The Life of π

by Jason Shaverin

The number pi (symbol: π) is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It has been represented by the Greek letter "π" since the early 1700s. Its decimal representation never settles into a permanent repeating pattern and never ends. The ubiquitous nature of π makes it one of the most widely known mathematical constants, both inside and outside the scientific community. This book denotes π to 100,000 decimals.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2013

Reviews

[Nic Ekland · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Life of Pi is truly a remarkable book, encompassing aspects of magic, politics, religion and a coming of age survival story that effectively makes you not put the book down. Told mostly in first person narrative of past occurrences, the book seems a bit impossible at times, challenging the reader to push through the skepticism. The events that occur in the story aren't meant to be realistic, but are intended to be real enough to keep the reader engaged enough throughout the story and development of Pi, the main character.

As a boy Pi becomes stranded on the ocean with little to nothing, making readers become attached to the likable character. The development of Pi is special, from when initially stranded with the animals being at the mercy of them and the elements, to training the tiger, establishing a system of life, and learning to live of the sea.

After coexisting on the island for a while, Pi and Richard Parker, his trained tiger began to set out to sea after Pi came to the conclusion that the island they were living on eats people, they threw their lives to the mercy of the sea because Pi found human teeth in a trees fruit. Pi and Richard finally wash up on a Mexican beach, Richard runs off and villagers take Pi to the hospital, where he is questioned. Pi explains to a man the story of how he lived with a tiger and other animals on an island, rightfully so the man was skeptical and left unsatisfied with Pi's explanation. Pi then re-tells the story but with humans rather than animals, he is commended for living and they accept his story for their final report.

I was very confused about the ending to the story, and am critical towards towards the realism of this story. This book was not suited for me, there were too many spells of dullness that made me want to quit reading all together. I would not recommend this book to someone who's looking for an action packed thriller but rather to someone who loves to think critically and looking for a serious read. This book gives an opportunity to think outside the box, the slow developing characters and scenery makes your imagination buzz, like a hive of killer bees.

[Dillyn]

I decided to read the book because i saw the movie and wanted to read the entire version

my favorite character was the Pi because he never gave up and even when there was no hope he kept going, he was also smart and he survives because of his friend the tiger and hope. i like him also because he was strong and never gave up.

my favorite quote was, “I've never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. Such is the strangeness of the human heart. I still cannot understand how he could abandon me so unceremoniously, without any sort of goodbye, without looking back even once. The pain is like an axe that chops my heart. ” becasue it showed how much he loved and missed the tiger, they had such a strong friend ship, but then he left without saying good bye or looking back.

from this book i learned that you never give up in life, and to live your life to the fullest because one day you could just die and your entire life will be thrown away

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life of Pi is an engaging novel that has many layers. It can be read as an adventure tale or as a spiritual allegory. When You Piscine Patel, or Pi, boards a merchant Japanese ship with his family and some animals from their zoo in India. Many things happen both tragic and amazing. Once you pick up this book you won't want to put it down. At the end you will wonder which story is true? I highly recommend this award winning book that has been made into a motion picture. It gets two thumbs up!

[David Hartanto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool book, you can really set your imagination free,how exhausted being in the ocean with so little resources to live. good moral story too.

If I am Pi i think i will jump into water and die. He have so many courage and spirit to live than other people. When he told the stories, it feels so alive and so intriguing. I feel the pressure being Pi.

Good Book!

[Shanda Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yann Martel

[Bernard Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting read. A fable told like it was real (and convincingly so if the other reviews are to be believed).
A wonderful tale of overcoming ordeal and adversity - I don't think I could last over 200 at sea in a life boat - with it without a Bengal Tiger.
It could be a hard or difficult read the first person style seems to jump from author to Pi and back without any indication of who is talking however after a while you begin to understand and can easily slip from one to the other.
I do want to see the movie adaptation now I have read the book.
A great piece of modern fantasy or should that be fable? Or something else.
God plays a big part in this story as well which is I believe the main intention of the author, to me however, I enjoyed the fantastic elements - the story builds and grow on you. I had to finish it I had to know what happened next. I read it at lunch today and again now in the evening just to get it done. Sign of a good book.

[Etmatrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read. I thought he got off to a great beginning, and the story was phenomenal.

It could be about a lot of things. It's more like a work of art than a book. Could it be about mankind's survival throughout history and the "stories" that make up religion? Or is it much simpler in that Pi really had his adventure as he saw it...

Really makes you think about a lot of interesting lofty concepts...

The reason I give it a four is I really wish he would've expounded on some of the heavier connotations in the first section...

I almost want to give it a five. (The book is so thought-provoking) The ending was superb... I just finished and I still have to digest ... :)

[Rosemary Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most unusual read. It departs from the conventional shape of most modern fiction because it is not sci-fi yet it demands the reader park her sensibilities throughout.

Clever readers know how to relax and enjoy a good yarn, right? They don't insist that the author support every twist and turn. If you are going to enjoy this book, don't ask why or how too often.

I think the author had a great time writing this tale and that he called upon his "wounded inner 11 year old storyteller" often.

It was fun, sad, and quirky. I kept thinking as I read on ...."Well, isn't this author a good sport to use this crazy quilt of a tale to deliver his message..."

[Teresa Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just treated myself to another reading of this book which is definitely on my list of favourites. Even though I knew, this time, what was coming and had been sidetracked by memories of the film, I found it as captivating as ever. When a book affects me deeply, I tend to stand up and pace the room. That happened over the "twist" in this cleverly-executed novel more than once. It is a story which stays with you - forcing reflection on what it truly means to be human. To be afraid. To wonder about the point of it all. And to confront the uncomfortable truth of the power of our instinct to survive.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great quote about fear on pg 161 (paperback)...I must say a word about fear.. it is life's only true opponent. (sic) It goes for your weakest spot, which it finds with unerring ease. It begins in your mind, always. One moment you are feeling calm, self-possessed, happy. Then fear, disguised in the garb of mild-mannered doubt, slips into your mind like a spy. (And, cacophony did not appear once!)

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Life of Pi was not a book I would've chosen but I'm glad I read it with the book club. The book told the journey of Pi after he was shipwrecked. The imagery in the book is amazing. I was never sure if the story was real or imagined. Many things including God are questioned. The ending leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so long and drawn out for me, i got really bored of it. I read this book when my teacher assigned it to me in the 10th grade, personally i believed he only assigned it so we could watch the movie, which was horrible, but graphics were good. Anyway it was so long and drawn out i got really bored the plot was slow. I couldn't be more grateful to finish the book.

[Anisa Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a boy called Piscine Patel who is stuck on a boat with a Bengal tiger and he has to survive. The film was being promoted at the time so I had high expectations but it didn't reach my expectations. Bit tedious at some points.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adolescent POV, allegory, adventure, philosophy/ theology, animal behaviors, reasoning, etc. What more could I ask of a book. I loved the story of the floating island! However, I still don't know what I believe happened. Really!

[Hugh Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. The story is adventurous and has zoology, religion, and shipwreck. The ending is clever. There are many gory scenes involving both people and animals, but those scenes are there for a purpose. This is a must read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book but entertaining nonetheless.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I read in 2013. I loved the comparison of different religions as seen through the innocent eyes of a child.

[Nitya · Rating 5 out of 5]

a story of pisin,a boy who was tortured by his friends'cause of his name....

[Kelly Ehrnman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Very interesting, and thought provoking.

[Danni Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very well written metaphore

[Misty Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great one! Good movie, too.

[Charis Marangou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading but a bit boring

[Damien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dazzling and enthral lying exploration of the human mind! A mystery, a philosophy, a brilliant achievement!

[Moataz Mohamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not the novel. It's just a book of a bunch of numbers. But Pi's mystery remains unparalleled.

[Irl Newham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable story that is difficult to believe but will surely hold your interest.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am kind of a math geek, and I love Pi so I read the book this is a lot of interesting facts in this book.

[Danni · Rating 2 out of 5]

weird book.

[Robert Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The movie was good. The book was better.

[Caroline Browne · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring