Life of Pi the - Softcover

Y. Martel

3.94

1,627,964 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0143028480 ISBN 13: 9780143028482

Publisher: Penguin, 2002

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"Life of Pi" needs little introduction. Since it was first published in 2002 it has entered mainstream consciousness and remains one of the most extraordinary works of fiction in recent years. In October 2005 Canongate launched a competition with "The Times" to find an artist to illustrate Yann Martel's international bestseller. Soon the competition expanded as the "Globe" and "Mail" and "The Age" newspapers also launched a search in Canada and Australia. From thousands of entries, Croatian artist Tomislav Torjanac was chosen as the illustrator for this new edition of "Life of Pi". 'My vision of the illustrated edition of "Life of Pi" is based on paintings from a first person's perspective - Pi's perspective. The interpretation of what Pi sees is intermeshed with what he feels and it is shown through use of colours, perspective, symbols, hand gestures, etc. 'The idea behind this approach is a kind of an extension of Mr. Martel's idea as expressed in this quote: "It seemed natural that Mr. Patel's story should be told mostly in the first person - in his voice and through his eyes. But any inaccuracies or mistakes are mine." ' - Tomislav Torjanac.

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Review:

Some books defy categorisation: Life of Pi, the second novel from Canadian writer Yann Martel, is a case in point: just about the only thing you can say for certain about it is that it is fiercely and admirably unique. The plot, if that s the right word, concerns the oceanic wanderings of a lost boy, the young and eager Piscine Patel of the title (Pi). After a colourful and loving upbringing in gorgeously-hued India, the Muslim-Christian-animistic Pi sets off for a fresh start in Canada. His blissful voyage is rudely interrupted when his boat is scuppered halfway across the Pacific, and he is forced to rough it in a lifeboat with a hyena, a monkey, a whingeing zebra and a tiger called Richard. That would be bad enough, but from here on things get weirder: the animals start slaughtering each other in a veritable frenzy of allegorical bloodlust, until Richard the tiger and Pi are left alone to wander the wastes of ocean, with plenty of time to ponder their fate, the cruelty of the gods, the best way to handle storms and the various different recipes for oothappam, scrapple and coconut yam kootu. The denouement is pleasantly neat. According to the blurb, thirtysomething Yann Martel spent long years in Alaska, India, Mexico, France, Costa Rica, Turkey and Iran, before settling in Canada. All those cultures and more have been poured into this spicy, vivacious, kinetic and very entertaining fiction. --Sean Thomas

Review:

"A unique and original story, brilliantly told" (Guardian)

"Pi is bewitching, the tale both nihilistic and na�ve, philosophical and playful, deeply moving while always treading the line clear of schmalz" (Independent)

"Every page offers something of tension, humanity, surprise, or even ecstasy" (The Times)

"A terrific book . . . fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore" (Margaret Atwood Sunday Times)

"Ultimately uplifting" (Daily Mail)

"Extraordinary . . . Life of Pi could renew your faith in the ability of novelists to invest even the most outrageous scenario with plausible life" (New York Times Book Review)

"Martel's engaging characterization and vivid description enliven and enrich this dreamy, fantastic tale" (The Times)

"Full of clever tricks, amusing asides and grand originality" (Daily Telegraph)

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