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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

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This was a truly intriguing and thought provoking read. It has interesting things to say about religion, survival, and dealing with trauma. I enjoyed it all the way through from Pi‘s description of his religious experiences to his fight for survival on the Pacific with Richard Parker. When I reached the ending I still had many details to ponder.

*This story of survival on the open ocean includes a few pretty violent scenes.

#1001books

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

This post contains spoilers

Question 4/final: What were your overall thoughts on this story? Did you enjoy it? Did you connect to Pi? I read this one because it's frequently listed on “modern classics“ lists - do you think it deserves that title? Any other scenes or thoughts or shout-outs?

Thank you all for reading along with me!! I'm looking forward to hearing what all of you thought about this one overall!!

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

Bookwormjillk This was a re-read for me, and I still liked it. How modern are we talking? Off to google modern classics. 2y

willaful I enjoyed it very much, except for the more viscerally gory parts. And I couldn't follow all the technical details about where he was on the boat and how that worked, but I didn't care much.

One question I had -- he thinks the men threw him over intending to kill him. I didn't get that sense at all, given they put a life jacket on him. I think they were doing their best in terrifying circumstances. Anyone else? 2y

willaful The ending really worked for me, I thought it was extremely clever. The story will make you believe in God... because it makes you *want* to believe in God. I may have just had a religious awakening. 😄 2y

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Daisey @willaful I wasn‘t really sure I believed this when it happened, and in the light of the second story, I do not at all think they were trying to harm him. 2y

Daisey I really enjoyed this story and the ending added a whole new level of things to think about. Even the more violent parts seemed an appropriate fit for the overall story. 2y

peanutnine I really loved it. This was a reread for me but it had been so long I couldn't remember the details of the twist ending so it didn't influence my reading. @willaful I found it interesting that when his suffering was the worst he had the most faith in God. This aspect of religion always baffles me if I'm being honest 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @willaful @Daisey @peanutnine - It was a reread for me, but I had forgotten basically everything since I read this twenty years ago! While it was more violent than I recalled, I didn't feel like it was overdone; everything felt realistic to the situation, sadly. I am very religious myself, and I didn't quite agree with a lot of the religious conclusions in this story, but I appreciate Pi's desire to grow, learn, and trust. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk - The term “modern classic“ is pretty loose, especially since the term “classic“ itself doesn't have a particularly strict definition haha But most seem to think that it includes books 20-50 years old that people think will still be being read a hundred years from now... or something like that 😂 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

This post contains spoilers

Question 3: Finally, Pi washes up on a beach. However, his story sounds completely unbelievable. In response to the skepticism, Pi gives another account, which involves humans, not animals. What did you think of this version? Did it change how you felt about Pi? Did it make his story seem more or less horrific?

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

Bookwormjillk More horrific but less random I think. 2y

willaful More horrific to me, because it involves seeing the death of his mother, where in the first story he could have dreams his family was somehow okay.

I don't think it changed my feelings about him. He was a survivor in both stories, doing whatever he had to do. 2y

Daisey The second story seems more horrific but also more believable. It doesn‘t change my opinion of Pi, but I do consider it an interesting way to deal with the trauma. 2y

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peanutnine I agree with all the above sentiments. It makes more sense but is definitely more horrific. I think it makes me admire Pi's endurance even more. He had to find a way to mentally sort through the trauma he suffered 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @willaful @Daisey @peanutnine - I did think it was, sadly, a more believable story. I thought it was interesting that the men interviewing him decided to accept the animal version after all. Side question: Do you agree with their conclusion that Pi himself is the tiger? Or do you think the tiger represented something or someone else? I wonder if it was the parts of Pi that he wanted to not be - the parts that did whatever it took ⬇ 2y

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) to survive? 2y

peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks I think it was the parts of himself that he wanted to disassociate from, assigning blame for some of his more gruesome acts to a wild animal seems more acceptable and he can be more forgiving towards it 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

This post contains spoilers

Question 2: A large part of this section is spent on a floating island made of meat-eating algae. Was this entire episode fabricated? Do you think it's possibly something that exists? Did you find this section harder to believe than other parts of Pi's adventures? Would you have left the island or stayed? Do you like that my “question“ is actually an entire bombardment of them? 😂

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

Bookwormjillk To be honest I didn‘t get this part at all. The rest of it sort of did, but I was very huh? about this. Maybe someone else can explain it to me. 2y

willaful This is definitely where the story got truly “huh“? for me.

Symbolically, if we accept the second story, this could be another psychological way of leaving his new self behind. The meat-eating seems pointed. 😄 But I don't like that all my theories are based on the second story. I want the story with the animals! (edited) 2y

Daisey I have no idea! In the first reading I was entertained and baffled, but I took it in stride along with the fantasy of living on a boat with a tiger. In light of the second story, I‘m just baffled. If he did kill and eat another man, which let him regain strength, is this all a strange way to deal with his cannibalism? Seeing as with his religious beliefs and previous vegetarianism, it would be even more traumatic than for meat eating humans. 2y

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peanutnine Yes this part was definitely the most fantastical. I agree @willaful I want to believe in the animals! But it does seem like it could be another way for him to process his cannibalism. He needed a story to explain how he gained back his strength partway through his journey. The island addressed this as well as maybe some of his grief towards eating animals in general through the acid pools as @Daisey said switching from vegetarianism would be huge 2y

willaful Yes, especially when it was religion based, and also with all he knew about animals from his father. @peanutnine @Daisey 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @willaful @Daisey @peanutnine - I can definitely see this as a way of “facing up“ to the fact that he ate a human. At first he justifies it (initial regaining of strength), but then he recognizes it as evil? I'm just not sure. I've never been good at allegories 😂 2y

Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks oh! That does make sense. 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

This post contains spoilers

Whew, this week's section was a ROLLERCOASTER! Where to even start?? Here we have the bizarre episode where Pi goes blind, meets another blind person, and then regains his sight; the entire crazy story of the floating carnivorous algae island; and of course the big reveal at the end that turns everything on its head. I would love to hear what stuck out with all of you about these adventures, so I am going to post four discussion questions!! ⬇

TheAromaofBooks Question 1: So what about this entire weird thing about going blind and then meeting up with someone else who was also blind? Was the entire thing a hallucination? Do you think he actually did come across someone else? With the hindsight knowledge we have from the ending, that Pi may have made up the entire story, does the blind episode make more or less sense??

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk 2y

willaful Could it be a religious allegory of some kind? I was thinking hallucination. Though at first he thinks he's talking to Richard Parker, which is interesting in light of the possible revelation.

Could it be a way of psychologically mourning and disposing of the part of him that was Richard Parker, if we assume the second story is the truth? Embracing, but then realizing it's time to let it go and become gentle again. 2y

Daisey This part seemed so crazy to me as it happened. I accepted the blindness as a result of starvation, but then to meet someone else in the same state seemed completely unbelievable. In reading it as the second story, it made more sense to me and the blindness could represent his own denial of killing another person. 2y

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peanutnine @Daisey I definitely agree it makes more sense within the second story, with the blindness as his way of separating himself even further from the killing - not only imagining it was the tiger who did it but also having no way to prevent or stop it 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Daisey @willaful @peanutnine - I felt that when he initially went blind and was hearing Richard Parker talk to him, that it made sense within the context of starvation. But then to run into someone else who was blind was actually the first point in the story that I didn't believe that Pi was telling the truth! Even with the 2nd version, I was confused because killing the blind sailor doesn't fit in the with the timeline of killing the hyena/bad ⬇ 2y

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) guy. But it does seem like this guy has to be allegorical as the odds of two lifeboats finding each other are just too far-fetched haha 2y

peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks the whole timeline confused me, especially trying to match up the two stories. But he did say towards the beginning that he couldn't remember the order of events after the first couple weeks and he just remembered overall experiences so it makes sense that he would add embellished allegorical events throughout whenever he was processing things, regardless of when they actually happened 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

I finished this today . . . what a fascinating story . . .

