!!!!????????
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Violence, Gore, and Cannibalism
jennifer_vars's review against another edition
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.
"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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cannibalism, Gore, and Violence
warejennm's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, and Violence
sarahjdnr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, and Grief
Minor: Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Cannibalism
carissa230's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? No
3.75
Pi Patel grew up in India where his family ran a zoo. When life became too dangerous Pi's family decided to sell the animals and catch a ship to Canada. When the ship sinks on the way Pi escapes on a life boat.
Problems arise immediately when Pi realizes there is a hyena, a zebra, and orangutan on the boat with him. Pi is sure that is all the animals that could have made it on board, but he was mistaken. There was also a tiger on board.
As Pi lives his life trying to get rescued he must learn to tame the tiger. Not only is the tiger dangerous, it also needs fed, and cleaned up after. Throughout the book we learn of Pi's life before, during, and after his ordeal on the lifeboat.
The book talks a lot about Pi's religious journeys and learning who he was. Pi talks about life and the balance of survival and keeping your morals in tact.
Problems arise immediately when Pi realizes there is a hyena, a zebra, and orangutan on the boat with him. Pi is sure that is all the animals that could have made it on board, but he was mistaken. There was also a tiger on board.
As Pi lives his life trying to get rescued he must learn to tame the tiger. Not only is the tiger dangerous, it also needs fed, and cleaned up after. Throughout the book we learn of Pi's life before, during, and after his ordeal on the lifeboat.
The book talks a lot about Pi's religious journeys and learning who he was. Pi talks about life and the balance of survival and keeping your morals in tact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
unicornrhyfedd's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Death of parent, Vomit, and Cannibalism
koltsovasvl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? No
4.5
The book was really captivating, especially from the ship wreck moment. Just a couple of pages in the end turned everything over and left me wondering. Definitely recommend, if you’re looking for something adventurous and a bit dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cannibalism, and Death