Why is everyone so crazy about Life of Pi?

Life of Pi by Yann Martel has been all the craze lately. Students are commenting about this novel to others, and teachers are spreading the word. In every public library in the Santa Clara District, this book is on reserve for two to four months.

Written by a Canadian, this book is full of spice and entertainment. It is about a religious, young Indian boy named Piscine Patel, nicknamed “Pi”, who sets off for a fresh start in Canada in a cargo ship. After the ship’s tragic sinking halfway across the Pacific, Pi is left in a lifeboat with the only other survivors, a hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, a female orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. Soon after, the animals start getting bloodthirsty and tear at each other until Pi and the tiger are the only ones who come out alive. Pi wanders the ocean, contemplating his fate, as he learns about methods of survival and the cruelty of the gods. At the end, he finally reaches shore and tells his extraordinary tale to two researchers.

Sophomore Danielle Nguyen says, “I read this book a month ago, and I think that it really changed my perspective on the world. I have matured in a sense, even though it sounds funny.”

Junior, Karen Lee says, “I heard about this novel from one of my teachers, and I wanted to read it. I had to wait to borrow it in the library, but it was okay. It was worth the wait because the story is so wacko yet believable.”

This simple yet powerfully written novel has succeeded in capturing the hearts of many in its spun web of thrill and adventure.

Lee says, “I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading suspense novels. You never know what’s going to happen next, which is partly what makes it so good.”