I‘m waiting until I‘ve had a bit more time to think about it and our final readalong discussion tomorrow before posting a review.

#1001books

TheAromaofBooks The final section kind of blew my mind!!! I'm going to post a final discussion post here shortly!!! Looking forward to everyone's thoughts! 2y

Daisey @TheAromaofBooks Yes! I knew I had seen comments that the end was important, but it still completely surprised me! So glad I joined in for this one. 2y

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willaful

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

#ThingsInCommon Boats. @Clwojick #RandomClassic @TheAromaofBooks

This was an intense, fantastical survival story and I think possibly also the longest shaggy dog story ever written. Except the point was never to be funny.

Clwojick Great job! 😆 2y

willaful @faranae I'm very tempted to count this as my “book with a number in the title“... 2y

TheAromaofBooks I only have the last section left - looking forward to everyone's closing thoughts on Monday!!! This week's reading got a little crazy! 2y

Faranae @willaful Oh you MUST. I am composing my snark even now. I'm pretty sure there's an unwritten rule of the blog that this book has to show up at least once every year. 2y

Daisey @willaful @TheAromaofBooks I read all of this week‘s chapters today and what an ending! Looking forward to some final discussion tomorrow before I actually post a review. 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

I totally had to look up these floating water stills to understand how they work. How cool are they?? Any thoughts on this week's chapters? I couldn't believe Pi said he was stranded for SEVEN MONTHS. How do you keep from going absolutely crazy? Only ten chapters left, and I am SO interested to find out how he is rescued!

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

#RandomClassics

Bookwormjillk I just can‘t imagine. 2y

Daisey I‘m really enjoying the book. It‘s a fascinating twist on a survival story. I also thought the solar stills were interesting. I‘m so curious to see what else happens. 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

This post contains spoilers

TheAromaofBooks @willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk 2y

Totally spaced on posting our discussion post yesterday!!!

Any thoughts on this week's chapters? We definitely upped the action game! Things got a little more gruesome than I was anticipating as well!

I couldn't believe how long it took Pi to look for food and water! If you were in his position, would you prefer to take your chances with the makeshift raft or with the tiger??

willaful I found him not noticing his thirst for three day rather implausible, but given the intense fear and emotional upsets, I guess it could be so.

It was definitely too gory for me! I had to skim. I'm really quite surprised by the book; I was anticipating something more surreal, I guess? Less “tooth and claw“ and prosaic survival. More like what's implied by the cover. Not that I'm criticizing, I'm just surprised. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @willaful - I was surprised by the intensity as well, especially the scene with the hyena and the zebra 😬 I didn't feel like it was over-the-top within the context, but, like you, I wasn't necessarily expecting it! 2y

Daisey @TheAromaofBooks @willaful Busy this week, and this is my first chance to look for the discussion again. I completely understand what you all are saying. The intensity makes sense, but it definitely wasn‘t really what I was expecting, although I‘m also not quite sure what I was expecting. I did also think the not looking for food, water, or cover was a bit unrealistic, but I also sunburn in minutes. 2y

peanutnine I got behind on reading but I'm quickly catching up! I thought his delayed reaction to looking for food and water was understandable. He was probably running on pure adrenaline and fear trying to avoid the animals. And he was expecting rescue for a while. As for the raft vs tiger, I think I'd rather take my chances on the boat. But I don't like open water, as I am a terrible swimmer 😅 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

Sunday morning #BookAndBreakfast before church is one of my favorite things. #1001books

This morning I caught up on reading Life of Pi, and I‘m finding it fascinating. It‘s become an interesting survival story, and I love all the details about the different animals, even when quite brutal.

I still have time for a few more pages of #Clarissa as well. I‘m behind on this past week‘s reading, but I‘ve made it to more of Lovelace‘s letters.

