A brilliant read (Life of Pi - Yann Martel)

Member Name: jwallis55

Product:	Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Date:	29/07/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The writing

Disadvantages: Confusing at times

Totalling 319 pages and published by Canongate, this book by Yann Martel was the winner of the Man Booker Prize, 2002. It went on to be a number one bestseller and a book to be found everywhere, even though not necessarily mainstream in terms of story or character. It is decidedly odd, but yet ultimately, decidely brilliant.

The Daily Mail called the story 'inventive, shocking and ultimately uplifting', and that it is. Following a 16 year old boy, the survivor of a ship wreck, as he peruses the Pacific. Except the twist is, he's stuck on the only lifeboat with the other survivors, who happen to be a hyena, a zebra, a female orang-utan and a Royal Bengal tiger. This is interesting enough, but yet there is much more to this book than just originality. It delves into philosophy, the divide and link between the animal kingdom and the human world and most potently, religion.

Thought provoking, inventive, full of humour and ultimately about belief, in whatever guise that might be. A brilliant, brilliant read.

Summary: Thought provoking and original