*~Can't Stop Reading~* discussion

This is for discussions of Life of Pi which is our 1001 book to read for February!

I am so glad this has been chosen as I started reading this weeks ago and just cant get into it. For this reason I am really interested in other peoples view on it.

This was a beautiful story. The ending so tragic but with an amazing moral about survival

Liz wrote: "This was a beautiful story. The ending so tragic but with an amazing moral about survival"

What did you really like the most?

This is among my favorite books so I'll try and join in the discussion where I can. I hope everyone enjoys it!

Bev wrote: "Liz wrote: What did you really like the most?"

Without giving anything away at this point, I found that I was really able to connect with Pi right off the bat (especially with the conclusions he draws about religion, and the fact that he's a vegetarian); it always helps someone enjoy a book when they can relate to the main character from the beginning.

Also, being intentionally vague now, I thought a lot of the scenes were riveting and well-written, and it held my attention throughout.

One thing I've noticed about the ending was that many people seem to get different things from it. Which surprised me at first, because I thought there was only one true way to interpret the ending, but I appreciate that different people see different things in it (kind of like cloud spotting). I loved the ending, but it will be interesting seeing other people's reactions and conclusions about it.

Kyle wrote: "Bev wrote: "Liz wrote: What did you really like the most?"

Without giving anything away at this point, I found that I was really able to connect with Pi right off the bat (especially with the conc..."

Thanks Kyle for that. Maybe it is because I cant relate to being veggie nor am I religious nor am I particularly bothered about zoo animals and in fact hate zoos. Then there is the long windedness of his descriptions and the fact that he is so "nice". I found this annoying.

I disagree with the message of this book but do think it's beautifully written.

Xdyj wrote: "I disagree with the message of this book but do think it's beautifully written."

I find that a lot of people have different opinions/interpretations on what the message actually is. It will be interesting to see if the group varies in reactions and conclusions throughout the course of reading.

Xdyj wrote: "I disagree with the message of this book but do think it's beautifully written."

Yes it is well written but the story itself does not do it for me.

(view spoiler)[ Personally I think the author is trying to say that religions or secular beliefs like Marxist-Leninism are just ways of coping with senseless sufferings and cruelties in the world, which I think makes sense in a way but probably over-emphasized the personal aspect of belief systems & overlooked their socioeconomic effects. (hide spoiler)]

The book promises to make you believe in God. it didn't do that, but who cares? The story was engaging from beginning to end. I love the way Pi's mind works....even when I don't share his beliefs. He's a delight to follow.

The story is full of surprises. Most were delightful, a few were horrifying. None are forgettable.

I enjoyed this tale so much, I had a hard time putting it down.

I'm listening to it on audio and it's wonderful. I hope to finish it tonight; he's on the island sleeping in the trees with the Meercats and he says it's the day before he leaves the island. The fish that came out of the pond in the night have disappeared in the morning. So I have to clue what happens next, or where hi and Richard Parker go!

Check out this website for some neat insights. http://www.shmoop.com/life-of-pi/

I have 30 min. left to listen to the book on my way home from work! Pi is telling his story to the Japanese guys.

glad you're liking it, Sandra. :-)

The detailed descriptions assist in imaging each scene.
When finished, I believe whatever message the reader receives is individual, different experiences make for different messages.

Life of Pi tells a fantastic story that I think anyone can enjoy it, regardless of their religious beliefs. Being an atheist, I was having doubts about reading this, fearing it would eventually turn preachy. Which, surprisingly, it didn't. The writing is perfect in its descriptiveness and manages to bring this crazy story to life.

**SPOILERS**

As for the stories... From a literary pov, I'd choose them both. Both are great reading material. The first one, magical and comforting like a kids' tale, only more violent. The second one, real like a hard punch in the face and therefore having a greater impact. The animal violence was horrific enough, but animal violence is common, natural and every kid can tune in to Discovery Channel to watch it. What’s terrifying beyond words is witnessing your mother’s murder, having her head thrown at you and holding it in your hands for a few paralyzing seconds, then watching her bloody headless body being dumped into the ocean. What a mindfuck of a book that would be!

And if we were to leave the realms of fiction, what a crazy, fucked up, memorable, intense life that would be. Would I choose the better story? Would I try to quiet all doubts and convince myself that there's some supernatural entity existing beyond our world and understanding? Maybe not. Maybe I'd just go crazy or commit suicide. I can't adopt a story I know it's implausible and quite ridiculous as truth just because it's nice and "better". This conscious self-lying is awfully saddening. But there are also people like Pi who would choose the story with animals as a way to cope and mitigate traumatic memories. Who could blame them?

We all need better stories to get lost in for a while. I, as a reader with a fairly normal life and no trauma in the past, don't need the better story to be god (and the argument doesn't work for me because it's just Pascal's wager with animals). But it could be books for example, or travel, or any other form of escapism.

On a sad side note, the movie made me feel nothing.

Xandra wrote: "Life of Pi tells a fantastic story that I think anyone can enjoy it, regardless of their religious beliefs. Being an atheist, I was having doubts about reading this, fearing it would eventually tur..."

