Life of Pi

by Yann Martel

Piscine Molitor Patel is the son of a zookeeper in Pondicherry, India. The zoo business is not great, and Pi’s father decides to move his family to Canada. They travel to Canada via freighter, and some of their zoo animals ride with them, as they will be placed in various North American zoos.

When the freighter sinks, only Pi and some of the zoo animals survive. Armed with a lifeboat and a strong belief in God, Pi must survive the high seas. This is no small task, especially when you consider his passenger: Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger.

While some of the boat portion of the novel drags, one is compelled to finish it, if only to see just how Pi survives. Pi is an incredibly likable character, and he will change the way that you look at life.

11/8/09