5.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 30/09/2008

A deeply intriguing tale which beautifully challenges preconceptions of truth and reality. This is exactly what STORYTELLING should be like...superbly written with insightful characters and an elightened view of how life really is- a constant conflict between fantasy and fact, characters coloured with both dark and light. This story is uplifting, simple and beautiful. It is also deep and thoughful and anyone who has grown up with both a natural fear, respect and awe of the ocean will appreciate the courage of each and every character in the story as the plot unfolds.
Perhaps though, this tale is not for those in the clinical/ scientifically religious state of mind...this tale demands in its reader not only a generous and open mind but a real understanding of both our imagination and fight for freedom.
This is not a story for slaves of academia, industry or modern fact- it is for real people!
here is a story, take a step and believe in it!

5.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 03/01/2008

This is one of my favourite books of all time. At first, i had my doubts but once i got into this book, i seriously could not put it down. I thought it was very ingenious of the fact that the author decided to portray other characters in the shape of an animal; it helped understand the situations better and the suspension became very realistic. This is a thought provoking book; the reader is constantly challanged by the continous interactions between the tiger and the boy. Eventually the mystery of this tiger is unravelled at the end, like an answer to a complicated maths equation. This ending definately satisfied left a strong impression and raised questions about the human survival instinct. I thoroughly recommend this book. It is a very enjoyable read and i guarantee no one will regret it once they open the cover.

5.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 10/12/2007

What a wonderful story! I loved learning about the zoo and animal behaviors during the first part of the story. And, what great symbolism that he embraced all religions and took from each that which brought him peace and comfort. Perfect! My husband and I are blue water sailors so I found his journey on the liferaft incredibly spell binding, fascinating, educational, and very realistic. I have read all the true disaster at sea stories and this one of Pi rings amazingly true. A great read. I have reread it several times and come away from each read noticing and learning something different.

3.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 28/07/2007

I've never read a book like this before.
I'm still not sure what to make of it (perhaps one for the re-read list?), but I certainly enjoyed it and can remember little details years later..
It plays out with humour at the beginning of the story as young Pi practices three different faiths concurrently, and is found out when the respective leaders of each church/temple he frequents approach his parents to congratulate him on his devotion at the same time!
Then things become quite dark as Pi is lost at sea...
This is definitely a book that has you thinking once you've finished the last page..

3.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 03/03/2007

I found this Man Booker Prize Winner for 2002 to be well written, but, given the rave reviews I received from friends, I thought that it fell a bit short. I am open to the possibility that my expectations were just too high, but still I was disappointed.

Anyway, on to the story. I really enjoyed the first part of the book where India and the philosophy of religion are discussed. I found Pi's adherence to four religions enlightening and was interested by the science discussion and how Pi was lead to his career choice.

While I found the middle of the book imaginatively written, I did think that it dragged a little too long (Sorry to all you lovers of this book!). I was interested by the alpha male play-out but was totally lost by the digestive island!

The final part of the book, after Pi's rescue, contained an interesting twist and I was grateful for that. I believe that this was a great story, but not one I will be reading again. Having said that, I would recommend that everyone at least give it a go as so many other have loved it

4.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 29/11/2006

A creative and artistic adventure about a boy named Pi and a ferocious tiger named Richard Parker who become stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat under tragic circumstances. The author exhibits talent in making an unrealistic story seem completely plausible. The start is a little slow, however as the story progresses the book becomes more captivating.

4.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 29/11/2006

A creative and artistic adventure about a boy named Pi, and a ferocious tiger named Richard Parker who become stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat under tragic circumstances. The author exhibits talent in making an unrealistic story seem completely plausible. The start is a little slow, however as the story progresses the book becomes more captivating.

1.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 18/03/2008

This was one of the most awful books I have ever read. The beginning of the book is a bit John Irving, and promises a wonderful story. The end of the book, however, does not deliver -- it is full of graphic animal violence, and not engaging in the slightest. The "magic" other reviewers speak of is trite and not particularly magical, and while I turned the pages waiting for the two halves of the book to reconcile, I was bitterly disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone I can think of, and fail to understand the hype. It is poorly written, poorly plotted, unengaging, and unpleasant.

3.0 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. – Customer review on 05/04/2006

Lots of twists and turns, written through the eyes of a child in a happy family relationship. Got bored in the middle of the book, I thought the author laboured the point for too long, but I can see why it wone the literary award.