I on the other hand felt it to be very preachy and the book made me feel nothing. Ah well....

Wow, I didn't find it preachy at all. Made me think. It was about there's no one way to God or a higher being; there's something in all religions. It's about compassion and being non judgmental and love and more. I think the author is a fabulous writer. Looking forward to the movie.

Sandra wrote: "Wow, I didn't find it preachy at all. Made me think. It was about there's no one way to God or a higher being; there's something in all religions. It's about compassion and being non judgmental an..."

Maybe we have different ideas as to Preachy. Any book that babbles on about religion is in my opinion "preachy". There are other ways to discuss being non judgemental and love than to describe several different forms of religion. Plus no one is so "nice" or as non judgemental as Pi. It just does not ring true. Plus the tale is so implausible as to be dull.

I'm sorry this book didn't work for you, Bev. I personally liked how it's not partial to one "true" religion, but offers various perspectives on the idea of God. After all, this is the book where someone says at one point: “The word of God? To that illiterate merchant of yours in the middle of the desert? Those were drooling epileptic fits brought on by the swaying of his camel, not divine revelation. That, or the sun frying his brains!” and we all laugh and let Martel get away with it. Humor wins me over every time.

I didn't see this book as being "preachy" and believe me, as an atheist I would have stopped reading it if I did. I just took it as Pi's thoughts and as he "loved god" that spending so much time alone he would think about his faith.

If I were stranded on a boat in the middle of the Pacific for 227 days, I would definitely be thinking about God or if there was one, lol!

And I believe there are good people Iike Pi; I know quite a few.

I read Life of Pi a long time ago -- it's one of my favorite books ever -- and as an atheist, I've always wondered whether this book was more favored by religious or non-religious people.

My instinct would be that this book would appeal to atheists but repel Christians. But that hasn't exactly been the case, at least among the people I've asked. What do you guys think?

Benji - I'm not so sure it's that black and white.
I believe that if I keep an open mind, do not pigeon hole a story/book that has religion in it, accept even as a non-religious that I can still learn from a religious person. I will see the story and characters for what they are and enjoy my reading experience.

No, of course it's not black and white. I just wondered whether it would be a trend.

I guess the underlying question is whether people see a reflection of their own values in the theme of the book. When I read Life of Pi, I thought "wow, this is a book that paints a beautiful mythology with an atheist theme" but many of my religious friends said that they interpreted the theme within the framework of their own faith and felt like the book supported and strengthened that faith.

I've never heard of another book dealing so intimately with religious themes where the book was just as well loved by atheists and believers alike.

Which is pretty cool.

I completely agree. That is cool.

Steve wrote: "I completely agree. That is cool."

I am so glad you all enjoyed it but I hated it. I am not religious and I cannot stand books that go on about it constantly which this pretty much does. Nobody is as nice as Pi, if you think they are then all I can say is rose tinted specs anyone?...........

I would say there are not many people left who are as nice as Pi.
To say "nobody is ......"?
(I know he's not a real person by the way :D)

As for you not enjoying it Bev, that's fair enough.
You can only like what you like can't you.
And I can see that it just wasn't a book for you.

There'll be plenty of books out there that I won't like that lots of others will.
I just happen to like this one.

Steve wrote: "I would say there are not many people left who are as nice as Pi.
To say "nobody is ......"?
(I know he's not a real person by the way :D)

As for you not enjoying it Bev, that's fair enough.
You ..."
Ah but my past job made me see the reality of most people so I beg to differ about that point. Glad you enjoyed the book but I am pleased that I dont have to always like or enjoy the popular.

It's rare for me to like the popular.
I only bought the book as it was 20p on Kindle and I thought the film promo looked good.
I'd no idea what it was actually going to be about.
I honestly would have avoided it had I known before hand about the religious angle. Glad I didn't.

I take on board what you're saying about past experience of people. It's only a recent friendship that has made me change my mind as my pal and his wife are very sweet genuine people. Life for them is tough but they retain that genuinely nice character.

Idk, personally I see the kind of universalism of Pi as a sort of cop-out. It is one thing to say that "I appreciate the beauty and wisdom of your faith & admit that what I believe in can be wrong after all", it is another to claim that all religions and ideologies are equally valid and 100% true, without at least trying to reconcile the logical contradictions among their doctrines.

I don't think Pi believes that all religions are 100% true. The impression I gathered is that he’s in mostly for the rites and for the stories and he's perfectly aware of their implausibility. I doubt he believes that Yashoda sees the whole universe in young Krishna's mouth or that Jesus was born from a virgin mother and came back to life 3 days after his death. But they're nice stories. Just like the Greek legends.

I think Pi makes a clear distinction between myths and the higher power he believes in. He believes/hopes that a supreme being exists. From there on it's all speculation and pretty stories made by men and he embraces them all without crediting them with too much credibility.

