Life of Pi by Yann Martel (4)

In the novel, “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, a young 16-year-old boy named Piscine Molitor Patel, also known as Pi is faced with extreme survival situations. Pi is a very interesting boy practicing Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam and the same time but without telling anyone. He is moving to Canada on a large cargoship with his family. They are selling their zoo and looking for a new start. The ship suddenly sinks from an unknown cause and the animals get loose, he gets onto a lifeboat but it has a tiger named Richard Parker, a hyena, and a zebra in it. The zebra and hyena get quickly killed but Richard Parker does not end up killing Pi. He tames the tiger using the knowledge he has from being a zoo keeper and establishes boundaries with it. They have no food and no water for many days and against the odds find ways to survive. Pi fishes and builds a contraption to get fresh water. After over 200 days and much pain and starving they reach a beach in Mexico. Richard Parker immediately jumps off the boat and runs into the forest leaving Pi with no energy lying on the beach but is found and nursed back to health. After he is healthy, two reporters interview him to try and find out why the ship sank but they don’t believe his story. Pi then tells them a similar story but replaces the animals with people and the reporters then realize the first story is better. This book explores themes of survival, faith, and storytelling and always makes you want to read more. The book takes you on an amazing journey, physically and philosophically. On the surface, the book seems like just a survival story but is much more complicated showing the boy using his wits to do the unthinkably, tame a tiger, and then after every day find strength, happiness, and peace. In conclusion, Life of Pi is a beautifully written book with fantastic storytelling and character development. You will remember this book long after you read it and that's why I definitely recommended reading Life of Pi.