 | Category: | Books | | Genre: | Literature & Fiction | | Author: | Yann Martel |
I've heard of this book for a long time and I'm aware of its good reviews but was afraid to read it because of the name of the protagonist, Pi Patel. I thought it was one of the then-popular mathematical novels which can be a little hard to read.
One day, my husband came back from the library and proudly showed two books to me: one for him, Life of Pi and one for me, a chik-lit called Good something. I was squealing over his choice and complimented him on his good taste while holding onto the Life of Pi. He was surprised that I prefer that book and explained to me that the librarian recommended it to him. He thought it would be a manly book and therefore suitable for him because the book won the Man Booker Prize.
After sputtering my outrage at his chauvinism and explaining what a Booker Prize is (an award for English-language novels from Commonwealth writers), I snatched the book from him indignantly and haven't been able to let it go (or let him go near) since.
The book is divided into three parts: Pi's life in Pondicherry, Pi's life on the lifeboat when the ship carrying him and his family on the way to Canada perished in the Pacific Ocean, Pi's life after the rescue.
The first part is hilarious. I particularly like the scene where the three wise men (a compilation of a priest, an Imam, and a pundit) explores the contradicting principles of major religions, trying to convince Pi, who is all Muslim, Hindu, and Christian, that their religion is the best.
The idyllic life soon vanishes when, due to a political turmoil in India, the family decides to move to Canada. The ship they are on is wrecked and Pi is the only survivor on a lifeboat with a savage hyena, a motherly orang-utan, a wounded zebra, and a ferocious tiger. The second part, I must warn you, is gory but extremely gripping brought to live with precise and uncommon phrases. I felt his anguish of being alone on the boat and marvel at his resourcefulness. Perhaps, I even learn a thing or two about survival on sea.
The last part is almost an epilogue with an incredible twist. I finished reading in the middle of the night and was rather shaken with disbelief as the essence of the story seeped into my brain. I decided to up my review by another star for this ingenuity. I might even have to read it again.
This book is perhaps not for everyone. The phrases are funny and vivid yet focused but the content is gory and bloody, Quentin Tarantino style. But it's great story-telling. I regret I borrow instead of buying it.   | esduren wrote on Feb 17, edited on Feb 17  3,5 bintang dariku. eh, ada mahasiswi DKV yg bikin ilustrasinya life of pi ini lho sebagai tugas akhirnya di ITB. jadinya keren. bentar.. cariin link-nya.. |
 | hmm.. nunggu ampe ada yang bikin film-nya aja deh... thanks for sharing it ya ven
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 | Udah sering denger tentang bagusnya buku ini.
Setelah loe kasih review ini, kayaknya gue makin penasaran untuk baca.... :D |
 | seperti biayasa guwe punya tapi bloman baca *blush* |
 | hhmm... dah beli bukunya bertahun yang lalu. Stuck di bagian pi menjelaskan kenapa dia dikasi nama pi, soalnya bosan hehehhe... Thanks for the review, seengganya sekarang bisa baca sambil berpikir, "abis ini seru kok, abis ini seru" :P |
 | graceque wrote on Feb 19, edited on Feb 19  (motivasi belinya sih gara2 covernya bagus :P )  setujuh! covernya lutu hehe --eh cover terjemahan b indonesia beda sama yang dipajang pepen-- |
 | bookshop wrote on Feb 19, edited on Feb 19 bagian tengah yg dia terdampar diatas kapal agak ngebosenin sih kata gue Buku yg lain kali? Ini baru minjem kok :p
Iya, yg ditengah lama yah? Kita aja bosen bacanya, apalagi dia yg ngalamin yah? :)). |
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