Classics Without All the Class discussion

Please keep comments to Chapters 19-36!

I really liked the scene in chapter 23 where everybody tries to decide which religion is "the real one", and they fight over who gets Pi. I think the way it finishes (with Pi saying "All I want is to love God" - I'm reading it in Spanish so maybe the phrase is different-) tells a lot about the idea of the book. At first we know that it's a story "that will make us believe in God", but the thing is...¿which God?, and this chapters, that are most of all about getting to know god, don't even discuss which God and just say "hey, God is something different than religion, all of you have different ways to get to the same place".

I also liked that threre are some really funny scenes mixed in all this philosphy talk.

I have just finished reading part one and I love this story. The things about the zoo and religion are really interesting. They make me think.
Also I can relate to Pi very well. His feelings when he is in school, the way he sees his teacher, and his feelings for the Muslim, Christian and Hindu characters. I find myself and Pi very similar in the way of thinking and reasoning.

It might not be right to judge the novel at this point, but until now I'm really loving it!

The book is getting better with each page. Pi's search for something more, his desire to get to know God better and how open-minded he is amazes me. Like Karu, I also enjoyed the scene in Chapter 23 where all three religious leaders were trying to convince Pi that "their" religion was the right religion. Pi summed it up beautifully with "All I want is to love God." I cried...

Ohhh..question: in the movie (I hope this doesn't spoil for those who have not seen it yet) Pi drinks from the church's holy water and the priest (seeing this) brings him water saying: "You must be thirsty." Was that in the book? Did I somehow skip that or was it just in the movie? I ask because it seemed like such a significant part (since that was Richard Parker's real name).

No. It wasn't in the book. In fact, in the book, Pi's relation with the Church is much harder. He needs a lot of time to understand what Christianity is, and why Christ died and was tortured. The priest talks to him a lot of times and teaches Pi a lot of things. In the movie it's just a short and simple scene.

Karu wrote: "No. It wasn't in the book. In fact, in the book, Pi's relation with the Church is much harder. He needs a lot of time to understand what Christianity is, and why Christ died and was tortured. The p..."

Thank you. I found that scene very significant and was a bit disappointed that I didn't read it. I appreciated Pi's reaction to Christianity and the scenes in the book..but that scene in the movie seemed so darn significant..at least I thought so.

I find the religion part intersting but extremely unconvincing. Why whould an invididual with just a simple desire to love God go to so much trouble and practice painstaking rituals of the main world religions? Still of course, I find it entertaining as a ficition piece.

Gosia wrote: "...Why whould an invididual with just a simple desire to love God go to so much trouble and practice painstaking rituals of the main world religions?..."

There are many parts of the world where it's very common for people to mix and match religions, though more usually only a couple: a traditional, local one, and a newer, foreign/colonial one. And what about Messianic Jews?

True, but to me mixing comes more naturally if it is part of your heritage/culture rather than sudden decision to take it up.

Gosia wrote: "True, but to me mixing comes more naturally if it is part of your heritage/culture rather than sudden decision to take it up."

I think the point is. There isn't really a "right" or "wrong" answer. Belief and spirituality are part born of the heart and soul. It doesn't and isn't supposed to make sense. Some of the most intense emotions we feel as humans can't really be put into words, let alone be explained. Every person is different.

I finished this group of chapters last night. I was entertained by Pi's encounter with the three wise men. I was touched by his honesty in the midst of this arguement, "All I want is to love God." I believe Holly Rose and Karu were touched by it well. It is such a beautiful statement.

The pace started to pick up as we started getting closer to the incident. So, I am guessing some tears might be coming on soon.

I finished this group of chapters last night. I was entertained by Pi's encounter with the three wise men. I was touched by his honesty in the midst of this arguement, "All I want is to love God." I believe Holly Rose and Karu were touched by it well. It is such a beautiful statement.

The pace started to pick up as we started getting closer to the incident. So, I am guessing some tears might be coming on soon.

Jessica, you are correct in saying that I was touched by Pi's desire to love God. As a practicing Christian I appreciated his doubt and him questioning the religion but it was his determination to "find" God through different religions that touched me.

Same here. I'm atheist...or agnostic, but after all the bad things he said about us I don't know LOL, but his open.mindness and his idea that God is beyond religion (is something bigger than that, that anyone) and that religions are just different paths to get to the same place, is what I found most interesting about this part.

My husband is an atheist and it made him a really open-mined and tolerant person.
Anyway, I`m growing on this book. Just read about Pi trying instinctively to save Richard Parker just to realize that actually it`s not a good idea to share the raft with a wild beast!

Karu wrote: "Same here. I'm atheist...or agnostic, but after all the bad things he said about us I don't know LOL, but his open.mindness and his idea that God is beyond religion (is something bigger than that, ..."