I liked the idea of the book. How to fit in zoology and religion in one story never crossed my mind. The first few chapters were somewhat detail oriented, and at some point I thought "What's the point of it?" but later on it came together nicely.
However, at some points the story gets really graphic. The hyena and the culinary attempts of Pi on the life boat weren't really my favorite part. The end of it to me was sound yet somehow brutal and abrupt, but I enjoyed it. Maybe, I'll be coming back to this book in a while.

I'm now fifty looooooooong pages into this. Stuff is going to actually HAPPEN in this story, right?

Sunny in Wonderland wrote: "I'm now fifty looooooooong pages into this. Stuff is going to actually HAPPEN in this story, right?"

Haha, yes Sunny. Things do eventually happen. :)

They definitely do happen! The audio version of this book was wonderful, btw.

I felt that way too SunnyInWonderland. The first time I picked up the book -- having no idea what it was going to be about -- I read about 30 pages and lost interest.

A few months later, when everybody was talking about what an amazing book it was (this was back in 2005 or 2006), I decided to give it another shot. Once I plowed through the first 50 pages, that's when it started getting really good. From that point on, I couldn't put it down.

Page 110. Stuff is happening. :)

I'm about 50% through and am really enjoying it. Life of Pi is not normally the type of book I would go for but I’m so glad this has come up as a group read. (One of the reasons I joined goodreads was to widen my reading) I’m not entirely sure if it’s because I like Pi as a character or that I’m enjoying reading about the animals. I agree it’s quite descriptive text but as an animal lover, I love it!
It’s interesting to read people’s views on the religious element in the story. I’m not religious but found it fascinating to read how Pi appreciates each religion and practises these to fulfil his spiritual side. Not sure if it came off as “preachy” but different strokes…
I can’t wait to grab five minutes later and start another chapter. I'm intrigued to see what this "ending" everyone is talking about is!

Kate wrote: "I'm about 50% through and am really enjoying it. Life of Pi is not normally the type of book I would go for but I’m so glad this has come up as a group read. (One of the reasons I joined goodreads ..."

I agree Kate, you gain insight into different religious practises with this book...making the novel more spiritually based than religiously driven.

I felt that this book had opportunity to be beautiful but the writing didn't go deep enough. There were some good concepts but because the writing lacked nothing resonated with me. Even Martel's analysis of the religions was broad and stayed at the surface. I felt that Pi's story was driven more by his childhood in a zoo than his religious beliefs. All in all the story was fine once it got going but ultimately because of the writing it was a miss. Unlike past comments I didn't find it preachy and I tend to be sensitive to that

Crikey you have all had a go at me havent you for mentioning the word preachy?
Let me clarify for you. The book discusses religion does it not? Several forms of it. The main character is a religious person is he not? He extols religion and drones on about it being wonderful. Therefore I sensitively called it "preachy" as I am usually very sensitive to others beliefs. I preferred the use of preachy to other more derogatory comments I could have made.
Surely I am allowed to state my case without being jumped on from a great height?

Bev wrote: "Crikey you have all had a go at me havent you for mentioning the word preachy?
Let me clarify for you. The book discusses religion does it not? Several forms of it. The main character is a religiou..."

I don't think anybody was trying to jump on you, or have a go at you. I honestly think others have just tried to add their two cents about what they thought of the book. You thought it was preachy, which is absolutely fine. I think other people have simply said that they didn't find it to be so. I really don't think anybody was trying to attack you for your opinion; sorry you saw it that way.

Kyle wrote: "Bev wrote: "Crikey you have all had a go at me havent you for mentioning the word preachy?
Let me clarify for you. The book discusses religion does it not? Several forms of it. The main character i..."

I think it is always sad when groups band together to pick on people instead of giving their own opinions. That is all I have to say.

Kyle wrote: "Bev wrote: "Crikey you have all had a go at me havent you for mentioning the word preachy?
Let me clarify for you. The book discusses religion does it not? Several forms of it. The main character i..."

This is exactly what I meant. Although Bev found it preachy I did not. No picking on anybody here! You can say you hate the book and didn't like it at all; while I can say I loved it. That's not attacking - it's everyone giving their opionion, IMHO.

Bev wrote: "I think it is always sad when groups band together to pick on people instead of giving their own opinions. That is all I have to say."


Like I said, I think giving their own opinions was exactly what they have been doing; I don't see that anyone has banded together to pick on you. You thought it was preachy, and nobody has picked on you for thinking that. Others have simply said they didn't think it was. I hope others are allowed to hold different opinions of the book as you, without being accused of picking on you.

By the way, I plan on seeing the movie this weekend. I can see it in 3-D or for $1.99 regular (no 3-D). Any advice on whether the 3-D is worth it?

Sandra wrote: "By the way, I plan on seeing the movie this weekend. I can see it in 3-D or for $1.99 regular (no 3-D). Any advice on whether the 3-D is worth it?"

I saw it in regular, and I enjoyed it. Though, I have a tendency to prefer regular over 3-D. 3-D seems to make my head hurt. :)

Me too, Kyle, but if 3-D was that much better and a "must" for this movie, I would suck it up and go.