Paula’s Reviews > Life of Pi > Status Update

I survived because I made a point of forgetting. My story started on a calendar day—July 2nd, 1977—and ended on a calendar day—February 14th, 1978—but in between there was no calendar.

“Isn’t it plain to a dolphin what a dolphin is like? The circus lions don’t care to know that their leader is a weakling human; the fiction guarantees their social wellbeing and staves off violent anarchy. As for the lion cubs, they would positively keel over if they knew their mother was a dog, for that would mean they were motherless, the absolute worst condition imaginable for any young, warm-blooded life.”

"People move because of the wear and tear of anxiety. Because of the gnawing feeling that no matter how hard they work their efforts will yield nothing, that what they build up in one year will be torn down in one day by others. Because of the impression that the future is blocked up, that they might do all right but not their children (...), that happiness and prosperity are possible only somewhere else."

It was not a question of him or me, but of him and me. We were, literally and figuratively, in the same boat.

"I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me, sharks beneath me, a storm raging above me. Had I considered my prospects in the light of reason, I surely would have given up and let go of the oar."

So far so good. This is very well written, I'm really liking it. Just wish I hadn't watched the movie first uuuugh.

I'm pleasantly surprised with all the context and datails that are given about... well... the life of Pi (he). I expected one or two chapters of context and that then the book would plunge right into the shipwreck and lifeboat journey with the tiger and etc etc. So, different from the movie in that aspect. :) (at least from what I remember, I mean, it haaas been a while)