I read this book around 2years ago but the impact it had on
me is still fresh and very strong. There are many things which I can’t recall
about it, but I am very much aware of the message it carried for its readers.
The story is about a 16-year old Indian boy, who along with
his family and their zoo animals (the family owned a zoo) decided to move to
Canada for better living prospects and embarked their journey on a ship, which fate
had it, drowned and left Pi stranded in the huge ocean but not alone. He was accompanied by a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a
450-lb Bengal tiger named "Richard Parker”, and hence began his quest for
survival amidst that huge man-eating beast.
This book propels you to ask many questions
about life, faith, destiny and mainly the existence of God. Had Pi being a
non-believer, ordinary fellow, would it had been possible for him to go through
this ordeal all alone, by not being the only living being but being the sole
Human Being? May be yes, may be No! But here not only he was a strong believer
but a rational believer too as he adopted three religions, not for the sake of
it but to be closer to an invisible supreme power who protects us, and I quote
here:
"And
so, when she first heard of Hare Krishnas, she didn't hear right. She heard
'hairless Christians', and that is what they were to her for many years. When I
corrected her, I told her that in fact she was not so wrong; that 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."
70% of the book engages the reader with the
adventures of Pi and Richard Parker, but along the journey there are many
symbolisms which need to be noticed in order to catch the true essence of this
story. Though it gets a bit slow and tedious in between but it’s worth the
effort, and no harm in skipping few pages.
Now, there are certain books which strike you
all along with turn of every single page and there are some, the ending of
which is the main hero. That’s exactly the case with Life of Pi. Its ending
shall leave you baffled and mystified. It will make you feel responsible to
answer something, and if you won’t answer it, you’ll feel anxious and perplexed,
so better answer it..No!!
It’s a 4 Stars for me ****.
Hi, new follower from Book Blogs!
ReplyDeleteCandace
http://endlessdaysofbooks.blogspot.com/
Hi Garima. Thank you for sharing this review. I haven't read this book yet but it sure looks interesting. I mean, it's really great that the impact it had on you is still fresh and very strong, and that you still remember it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Garima, I've nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. You can find the post here. Congratulations!
- Ara of My Book and My Coffee
Hi Ara
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the nomination. I'll try to go ahead with it as soon as possible for me. :)