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A review by aloozahra
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
5.0
Edited 11/15/14*
Even amongst avid readers, it is rare to find novels that resonate deeply. I think that this is a genius book.. I don't know if it's because I'm Indian, or because I enjoy interfaith, or because I like philosophy, or because I find animals fascinating, or that I just appreciate Yann Martel's use of language, or if it's a combination of all of those things, but I adore this book.
Pi is a surprisingly spiritual character for someone his age. He practices three seemingly contradictory religions: Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. His explanation is, "I just want to love God." I think that Martel uses Pi as a vessel to ask an important question. Are they really as different as we think they are? “Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat wearing Muslims.” Perhaps this book resonated with me because I happened to be going through a particularly spiritual part of my life when I read it, but I also think that reading this book can provide a catalyst for pondering spirituality on the part of the readers, whether or not they believe in any sort of divine or higher power. Anyone can feel spiritual, but you can also see it in others. Maybe the point is that we can all identify with each other more than we think we can. Beyond the increased religious awareness this book may provide some, it also showcases Indian culture and the religious diversity within the country of India, and I always think that these sorts of reading experiences are valuable.
Without revealing any spoilers, I will also say that Yann Martel did something really unique here by saying that we should decide, as readers, what to believe. In a way, he's saying that how we feel or think about a story after hearing it is more important than the author's intention behind writing. We all read books and consume art and form subjective opinions anyway, but rarely is there an explicit invitation to do so. I think this makes Life of Pi particularly beautiful and rewarding to read.
Not to say that I thought it was perfect... The first 2/3 I thought were beautifully worded, insightful, and majestic, and that is the basis of my praise and my 5-star rating. The final 3rd of the book, however, had me feeling unsure what to think. Perhaps I wished for a romanticized view of a shipwreck survivor story unfairly and maybe that is just a flaw of mine. Anyhow, Life of Pi has left a profound impression on me and I will never forget it. I don't think books have to be perfect to be worth five stars.
Even amongst avid readers, it is rare to find novels that resonate deeply. I think that this is a genius book.. I don't know if it's because I'm Indian, or because I enjoy interfaith, or because I like philosophy, or because I find animals fascinating, or that I just appreciate Yann Martel's use of language, or if it's a combination of all of those things, but I adore this book.
Pi is a surprisingly spiritual character for someone his age. He practices three seemingly contradictory religions: Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. His explanation is, "I just want to love God." I think that Martel uses Pi as a vessel to ask an important question. Are they really as different as we think they are? “Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat wearing Muslims.” Perhaps this book resonated with me because I happened to be going through a particularly spiritual part of my life when I read it, but I also think that reading this book can provide a catalyst for pondering spirituality on the part of the readers, whether or not they believe in any sort of divine or higher power. Anyone can feel spiritual, but you can also see it in others. Maybe the point is that we can all identify with each other more than we think we can. Beyond the increased religious awareness this book may provide some, it also showcases Indian culture and the religious diversity within the country of India, and I always think that these sorts of reading experiences are valuable.
Without revealing any spoilers, I will also say that Yann Martel did something really unique here by saying that we should decide, as readers, what to believe. In a way, he's saying that how we feel or think about a story after hearing it is more important than the author's intention behind writing. We all read books and consume art and form subjective opinions anyway, but rarely is there an explicit invitation to do so. I think this makes Life of Pi particularly beautiful and rewarding to read.
Not to say that I thought it was perfect... The first 2/3 I thought were beautifully worded, insightful, and majestic, and that is the basis of my praise and my 5-star rating. The final 3rd of the book, however, had me feeling unsure what to think. Perhaps I wished for a romanticized view of a shipwreck survivor story unfairly and maybe that is just a flaw of mine. Anyhow, Life of Pi has left a profound impression on me and I will never forget it. I don't think books have to be perfect to be worth five stars.