Life of Pi
By Yann Martel
After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific.The crew of...
Reviewed by Dr. Pranali M. Jadhav
The story centres around a sixteen year old youngster named Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) . The story starts with Pi’s childhood in Pondicherry (India), exploring Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. His peaceful and intellectual life is disrupted by a shipwreck in the middle of Pacific Ocean leaving him with a lifeboat, a zebra, a hyena, an orang-utan and a 450 pound Royal Bengal Tiger. Over the course of 227 days Pi struggles with coexisting with a Bengal Tiger, isolation at the sea and the very force of nature. The captivating tale captures exploration of faith and the search of meaning in times of adversity. Martel illustrates the tiger both literally and symbolically, serving as a metaphor for the raw power of nature and the inner strength Pi must gather to endure. In conclusion, this entrancing novel questions us about spirituality, faith and the very understanding of life.