I'm about half way through and I really like this book. Once I start reading it's very hard to put down, which has meant lots of late bedtimes and sleepy days for me lately! Promised to busybooklover as a trade.

Just finished reading it yesterday. I've been looking through old posts and forums and there seems to be quite a mixed review about the book. I enjoyed it. I thought the story was good...good enough to get me hooked and make me keep reading.

***Warning...the following review might "spoil" the book if you have not read it***

The only parts I found hard to believe were about the island and the other shipwrecked person he encountered. I was confused if the other person was really real or if he was just talking to the tiger again. And the island just seemed too unbelieveable and random.

I'm not very knowledgable about religion or religious matters so I'm afraid some of those references might have gone over my head. In fact, I kind of felt like Pi...wanting to embrace many different religions. I felt like I could understand his motives or point of view. Personally I believed his first version of the story. I felt the second one was just made up to appease the Japanese men. I think being on the boat with the Tiger helped him survive...it helped keep his mind challenged and alert and kept him busy with trying to not get killed. Without the tiger, I think it would have been easier for him to grow lazy and depressed and just waste away.

The discussion questions at the end of the book also helped me to think about certain parts more. I wish I had been able to read this as part of a book club so we could get into a discussion about it.

I am passing this book on to busybooklover as a trade. Hope you enjoy it!

Decided to release this book as a Bookray....

This list so far is:

Busybooklover - CA
Reader1212 - WA
savannahblue - OR
killiney - OR
Ladyofunicorns - NM
Uofigirl -
Froggiepeople - MN
WarEagle78 - AL
Ppagano - FL
nillabreen - MA
strawdog - NE <---rec'd 1/27

I've arranged it geographically so that hopefully the book will spend less time traveling to and from readers. Please make a journal entry when you receive the book so we know it is safe. When you are finished PM the next person in line for their address and send it on. The last person can release it.

I'm thrilled to get his in the mail so now I can finish it-- Only able to get 50 pgs or so in with library copy... now I can find out what happens. Thanks!!

Sorry i has taken me so long with this ring book-- just my luck to get it over the Holidays! I will get this out by Jan 1st! PMing next in line to get add...

just rec'd by post - thank you! i've been looking forward to reading this, and haven't had any luck finding it used (i.e., CHEAP). will start tonight or tomorrow, and send it on its way!

wow. what an unlikely and marvelous story. i really didn't know anything about the book, just that a lot of people were interested in it. . .had no idea about the tiger and lifeboat (i don't think i'm giving too much away, as they're on the cover!). other than that, i don't want to inadvertantly ruin any surprises for anyone, so i'll just say that i can't wait to discuss it with someone, especially the ending!! full of surprises, and very thought-provoking.

one of my favorite passages (p.55):

"There is the story of Vishnu incarnated as Vamana the dwarf. He asks of demon king Bali only as much land as he can cover in three strides. Bali laughs at this runt of a suitor and his puny request. He consents. Immediately Vishnu takes on his full cosmic size. With one stride he covers the earth, with the second the heavens, and with the third he boots Bali into the netherworld."

thanks for sharing, raquelsita. on to the next reader, as soon as i have an address.

Received this as part of a book ring and can't wait to get started on it!

Just received this in the mail yesterday. Life of Pi has budged its way into first position on Mt. TBR.

Arrived yesterday in mail, will journal again when read! Thanks for sharing.

Imaginative, well-written tale of a shipwrecked boy. Was his story true? Was it a fiction made to mask the unthinkable from his mind? Whichever is the case, The Life of Pi is facinating.

Will send on as soon as possible.

In mail today to Florida. Thanks again for sharing!

I just received this book yesterday as part of a Bookring and, as long of a wait it has been, I am looking forward to reading it.
I just finished my current read and will begin reading this one today.
Thanks raquelsita for holding this Ray. :-)

I finished this book last week and found it very interesting. I enjoyed the story itself, but found the beginning had a little too much detail and at times I was confused and had to reread some parts.
I love the Tiger and hate the Hyena... and the end makes you wonder which story was really true.
I happened to go to the Zoo this weekend and enjoyed telling Pi's story to my daughter and my co-worker's children. They found it fascinating!
Thanks to you - Raquelsita - for the opportunity to read this book.

Received recently in a bookray. I'll start it next and pass it on. Thank you!

So I suppose the meaning of the book hinges on: which story was true?

This book didn't immediately grab me -- I thought it was kind of slow in the beginning -- but I'm glad I stuck with it, because it all comes together in the end, and proves to be more complex and interesting than I had thought at first.

What's with that island? If you decide that the first story is a fictionalized representation of what really happened (which is the way I'm leaning), then what does the island stand for? It's the point when you have everything you need except other people, and it came right after Pi had been nearly dead from his ordeal and talking to the tiger and possibly the cook -- the only point where the two stories come together for a moment.... it made me think of "I Heart Huckabees" where the two guys are sitting there whacking themselves in the head and they decide that it's all they need, they can just sit there and bring on the concussion, but then the existentialist tells them that human drama is inevitable.... maybe Pi found some transcendence in his depravation.

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There were many huge events in my life in the past few months. I know I've had this book for longer than is proper in a bookring. Thanks everyone for being so patient with me.

I sent a pm to strawdog last week. I'll try again, and skip to book-bugger if there is no response.

YAY!
Thanks for adding me to this bookring; I'm so happy to get to read it.
I'll try to get to it sometime in the next few weeks and send it on.
Cheers!

This was an excellent story. I had no trouble with the two stories; in fact i was fascinated by both of them.
The references to Hindu myths and Indian religion and culture are wonderful. I made a point not to seek out any synopses and I'm glad; the entire book was a delightful surprise.
May we all find the joys of life without having to climb into a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger to do it.

Contacting raquelsita to find out what to do with this great book now.