Lcsmcat, TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks This week's Pi chapters have been so intense! The scene with the hyena and the zebra! 😱 2y

Daisey @TheAromaofBooks Yes! That scene was brutal, and even when I thought it was over, it wasn‘t. 2y

willaful I had to skim that scene, I can't take gore. 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

It‘s been a fantastic weekend of visiting family for Easter with very little reading time. This morning, I did a bit of foraging at the family farm, then caught up on Life of Pi by listening to a few chapters on my drive, and was happy to see these adorable kittens again when I got home. I‘ve been intrigued by Pi‘s commentary on religion, and today‘s chapters about leaving India brought us to an interesting point in the story!

dabbe Da sweetest kitty! 💚🐾💚 2y

Daisey @dabbe She really is so sweet and a good mama. She adopted me last fall just a week after I brought home a new puppy and the two of them have become fast friends. 2y

dabbe @Daisey 🥰 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

So technically we have read through Chapter 37, but since that chapter starts Part 2, I don't have as much to say about it (other than wow! Talk about leaping into the action section! 😂) I didn't find this week's reading quite as engaging. It's a LOT about religion, and since I didn't quite agree with all Pi's conclusions, I didn't completely connect. What did you all think? I was also very struck by Pi's father's decision to give them such ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) a graphic lesson about not trusting the animals! Do you think it was too much?? Did anything else strike you this week?

#RandomClassicsRead

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk 2y

Bookwormjillk The religion talk was a bit much for me too. I thought it was funny when all of his teachers met though. 2y

willaful I agree with your points. It was really something to be just thrown into the situation after all that build up! Though it looks like the next chapter is more backstory.

I was also kind of bored with the religious sections. Which could mean the rest of the book will be dull, but we'll see.

I think it was relatable how he glommed onto the one thing familiar to him, even with a name he knows, only realizing too late.... 2y

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willaful It did make me laugh, how he ran to the... I forget the title, the Hindu equivalent of a priest? for a Hindu celebration of his having found Christ. 😂 2y

Suet624 This is a book you really have to finish. It makes reading the book so worthwhile. 2y

Daisey @TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @willaful I guess I‘m the odd person be here, but although I don‘t personally agree with some of Pi‘s conclusions, I found his thoughts on the religions fascinating and was thoroughly entertained by the three religious leaders‘ attempts to win him over. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk @willaful @Daisey - I did like the way that Pi was so open to exploring and understanding different religions, and how his beliefs have given him a framework for life. And the scene with the various religious leaders getting all huffy with one another was definitely entertaining haha 2y

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Bookwormjillk

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

pick

Sorry @TheAromaofBooks this was due back at the library so I had to finish

I read this when it first came out, and really liked it. I still liked it as much now, and was glad for the re-read as I couldn‘t remember all of the details.

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes you just have to go for the win 😂 Glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you'll still jump in with our discussions this month!! 2y

Bookwormjillk @TheAromaofBooks for sure! 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

It‘s time for a simple lunch and a few more chapters of Life of Pi. There are some interesting thoughts to ponder in these early chapters, and I‘m thoroughly enjoying a few pages each day.

#ReadAndEat #1001books

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James.Ruddick

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

pick

The life of Pi by Yann Martel follows the fictional first hand recounting of the tale of a boy getting stranded at sea, with more company than he could ever ask for, and somehow surviving. The first part of the book establishes the first person point of view as Pi introduces himself to us.

MissYaremcio

James.Ruddick Although I‘m not finished it yet, Martel‘s distinct voice and gracefulness in his writing has me absolutely hooked. If you like books that craft characters that that feel like real people you‘ve known for years, this is a must read. 2y

MissYaremcio Nicely done James! 6/6 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

Discussion for Chapters 1-7...

I'm not great at leading discussions, friends! 😂 Did you start the book? Any initial thoughts?

I rather like that we haven't jumped straight into action, yet we are getting little teasers that something big happened in Pi's life. I'm quite delighted with the writing style as well. Let me know what you all are thinking!!

Next Monday: Thru Chapter 37!!