I felt the same way when I read that part. One I thought it was just a beautiful way to view religion. There is no right/wrong. He was accepting of everything because he just wanted to have that connection/relationship with God. The open mindedness is something I have often wished humans could have when it comes to religion. I wish all could have eyes like Pi's on this topic.

Gosia, that part with Richard Parker kind of made me chuckle in the midst of the danger around him. I can not even imagine trying to save a tiger. Then have the realization that my life was in danger.

Jessica, I too wish all could have eyes like Pi's with regards to having a relationship with God.

Gosia wrote: "I find the religion part intersting but extremely unconvincing. Why whould an invididual with just a simple desire to love God go to so much trouble and practice painstaking rituals of the main world religions?"

I haven't gotten to this part yet so I don't know if I'd find it convincing in the story, but I find that idea convincing in real life. Many people seeking an experience of God look to different religions, and their different rituals, as a way of finding that experience.

As an atheist, I can read about Pi's interest in religion without a bias to a specific religion.
His ideas about getting close to God are really, truly wonderful. I really like the way Martel tells this story.
My favourite of his 'mentors' however, is his atheist teacher. Not because I am atheist, but because he opens Pi up to a whole new way of thinking. He betters Pi.
The last line of part 1 really got to me:
"This story has a happy ending."
Perfect way to keep me engaged.

Gosia wrote: "I find the religion part intersting but extremely unconvincing. Why whould an invididual with just a simple desire to love God go to so much trouble and practice painstaking rituals of the main wor..."

I think some people find comfort and enjoy related to God/deity through the rituals of religion. Most people that I know do it with just one tradition, but I don't find it wholly unbelievable to thinks someone would like to incorporate more than one type of ritual.

Myself, I grew up going to a baptist church but had a period of my life where I considered becoming a nun because I liked the more definite rituals and practices that the Catholic church offered. There's something about the set-apartness that appealed to my personality. I know this isn't as extreme of an example as Pi's but it does help me to believe his characterization more.

Not sure if that helps, but just my thoughts on it :).

Karu wrote: "I really liked the scene in chapter 23 where everybody tries to decide which religion is "the real one", and they fight over who gets Pi. I think the way it finishes (with Pi saying "All I want is..."

I loved this part! I totally agree about having some great revelations as to comparing these religions to each other!

There was some really great insights in this section. Pi's encounter with the wise men intrigued me as did the meeting between his teacher and the baker.

Pi's run in with the three men of religion was both very interesting and amusing. The impression I was left with was that in Pi's peaceful, accepting ways, he had more wisdom than any one of them.

Also, with regards to Gosia's comment, it could also have to do with the fact that Pi is at a young age. It seems to me like he has a sort of school boy crush on God and is seeking out every possible way to get closer to him.

I think that the narrator in the present tense is there to tell us how is Pi now, and thus complete the vision we have of him (somebody outside of the protagonist himself who can tell us how he is). But he is also de one who represents us (at least I feel like that) because he also learns about the new aproach to God from Pi's story. He doesn't believe in God (or at least doubts since he's agnostic) and he's there to be amazed by that story...or not, we'll see. He goes to the meeting with the promise that he will hear a story that will make him believe, wich is I think, the readers point of view.

I don't know if I'm beeing clear or even ansewring your question.

ps: anyways we know that he survived because he's talking to Pi in the present...so it's not like he's spoiling us anything.

I think the only wise guy here is Pi. The fact that the three representatives of three widely spread religions could not find the common grounds between them and only regarded their zones of differences, makes them only practioners of their own faith without questioning or integrating their faith with that of others. This is how the story pinpointed how conflicts based on religion arises. Some fail to aknowledge that we are all alike in a different way. On the other hand, Pi have come to recognize the similarities between all three religions, therefore he practices the three with ease as if he practices one.

I find the character of the elder Pi more believable in the book. He is not the enlightened, self confident, above it all person I encountered in the movie.The elder Pi portrayed in the book is grumpy at times and he is still working out his beliefs. This seems a genuine reflection of humanity.

I also loved the scene with the three wise men. It really made me smile when they were all insulting each others religions, and poor Pi as has been said before, is the youngest but wisest of the lot.

I loved seeing his complete innocence in looking at these various religions and adopting them all completely and yet in his own way. As he says, he "just wants to love God." Watching the three religious leaders argue was funny, but disheartening, as all too often this is how the scene goes...if we're lucky.

Since I was listening in audio, I honestly hadn't paid close enough attention to realize that Richard Parker was the name of the tiger until Pi was trying to push the boat away from him. I kept thinking "what on earth is going on?" Actually, this scene has more significance having just finished the book (don't read this spoiler if you haven't finished!!!): (view spoiler)[Is this maybe representative of how he felt about the cook even BEFORE seeing his brutality on the boat? (hide spoiler)]