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Bookwormjillk

carolcharityhome Hi 2y

Bookwormjillk I started. I remember it feeling slow when I read it years ago, but like you the pace is good for me this time. It‘s a little funny and sarcastic too which I like. 2y

peanutnine I'm enjoying it so far. I like the character building of these initial chapters 2y

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willaful I'm finding the style very engaging. I was expecting something dense and difficult.

Interestingly enough, I was just reading an article by a teacher which mentioned teaching books in which the ending is revealed in the beginning -- we see they have survived a momentous adventure which left them changed. This fits right into that category. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk - It really helps me connect to a character when they have a sense of humor, and I'm finding Pi to be just very likable as a person and a narrator. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @peanutnine - Yes, I feel like we are getting a good understanding of Pi's family. He does a great job with brief character sketches that still give you a good idea of what the person is like. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @willaful - Oh yes, I rather enjoy books that have the ending at the beginning! You have this vague idea of what happened, then get all the little clues leading up to it as you read - and then I love to go back and read the beginning again! 2y

Daisey I started reading it, and so far I‘m really enjoying it. 2y

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peanutnine

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

The last time I read this was for summer reading in 9th grade and I had to write a paper on it. Curious to see if I can remember what each color highlighter meant... 👀
@TheAromaofBooks

Also peep Arthur stalking like Richard Parker in the background 😼 #catsoflitsy

TheAromaofBooks So when you made all the highlights in 9th grade, had you already read the book, or was that during your first read-through? 2y

peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks I highlighted as I read the first time 2y

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love this!! 2y

TheAromaofBooks Nice!! I am really enjoying it so far. I read it in high school but remember pretty much nothing about what happens! 2y

peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks yeah I don't remember much either so I'm excited to reread it 2y

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LitsyEvents

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

repost for @TheAromaofBooks:

My #RandomClassic for April is Life of Pi. Usually, for my classics, I just read one chapter a day until I'm finished, but I did NOT want to spend over 3 months reading this one 😂 Some of the chapters are only a paragraph or two long, so I divided it up to about 10pgs/day. I'm hoping to post a discussion post (along the lines of “what did you think about this week's chapters?“ every Monday.

#buddyread

LitsyEvents More details on the original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2564850 2y

TheAromaofBooks Thanks for the repost!! 2y

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Life of Pi | Yann Martel

My #RandomClassic for April is Life of Pi. Usually, for my classics, I just read one chapter a day until I'm finished, but I did NOT want to spend over 3 months reading this one 😂 Some of the chapters are only a paragraph or two long, so I divided it up to about 10pgs/day. I'm hoping to post a discussion post (along the lines of “what did you think about this week's chapters?“ every Monday. Tagging those who thought they were interested,but ⬇

TheAromaofBooks (cont'd) anyone can read along - let me know if you'd like to be tagged for the discussion posts!!

@willaful @peanutnine @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks - Looking forward to reading with you all, but feel free to let me know if you're not planning to read this one after all. 😂 2y

Daisey I would kind of love to join in for this, but I‘m not sure I can fit it in. Additionally, it‘s on a specific TBR list for another group that does a number choice each month. I‘ll follow your posts and let you know if I decide to read it once April actually starts. 2y

willaful I'll start it. Can't promise to finish. :-) 2y

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TheAromaofBooks @Daisey @willaful - I'll be glad to have you along if you have time to join!! 😁 I read this one once, but it was years and years ago and I can't remember anything about it except something about a boat and a tiger 😂 2y

Bookwormjillk I was just thinking about re-reading this one yesterday. Must be fate. I think I‘ll join you. 2y

TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk - Yay!! I'd be glad to have you along!! 2y

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Moll

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

pick

Have greatly enjoyed being stranded at sea for the past week reading this and I'm gonna have to sit and really think about the ending before I know fully what to make of it😂

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Luccaolivet

Life of Pi | Yann Martel

I am in part three and am almost done with the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. This book has been super slow moving but I am finally at a point that is getting interesting. Pi, the main character, is finally off the boat and is having social interactions with non-tigers. The way that this part of the book is formatted is very interesting. It is sort of formatted like a court transcript between Pi and two investigators.

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